Pulaski County Schools & Education
Pulaski County, Missouri
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
37/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
90.1%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
90.1%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 91.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,230
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,334
School Score
37/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 43/100
State Score Position
#84
of 115 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Pulaski County
Measured School Summary
Despite a lower school score of 37/100, Pulaski County maintains a strong graduation rate of 90.1%, suggesting effective student support systems.
Funding Context
At $6,230 per pupil, Pulaski County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 15% below the Missouri average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Pulaski 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
22 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
37/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #84 of 115 Missouri counties with school score data.
Completion
90.1%
1.2 pts below the state average
Funding context
$6,230
$104 below the state average
School coverage
22
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
Pulaski County has 22 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 Pulaski 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
Pulaski 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
#84
of 115 Missouri counties with school score data. The county score is 6 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.
WAYNESVILLE R-VI
Elementary to high school visible
6,155 students
11 listed schools in this county slice.
DIXON R-I
Elementary to high school visible
898 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
LAQUEY R-V
Elementary and high visible
788 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
CROCKER R-II
Elementary and high visible
564 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
WAYNESVILLE R-VI is the largest listed district slice, with 11 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 Pulaski County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Pulaski County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Pulaski 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.
Serving nearly 9,000 students in central Missouri
Pulaski County operates 22 public schools that serve a total of 8,904 students across six districts. The infrastructure includes 10 elementary schools and six high schools, creating a strong pipeline for student development. Three additional 'other' schools provide specialized educational opportunities for the region.
Waynesville R-VI defines the regional system
Waynesville R-VI is the dominant district, managing 11 schools and 6,155 students, which is more than half of the county's total enrollment. Dixon R-I and Laquey R-V serve smaller student bodies of roughly 800 to 900 each. Traditional public schools make up 100% of the county's options, as there are no charter schools.
A mix of town and rural campuses
The county is evenly split between 11 rural schools and 11 town-based schools, offering varied environments for families. The average school size is 424 students, though Waynesville Sr. High is notably large with ,1704 students. Smaller elementary schools like those in Dixon provide a more intimate community feel.
School Overview
Total Schools
22
in Pulaski County
Reported Enrollment
8,904
22 schools reporting
School Districts
6
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
6 School Districts in Pulaski County
WAYNESVILLE R-VI
GuideDIXON R-I
LAQUEY R-V
CROCKER R-II
RICHLAND R-IV
SWEDEBORG R-III
22 Public Schools in Pulaski 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 dataLevel
Showing 20 of 22 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAYNESVILLE SR. HIGH | Profile | WAYNESVILLE R-VI | WAYNESVILLE, 65583Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 1,704 |
| FREEDOM ELEM. | Profile | WAYNESVILLE R-VI | ST ROBERT, 65584Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 961 |
| WAYNESVILLE EAST ELEM. | Record | WAYNESVILLE R-VI | WAYNESVILLE, 65583Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 929 |
| WAYNESVILLE MIDDLE | Record | WAYNESVILLE R-VI | WAYNESVILLE, 65583Town: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 865 |
| 6TH GRADE CENTER | Record | WAYNESVILLE R-VI | Waynesville, 65583Town: Remote | 6 | Middle | 450 |
| DIXON ELEM. | Record | DIXON R-I | DIXON, 65459Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 394 |
| PARTRIDGE ELEM. | Record | WAYNESVILLE R-VI | FT LEONARD WOOD, 65473Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 352 |
| LAQUEY R-V HIGH | Record | LAQUEY R-V | LAQUEY, 65534Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 312 |
| WOOD ELEM. | Record | WAYNESVILLE R-VI | FT LEONARD WOOD, 65473Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 309 |
| LAQUEY R-V ELEM. | Record | LAQUEY R-V | LAQUEY, 65534Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 303 |
| CROCKER HIGH | Record | CROCKER R-II | CROCKER, 65452Rural: Distant | 6–12 | High | 299 |
| WILLIAMS EARLY CHILDHOOD CTR | Record | WAYNESVILLE R-VI | FORT LEONARD WOOD, 65473Town: Remote | PK | Other | 296 |
| DIXON HIGH | Record | DIXON R-I | DIXON, 65459Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 277 |
| CROCKER ELEM. | Record | CROCKER R-II | CROCKER, 65452Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 265 |
| RICHLAND ELEM. | Record | RICHLAND R-IV | RICHLAND, 65556Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 257 |
| THAYER ELEM. | Record | WAYNESVILLE R-VI | FT LEONARD WOOD, 65473Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 249 |
| DIXON MIDDLE | Record | DIXON R-I | DIXON, 65459Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 227 |
| RICHLAND HIGH | Record | RICHLAND R-IV | RICHLAND, 65556Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 204 |
| Missouri Digital Academy | Record | LAQUEY R-V | LAQUEY, 65534Rural: Distant | KG–12 | Virtual | 173 |
| Parker Educational Center | Record | WAYNESVILLE R-VI | WAYNESVILLE, 65583Town: Remote | PK | Other | 40 |
WAYNESVILLE SR. HIGH
WAYNESVILLE R-VI
WAYNESVILLE, 65583 / Town: Remote
FREEDOM ELEM.
WAYNESVILLE R-VI
ST ROBERT, 65584 / Town: Remote
WAYNESVILLE EAST ELEM.
WAYNESVILLE R-VI
WAYNESVILLE, 65583 / Town: Remote
WILLIAMS EARLY CHILDHOOD CTR
WAYNESVILLE R-VI
FORT LEONARD WOOD, 65473 / Town: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,230
State avg $6,334
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Pulaski 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 Pulaski County?
What is the graduation rate in Pulaski County?
How much does Pulaski County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Pulaski County, Missouri — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Pulaski County, Missouri?
Pulaski County operates 22 public schools that serve a total of 8,904 students across six districts. The infrastructure includes 10 elementary schools and six high schools, creating a strong pipeline for student development. Three additional 'other' schools provide specialized educational opportunities for the region.
What are the major school districts in Pulaski County, Missouri?
Waynesville R-VI is the dominant district, managing 11 schools and 6,155 students, which is more than half of the county's total enrollment. Dixon R-I and Laquey R-V serve smaller student bodies of roughly 800 to 900 each. Traditional public schools make up 100% of the county's options, as there are no charter schools.
What is the school experience like in Pulaski County?
The county is evenly split between 11 rural schools and 11 town-based schools, offering varied environments for families. The average school size is 424 students, though Waynesville Sr. High is notably large with ,1704 students. Smaller elementary schools like those in Dixon provide a more intimate community feel.
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.