McDonald County Schools & Education
McDonald County, Missouri
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
40/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
92.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
92.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 91.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$5,890
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,334
School Score
40/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 43/100
State Score Position
#73
of 115 counties by score
Education Data Brief: McDonald County
Measured School Summary
Despite a lower school score of 40/100, McDonald County maintains a strong graduation rate of 92.0%, suggesting effective student support systems.
Funding Context
At $5,890 per pupil, McDonald County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 8% below the Missouri average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 7% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read McDonald 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
11 public schools and 1 district 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
40/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #73 of 115 Missouri counties with school score data.
Completion
92.0%
0.7 pts above the state average
Funding context
$5,890
$444 below the state average
School coverage
11
1 district 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
McDonald County has 11 public schools across 1 district, 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.
What McDonald 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.
Dominant-district county
MCDONALD CO. R-I carries most of the listed public-school system, with 10 of 11 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#73
of 115 Missouri counties with school score data. The county score is 3 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.
MCDONALD CO. R-I
Elementary to high school visible
3,522 students
10 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
MCDONALD CO. R-I is the largest listed district slice, with 10 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 McDonald County?
Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?
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 McDonald 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.
One Unified District for the Whole County
McDonald County operates 11 public schools for its 3,777 students, all managed under a single unified district. The infrastructure focuses heavily on elementary education with seven primary-level buildings.
The Power of McDonald Co. R-I
The McDonald Co. R-I district manages 10 of the county's schools, creating a streamlined educational experience for 3,522 students. There are no charter schools, ensuring a cohesive and integrated public school system.
A Purely Rural Learning Environment
All 11 schools are set in rural locales, providing students with a consistent, country-focused environment. McDonald County High is the largest campus with 1,051 students, while the average school size is 343.
School Overview
Total Schools
11
in McDonald County
Reported Enrollment
3,777
11 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in McDonald County
11 Public Schools in McDonald County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 11 of 11 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCDONALD COUNTY HIGH | Profile | MCDONALD CO. R-I | ANDERSON, 64831Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 1,051 |
| ANDERSON ELEM. | Record | MCDONALD CO. R-I | ANDERSON, 64831Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 513 |
| SOUTHWEST CITY ELEM. | Record | MCDONALD CO. R-I | SOUTHWEST CITY, 64863Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 363 |
| WHITE ROCK ELEM. | Record | MCDONALD CO. R-I | PINEVILLE, 64856Rural: Fringe | PK–8 | Primary | 360 |
| NOEL ELEM. | Record | MCDONALD CO. R-I | NOEL, 64854Rural: Distant | 3–8 | Middle | 359 |
| GOODMAN ELEM. | Record | NEOSHO SCHOOL DISTRICT | GOODMAN, 64850Rural: Distant | KG–4 | Primary | 255 |
| NOEL PRIMARY | Record | MCDONALD CO. R-I | SOUTHWEST CITY, 64863Rural: Distant | PK–2 | Primary | 235 |
| ANDERSON MIDDLE | Record | MCDONALD CO. R-I | ANDERSON, 64831Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 234 |
| ROCKY COMFORT ELEM. | Record | MCDONALD CO. R-I | ROCKY COMFORT, 64861Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 186 |
| PINEVILLE ELEM. | Record | MCDONALD CO. R-I | NOEL, 64854Rural: Distant | 3–8 | Middle | 121 |
| PINEVILLE PRIMARY | Record | MCDONALD CO. R-I | ANDERSON, 64831Rural: Distant | PK–2 | Primary | 100 |
MCDONALD COUNTY HIGH
MCDONALD CO. R-I
ANDERSON, 64831 / Rural: Distant
SOUTHWEST CITY ELEM.
MCDONALD CO. R-I
SOUTHWEST CITY, 64863 / Rural: Distant
ROCKY COMFORT ELEM.
MCDONALD CO. R-I
ROCKY COMFORT, 64861 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$5,890
State avg $6,334
Compare Nearby Counties
Review McDonald County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Missouri counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Missouri?
How should I read the school score in McDonald County?
What is the graduation rate in McDonald County?
How much does McDonald County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in McDonald County, Missouri — FAQ
What does the school system look like in McDonald County, Missouri?
McDonald County operates 11 public schools for its 3,777 students, all managed under a single unified district. The infrastructure focuses heavily on elementary education with seven primary-level buildings.
What are the major school districts in McDonald County, Missouri?
The McDonald Co. R-I district manages 10 of the county's schools, creating a streamlined educational experience for 3,522 students. There are no charter schools, ensuring a cohesive and integrated public school system.
What is the school experience like in McDonald County?
All 11 schools are set in rural locales, providing students with a consistent, country-focused environment. McDonald County High is the largest campus with 1,051 students, while the average school size is 343.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.