schoolsbycounty

Howard County Schools & Education

School Score

38/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

92.1%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

92.1%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 91.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$5,562

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,334

School Score

38/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 43/100

State Score Position

#79

of 115 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Howard County

Measured School Summary

Despite a lower school score of 38/100, Howard County maintains a strong graduation rate of 92.1%, suggesting effective student support systems.

Funding Context

At $5,562 per pupil, Howard County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 11% below the Missouri average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 12% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Howard County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

7 public schools and 3 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

38/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #79 of 115 Missouri counties with school score data.

Completion

92.1%

0.8 pts above the state average

Funding context

$5,562

$772 below the state average

School coverage

7

3 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Howard County has 7 public schools across 3 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

Parent decision brief

What Howard County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Review-carefully county

Howard County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.

State position

#79

of 115 Missouri counties with school score data. The county score is 5 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

FAYETTE R-III

Elementary to high school visible

663 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

NEW FRANKLIN R-I

Elementary and high visible

422 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

GLASGOW

Elementary and high visible

314 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

FAYETTE R-III is the largest listed district slice, with 3 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Howard County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Howard County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Howard County, Missouri

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Compact and Efficient School Districts

Howard County supports 1,399 students through a system of seven public schools across three districts. This infrastructure includes three elementary schools, one middle school, and three high schools.

Exceptional Graduation Outcomes for Students

The county boasts a 92.1% graduation rate, outperforming both the state average and the national 87.0% benchmark. This success is achieved despite a lower per-pupil expenditure of $5,562 compared to the Missouri average.

Fayette R-III Drives Local Education

Fayette R-III is the largest district in Howard County, managing three schools and 663 students. Traditional public schools make up 100% of the county's offerings, as there are no charter schools in the area.

Town-Centered Schools with a Local Feel

Five of the county's seven schools are located in town settings, providing a centralized feel for the 200-student average campus. Laurence J. Daly Elementary is the largest campus, hosting 329 students in the Fayette district.

School Overview

Total Schools

7

in Howard County

Reported Enrollment

1,399

7 schools reporting

School Districts

3

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary3
Middle1
High3
Other0

3 School Districts in Howard County

FAYETTE R-III

3 schools
663 students

NEW FRANKLIN R-I

2 schools
422 students

GLASGOW

2 schools
314 students

7 Public Schools in Howard County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 7 of 7 matching schools

LAURENCE J. DALY ELEM.

FAYETTE R-III

FAYETTE, 65248 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary329 students

New Franklin Middle-High

NEW FRANKLIN R-I

New Franklin, 65274 / Town: Distant

Record6–12High219 students

New Franklin Elementary

NEW FRANKLIN R-I

New Franklin, 65274 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary203 students

GLASGOW HIGH

GLASGOW

GLASGOW, 65254 / Rural: Distant

Record6–12High193 students

FAYETTE HIGH

FAYETTE R-III

FAYETTE, 65248 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High189 students

WM. N. CLARK MIDDLE

FAYETTE R-III

FAYETTE, 65248 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle145 students

GLASGOW ELEMENTARY.

GLASGOW

GLASGOW, 65254 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary121 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$5,562

State avg $6,334

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Howard County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Missouri counties have the highest graduation rates?
Dallas County (97.0%), Dent County (97.0%), and Howell County (97.0%) currently lead Missouri among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Missouri?
Across Missouri counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $6,334. The highest current county values are St. Louis County ($9,027), Chariton County ($8,427), and Holt County ($8,173). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Howard County?
Howard County has a school score of 38/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Howard County?
The high school graduation rate in Howard County is 92.1%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Howard County spend per student?
Howard County spends $5,562 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Howard County, Missouri — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Howard County, Missouri?

Howard County supports 1,399 students through a system of seven public schools across three districts. This infrastructure includes three elementary schools, one middle school, and three high schools.

How do schools in Howard County perform academically?

The county boasts a 92.1% graduation rate, outperforming both the state average and the national 87.0% benchmark. This success is achieved despite a lower per-pupil expenditure of $5,562 compared to the Missouri average.

What are the major school districts in Howard County, Missouri?

Fayette R-III is the largest district in Howard County, managing three schools and 663 students. Traditional public schools make up 100% of the county's offerings, as there are no charter schools in the area.

What is the school experience like in Howard County?

Five of the county's seven schools are located in town settings, providing a centralized feel for the 200-student average campus. Laurence J. Daly Elementary is the largest campus, hosting 329 students in the Fayette district.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.