schoolsbycounty

Pettis County Schools & Education

School Score

45/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

93.8%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

93.8%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 91.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$5,757

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,334

School Score

45/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 43/100

State Score Position

#50

of 115 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Pettis County

Measured School Summary

Pettis County performs at an average level with a school score of 45/100 and a solid graduation rate of 93.8%.

Funding Context

At $5,757 per pupil, Pettis County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 4% above the Missouri average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 9% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Pettis 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

20 public schools and 7 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

45/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #50 of 115 Missouri counties with school score data.

Completion

93.8%

2.5 pts above the state average

Funding context

$5,757

$577 below the state average

School coverage

20

7 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Pettis County has 20 public schools across 7 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 Pettis 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.

Mixed school landscape

Pettis County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.

State position

#50

of 115 Missouri counties with school score data. The county score is 2 points above 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.

SEDALIA 200

Elementary to high school visible

5,042 students

Elementary 5Middle 2High 1Other 1

9 listed schools in this county slice.

SMITHTON R-VI

Elementary and high visible

544 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

GREEN RIDGE R-VIII

Elementary and high visible

368 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

PETTIS CO. R-V

Elementary and high visible

317 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

SEDALIA 200 is the largest listed district slice, with 9 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 Pettis County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Pettis 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 Pettis 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.

Robust Educational Infrastructure in Pettis

Pettis County supports a large student body of 6,711 across 20 public schools and 7 districts. The system includes 10 elementary, 2 middle, and 6 high schools, plus two specialized facilities. This diverse infrastructure accommodates a wide range of educational needs and levels.

Sedalia 200 is the County Hub

Sedalia 200 is the largest district by a wide margin, serving 5,042 students across 9 schools. Other options include Green Ridge R-VIII and Pettis Co. R-V, which serve between 300 and 400 students each. No charter schools are available, but the district variety offers different scales of education.

A Balanced Town and Rural Mix

Pettis features an even split with 10 town schools and 10 rural schools. Smith-Cotton High is a major regional facility with 1,474 students, while the county average enrollment is 353. Families can choose between large, city-style secondary schools or smaller, rural primary campuses.

School Overview

Total Schools

20

in Pettis County

Reported Enrollment

6,711

20 schools reporting

School Districts

7

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary10
Middle2
High6
Other2

7 School Districts in Pettis County

SEDALIA 200

Guide
9 schools
5,042 students
Open district guide

SMITHTON R-VI

2 schools
544 students

GREEN RIDGE R-VIII

2 schools
368 students

PETTIS CO. R-V

2 schools
317 students

LA MONTE R-IV

2 schools
306 students

PETTIS CO. R-XII

1 school
113 students

STATE FAIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE

1 school
0 students

20 Public Schools in Pettis County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 2 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

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

Level

Showing 20 of 20 matching schools

SMITH-COTTON HIGH SCHOOL

SEDALIA 200

SEDALIA, 65301 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,474 students

SMITH COTTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHL

SEDALIA 200

SEDALIA, 65301 / Town: Remote

Profile6–8Middle1,130 students

SKYLINE ELEM.

SEDALIA 200

SEDALIA, 65301 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–4Primary489 students

PARKVIEW ELEM.

SEDALIA 200

SEDALIA, 65301 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–4Primary468 students

HEBER HUNT ELEM.

SEDALIA 200

SEDALIA, 65301 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–4Primary413 students

SEDALIA MIDDLE SCHOOL

SEDALIA 200

SEDALIA, 65301 / Town: Remote

Record5Middle384 students

SMITHTON ELEM.

SMITHTON R-VI

SMITHTON, 65350 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary294 students

HORACE MANN ELEM.

SEDALIA 200

SEDALIA, 65301 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–4Primary260 students

SMITHTON HIGH

SMITHTON R-VI

SMITHTON, 65350 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High250 students

EARLY CHILDHOOD CTR.

SEDALIA 200

SEDALIA, 65301 / Town: Remote

RecordPKOther225 students

WASHINGTON ELEM.

SEDALIA 200

SEDALIA, 65301 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–4Primary199 students

GREEN RIDGE ELEM.

GREEN RIDGE R-VIII

GREEN RIDGE, 65332 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–6Primary187 students

GREEN RIDGE HIGH

GREEN RIDGE R-VIII

GREEN RIDGE, 65332 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High181 students

LA MONTE ELEM.

LA MONTE R-IV

LA MONTE, 65337 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary177 students

NORTHWEST HIGH

PETTIS CO. R-V

HUGHESVILLE, 65334 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High164 students

NORTHWEST ELEM.

PETTIS CO. R-V

HOUSTONIA, 65333 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary153 students

LA MONTE HIGH

LA MONTE R-IV

LA MONTE, 65337 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High129 students

PETTIS CO. ELEM.

PETTIS CO. R-XII

SEDALIA, 65301 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary113 students

E W THOMPSON SCHOOL

MO SCHLS FOR THE SEV DISABLED

SEDALIA, 65301 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–12Special Education21 students

STATE FAIR

STATE FAIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE

SEDALIA, 65301 / Town: Remote

Record9–12Vocational0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$5,757

State avg $6,334

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Pettis 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 Pettis County?
Pettis County has a school score of 45/100, which is a midrange 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 Pettis County?
The high school graduation rate in Pettis County is 93.8%, 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 Pettis County spend per student?
Pettis County spends $5,757 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 Pettis County, Missouri — FAQ

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

Pettis County supports a large student body of 6,711 across 20 public schools and 7 districts. The system includes 10 elementary, 2 middle, and 6 high schools, plus two specialized facilities. This diverse infrastructure accommodates a wide range of educational needs and levels.

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

Sedalia 200 is the largest district by a wide margin, serving 5,042 students across 9 schools. Other options include Green Ridge R-VIII and Pettis Co. R-V, which serve between 300 and 400 students each. No charter schools are available, but the district variety offers different scales of education.

What is the school experience like in Pettis County?

Pettis features an even split with 10 town schools and 10 rural schools. Smith-Cotton High is a major regional facility with 1,474 students, while the county average enrollment is 353. Families can choose between large, city-style secondary schools or smaller, rural primary campuses.

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.