Ray County Schools & Education
Ray County, Missouri
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
27/100
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
$5,619
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,334
School Score
27/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 43/100
State Score Position
#104
of 115 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Ray County
Measured School Summary
Ray County faces educational challenges with a school score of 27/100 and a graduation rate of 89.4%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $5,619 per pupil, Ray County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 38% below the Missouri average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 11% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Ray 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
12 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
27/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #104 of 115 Missouri counties with school score data.
Completion
89.4%
1.9 pts below the state average
Funding context
$5,619
$715 below the state average
School coverage
12
4 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
Ray County has 12 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.
What Ray 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
Ray 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
#104
of 115 Missouri counties with school score data. The county score is 16 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.
RICHMOND R-XVI
Elementary to high school visible
1,559 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
LAWSON R-XIV
Elementary to high school visible
1,090 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
ORRICK R-XI
Elementary and high visible
291 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
HARDIN-CENTRAL C-2
Elementary and high visible
229 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
RICHMOND R-XVI is the largest listed district slice, with 4 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 Ray County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Ray 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 Ray 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 Solid Foundation for Ray County Students
Ray County supports 3,376 students through an infrastructure of 12 public schools managed by four distinct districts. The network includes six elementary, two middle, and four high schools that serve the region's diverse learning needs. This structure ensures a focused environment with an average of 281 students per school.
Richmond and Lawson Lead the County
Richmond R-XVI stands as the largest district, educating 1,559 students across four specialized schools. Lawson R-XIV follows closely, managing 1,090 students within its three-school campus. There are currently no charter schools in the county, maintaining a traditional public school model for all residents.
A Blend of Rural and Town Learning
Education in Ray County primarily occurs in rural settings, with nine schools in rural areas and three in town locales. Richmond High serves as the largest institution with 454 students, while many smaller schools maintain an intimate, small-town feel. While local higher education attainment data is unavailable, the current system focuses on preparing nearly 3,400 students for future success.
School Overview
Total Schools
12
in Ray County
Reported Enrollment
3,376
12 schools reporting
School Districts
4
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
4 School Districts in Ray County
RICHMOND R-XVI
LAWSON R-XIV
ORRICK R-XI
HARDIN-CENTRAL C-2
12 Public Schools in Ray 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 12 of 12 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RICHMOND HIGH | Record | RICHMOND R-XVI | RICHMOND, 64085Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 454 |
| SUNRISE ELEM. | Record | RICHMOND R-XVI | RICHMOND, 64085Rural: Fringe | 2–5 | Primary | 447 |
| SOUTHWEST ELEM. | Record | LAWSON R-XIV | LAWSON, 64062Rural: Distant | PK–4 | Primary | 415 |
| RICHMOND MIDDLE | Record | RICHMOND R-XVI | RICHMOND, 64085Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 359 |
| LAWSON HIGH | Record | LAWSON R-XIV | LAWSON, 64062Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 338 |
| LAWSON MIDDLE | Record | LAWSON R-XIV | LAWSON, 64062Rural: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 337 |
| DEAR ELEM. | Record | RICHMOND R-XVI | RICHMOND, 64085Town: Distant | PK–1 | Primary | 299 |
| ELKHORN ELEMENTARY | Record | EXCELSIOR SPRINGS 40 | EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, 64024Rural: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 207 |
| ORRICK ELEM. | Record | ORRICK R-XI | ORRICK, 64077Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 170 |
| HARDIN-CENTRAL ELEM. | Record | HARDIN-CENTRAL C-2 | HARDIN, 64035Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 125 |
| ORRICK HIGH | Record | ORRICK R-XI | ORRICK, 64077Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 121 |
| HARDIN-CENTRAL HIGH | Record | HARDIN-CENTRAL C-2 | HARDIN, 64035Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 104 |
ELKHORN ELEMENTARY
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS 40
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, 64024 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$5,619
State avg $6,334
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Ray 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 Ray County?
What is the graduation rate in Ray County?
How much does Ray County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Ray County, Missouri — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Ray County, Missouri?
Ray County supports 3,376 students through an infrastructure of 12 public schools managed by four distinct districts. The network includes six elementary, two middle, and four high schools that serve the region's diverse learning needs. This structure ensures a focused environment with an average of 281 students per school.
What are the major school districts in Ray County, Missouri?
Richmond R-XVI stands as the largest district, educating 1,559 students across four specialized schools. Lawson R-XIV follows closely, managing 1,090 students within its three-school campus. There are currently no charter schools in the county, maintaining a traditional public school model for all residents.
What is the school experience like in Ray County?
Education in Ray County primarily occurs in rural settings, with nine schools in rural areas and three in town locales. Richmond High serves as the largest institution with 454 students, while many smaller schools maintain an intimate, small-town feel. While local higher education attainment data is unavailable, the current system focuses on preparing nearly 3,400 students for future success.
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.