schoolsbycounty

Phelps County Schools & Education

School Score

48/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

92.9%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

92.9%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 91.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,330

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,334

School Score

48/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 43/100

State Score Position

#38

of 115 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Phelps County

Measured School Summary

Phelps County performs at an average level with a school score of 48/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.9%.

Funding Context

At $6,330 per pupil, Phelps County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 13% above the Missouri average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 0% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Phelps 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

15 public schools and 4 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

48/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #38 of 115 Missouri counties with school score data.

Completion

92.9%

1.6 pts above the state average

Funding context

$6,330

roughly matches the state average

School coverage

15

4 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

Phelps County has 15 public schools across 4 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 Phelps 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

Phelps 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

#38

of 115 Missouri counties with school score data. The county score is 5 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.

ROLLA 31

Elementary to high school visible

4,161 students

Elementary 3Middle 2High 3Other 0

8 listed schools in this county slice.

ST. JAMES R-I

Elementary to high school visible

1,666 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

NEWBURG R-II

Elementary and high visible

402 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

PHELPS CO. R-III

Elementary school only in this slice

157 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

ROLLA 31 is the largest listed district slice, with 8 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 Phelps County?

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

A robust education network in central Missouri

Phelps County supports 6,418 students across 15 public schools, including six elementary and five high schools. Four distinct districts manage this infrastructure, ensuring a mix of primary and secondary options for local families. The county maintains one specialized school dedicated to special education services.

Rolla 31 leads the county's school system

The Rolla 31 school district is the region's largest, serving 4,161 students across eight different schools. St. James R-I follows as the second-largest provider with 1,666 students. No charter schools operate within the county, as all 15 schools are traditional public institutions.

A blend of town and rural campuses

Twelve of the county's schools are situated in town settings, while three serve rural areas. Students typically attend mid-sized campuses, with an average enrollment of 494. Rolla Sr. High stands as the largest institution with 1,323 students, while smaller rural schools provide a more intimate learning environment.

School Overview

Total Schools

15

in Phelps County

Reported Enrollment

6,418

15 schools reporting

School Districts

4

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary6
Middle3
High5
Other1

4 School Districts in Phelps County

ROLLA 31

Guide
8 schools
4,161 students
Open district guide

ST. JAMES R-I

3 schools
1,666 students

NEWBURG R-II

2 schools
402 students

PHELPS CO. R-III

1 school
157 students

15 Public Schools in Phelps 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 data

Level

Showing 15 of 15 matching schools

ROLLA SR. HIGH

ROLLA 31

ROLLA, 65401 / Town: Remote

Profile9–12High1,323 students

ROLLA MIDDLE

ROLLA 31

ROLLA, 65401 / Town: Remote

Record4–6Middle837 students

LUCY WORTHAM JAMES ELEM.

ST. JAMES R-I

ST JAMES, 65559 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary743 students

ROLLA JR. HIGH

ROLLA 31

ROLLA, 65401 / Town: Remote

Record7–8Middle618 students

ST. JAMES HIGH

ST. JAMES R-I

ST JAMES, 65559 / Town: Remote

Record9–12High553 students

COL. JOHN B. WYMAN ELEM.

ROLLA 31

ROLLA, 65401 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–3Primary482 students

MARK TWAIN ELEM.

ROLLA 31

ROLLA, 65401 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–3Primary470 students

HARRY S. TRUMAN ELEM.

ROLLA 31

ROLLA, 65401 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–3Primary431 students

ST. JAMES MIDDLE

ST. JAMES R-I

ST JAMES, 65559 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Middle370 students

NEWBURG HIGH

NEWBURG R-II

NEWBURG, 65550 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High208 students

NEWBURG ELEM.

NEWBURG R-II

NEWBURG, 65550 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary194 students

PHELPS CO. ELEM.

PHELPS CO. R-III

EDGAR SPRINGS, 65462 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–8Primary157 students

B W ROBINSON SCHOOL

MO SCHLS FOR THE SEV DISABLED

ROLLA, 65401 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–12Special Education32 students

ROLLA TECHNICAL CTR.

ROLLA 31

ROLLA, 65401 / Town: Remote

Record11–12Vocational0 students

ROLLA TECHNICAL INST.

ROLLA 31

ROLLA, 65401 / Town: Remote

Record9–12Vocational0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,330

State avg $6,334

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Phelps 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 Phelps County?
Phelps County has a school score of 48/100, 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 Phelps County?
The high school graduation rate in Phelps County is 92.9%, 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 Phelps County spend per student?
Phelps County spends $6,330 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 Phelps County, Missouri — FAQ

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

Phelps County supports 6,418 students across 15 public schools, including six elementary and five high schools. Four distinct districts manage this infrastructure, ensuring a mix of primary and secondary options for local families. The county maintains one specialized school dedicated to special education services.

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

The Rolla 31 school district is the region's largest, serving 4,161 students across eight different schools. St. James R-I follows as the second-largest provider with 1,666 students. No charter schools operate within the county, as all 15 schools are traditional public institutions.

What is the school experience like in Phelps County?

Twelve of the county's schools are situated in town settings, while three serve rural areas. Students typically attend mid-sized campuses, with an average enrollment of 494. Rolla Sr. High stands as the largest institution with 1,323 students, while smaller rural schools provide a more intimate learning environment.

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.