Polk County Schools & Education
Polk County, Missouri
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
29/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
89.4%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
89.4%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 91.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$5,826
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,334
School Score
29/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 43/100
State Score Position
#101
of 115 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Polk County
Measured School Summary
Polk County faces educational challenges with a school score of 29/100 and a graduation rate of 89.4%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $5,826 per pupil, Polk County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 33% below the Missouri average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 8% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Polk 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
21 public schools and 6 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
29/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #101 of 115 Missouri counties with school score data.
Completion
89.4%
1.9 pts below the state average
Funding context
$5,826
$508 below the state average
School coverage
21
6 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
Polk County has 21 public schools across 6 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.
What Polk 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
Polk 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
#101
of 115 Missouri counties with school score data. The county score is 14 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.
BOLIVAR R-I
Elementary to high school visible
2,777 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
PLEASANT HOPE R-VI
Elementary to high school visible
752 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
MARION C. EARLY R-V
Elementary to high school visible
566 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
HUMANSVILLE R-IV
Elementary to high school visible
368 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
BOLIVAR R-I is the largest listed district slice, with 5 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 Polk County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Polk 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 Polk 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.
Rural education across six school districts
Polk County provides education to 5,082 students through 21 public schools. The system is distributed across six districts and includes seven elementary schools and six high schools. The county also maintains four 'other' designated schools to provide flexible learning paths.
Bolivar R-I anchors the local community
Bolivar R-I is the largest district by far, serving 2,777 students across five schools. Pleasant Hope R-VI follows as the second largest, managing four schools for 752 students. The county does not host any charter schools, relying entirely on its six traditional public districts.
A predominantly rural learning experience
Fifteen of the county's 21 schools are located in rural settings, offering students a classic country school feel. Campuses are relatively small, with an average enrollment of 267 students across the county. Bolivar High is the largest single campus, housing 839 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
21
in Polk County
Reported Enrollment
5,082
21 schools reporting
School Districts
6
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
6 School Districts in Polk County
BOLIVAR R-I
PLEASANT HOPE R-VI
MARION C. EARLY R-V
HUMANSVILLE R-IV
FAIR PLAY R-II
HALFWAY R-III
21 Public Schools in Polk 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 dataLevel
Showing 20 of 21 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOLIVAR HIGH | Record | BOLIVAR R-I | BOLIVAR, 65613Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 839 |
| BOLIVAR MIDDLE | Record | BOLIVAR R-I | BOLIVAR, 65613Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 601 |
| BOLIVAR INTERMEDIATE SCH. | Record | BOLIVAR R-I | BOLIVAR, 65613Town: Distant | 3–5 | Primary | 598 |
| BOLIVAR PRIMARY | Record | BOLIVAR R-I | BOLIVAR, 65613Town: Distant | KG–2 | Primary | 589 |
| PLEASANT HOPE HIGH | Record | PLEASANT HOPE R-VI | PLEASANT HOPE, 65725Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 282 |
| PLEASANT HOPE ELEM. | Record | PLEASANT HOPE R-VI | PLEASANT HOPE, 65725Rural: Distant | PK–4 | Primary | 268 |
| MARION C. EARLY ELEM. | Record | MARION C. EARLY R-V | MORRISVILLE, 65710Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 259 |
| PLEASANT HOPE MIDDLE | Record | PLEASANT HOPE R-VI | PLEASANT HOPE, 65725Rural: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 202 |
| FAIR PLAY ELEM. | Record | FAIR PLAY R-II | FAIR PLAY, 65649Rural: Distant | KG–6 | Primary | 188 |
| HUMANSVILLE ELEM. | Record | HUMANSVILLE R-IV | HUMANSVILLE, 65674Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 177 |
| MARION C. EARLY HIGH | Record | MARION C. EARLY R-V | MORRISVILLE, 65710Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 161 |
| HALFWAY ELEM. | Record | HALFWAY R-III | HALFWAY, 65663Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 154 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CNTR | Record | BOLIVAR R-I | BOLIVAR, 65613Town: Distant | PK | Other | 150 |
| MARION C. EARLY JUNIOR HIGH | Record | MARION C. EARLY R-V | Morrisville, 65710Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 146 |
| FAIR PLAY HIGH | Record | FAIR PLAY R-II | FAIR PLAY, 65649Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 139 |
| HALFWAY SECONDARY | Record | HALFWAY R-III | HALFWAY, 65663Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 118 |
| HUMANSVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL | Record | HUMANSVILLE R-IV | Humansville, 65674Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 104 |
| HUMANSVILLE HIGH | Record | HUMANSVILLE R-IV | HUMANSVILLE, 65674Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 87 |
| LITTLE STINGERS PRESCHOOL | Record | FAIR PLAY R-II | FAIR PLAY, 65649Rural: Distant | PK | Other | 20 |
| Exceptional Pupil Coop.-ECSE | Record | LAKELAND R-III | BOLIVAR, 65613Town: Distant | PK | Other | 0 |
PLEASANT HOPE ELEM.
PLEASANT HOPE R-VI
PLEASANT HOPE, 65725 / Rural: Distant
MARION C. EARLY ELEM.
MARION C. EARLY R-V
MORRISVILLE, 65710 / Rural: Distant
PLEASANT HOPE MIDDLE
PLEASANT HOPE R-VI
PLEASANT HOPE, 65725 / Rural: Distant
MARION C. EARLY HIGH
MARION C. EARLY R-V
MORRISVILLE, 65710 / Rural: Distant
MARION C. EARLY JUNIOR HIGH
MARION C. EARLY R-V
Morrisville, 65710 / Rural: Distant
HUMANSVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL
HUMANSVILLE R-IV
Humansville, 65674 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$5,826
State avg $6,334
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Polk 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 Polk County?
What is the graduation rate in Polk County?
How much does Polk County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Polk County, Missouri — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Polk County, Missouri?
Polk County provides education to 5,082 students through 21 public schools. The system is distributed across six districts and includes seven elementary schools and six high schools. The county also maintains four 'other' designated schools to provide flexible learning paths.
What are the major school districts in Polk County, Missouri?
Bolivar R-I is the largest district by far, serving 2,777 students across five schools. Pleasant Hope R-VI follows as the second largest, managing four schools for 752 students. The county does not host any charter schools, relying entirely on its six traditional public districts.
What is the school experience like in Polk County?
Fifteen of the county's 21 schools are located in rural settings, offering students a classic country school feel. Campuses are relatively small, with an average enrollment of 267 students across the county. Bolivar High is the largest single campus, housing 839 students.
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.