Mercer County Schools & Education
Mercer County, Missouri
NCES + U.S. Census BureauSchool Score
56/100
Higher = better
Rating
Average
Graduation Rate
90.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
90.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 91.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,866
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,334
School Score
56/100
Higher = better
State avg 43/100
Student-Teacher Ratio
N/A
National avg 15.8 : 1
Free Lunch (Median)
N/A
National median 48.2%
State School Rank
#16
of 115 counties (1 = best)
Education Advisory: Mercer County
School Verdict
Mercer County performs at an average level with a school score of 56/100 and a solid graduation rate of 90.0%.
Funding Context
At $7,866 per pupil, Mercer County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Attainment Context
Educational attainment data for Mercer County is not available.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 30% above the Missouri average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 24% higher than the state norm.
Education Overview
About Schools in Mercer County, Missouri
A Small-Scale Rural Education Infrastructure
Mercer County operates two school districts that manage a total of four public schools. The system serves a small student body of 509 individuals, split evenly between two elementary and two high schools.
Competitive Results with Targeted Investment
The county earns a 55.4 school score, outperforming the state average of 52.8 and the national median. While the 90.0% graduation rate is slightly below the state average, the $7,866 per-pupil expenditure is significantly higher than Missouri's $6,334 average.
Two Local Districts Power Student Learning
Princeton R-V is the largest district in the county, educating 364 students across two schools. There are no charter schools in Mercer County, focusing all resources into traditional public districts like North Mercer County R-III.
Close-Knit Rural School Communities
Every school in the county is classified as rural, creating an intimate average school size of just 127 students. Princeton R-V Elementary is the largest campus with 184 students, while Mercer High offers a highly personalized environment with only 62 students.
Find Your Home in Mercer County
Families seeking small class sizes and high per-pupil investment should explore homes near Princeton or Mercer. School quality remains a vital factor for homebuyers looking for a community where every student is known by name.
School Overview
Total Schools
4
in Mercer County
Total Enrollment
509
students
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
Student-Teacher Ratio
—
county average
Free Lunch (Median)
—
of students countywide
School Type Breakdown
2 School Districts in Mercer County
PRINCETON R-V
NORTH MERCER CO. R-III
4 Public Schools in Mercer County
| School Name | District | Grades | Type | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRINCETON R-V ELEM. | PRINCETON R-V | PK–6 | Primary | 184 |
| PRINCETON R-V JR.-SR. HIGH | PRINCETON R-V | 7–12 | High | 180 |
| NORTH MERCER ELEM. | NORTH MERCER CO. R-III | PK–6 | Primary | 83 |
| MERCER HIGH | NORTH MERCER CO. R-III | 7–12 | High | 62 |
Educational Attainment
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,866
State avg $6,334
Find Homes Near Top Schools
Browse homes in Mercer County filtered by school ratings on Zillow.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do schools in Mercer County rate?
What is the graduation rate in Mercer County?
How much does Mercer County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Mercer County, Missouri — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Mercer County, Missouri?
Mercer County operates two school districts that manage a total of four public schools. The system serves a small student body of 509 individuals, split evenly between two elementary and two high schools.
How do schools in Mercer County perform academically?
The county earns a 55.4 school score, outperforming the state average of 52.8 and the national median. While the 90.0% graduation rate is slightly below the state average, the $7,866 per-pupil expenditure is significantly higher than Missouri's $6,334 average.
What are the major school districts in Mercer County, Missouri?
Princeton R-V is the largest district in the county, educating 364 students across two schools. There are no charter schools in Mercer County, focusing all resources into traditional public districts like North Mercer County R-III.
What is the school experience like in Mercer County?
Every school in the county is classified as rural, creating an intimate average school size of just 127 students. Princeton R-V Elementary is the largest campus with 184 students, while Mercer High offers a highly personalized environment with only 62 students.
How can I find homes near good schools in Mercer County, Missouri?
Families seeking small class sizes and high per-pupil investment should explore homes near Princeton or Mercer. School quality remains a vital factor for homebuyers looking for a community where every student is known by name.
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Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.