Total enrollment
2,724
-71 (-3%) vs SY 2020-21
Adair County
Missouri · Public K-12
Adair County runs 9 public K-12 schools inside Missouri, with the county population around 25,301. The mix is 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 4 high.
4-year change in Adair County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
8
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Adair County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Missouri | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 40.4% | #45 of 100 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 2,724 | #56 of 101 | #1,936 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 8 | #78 of 101 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.2:1 | #22 of 101 | #323 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 47.4% | #63 of 101 | #1,748 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 33.1% | #30 of 99 | #1,702 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Adair County school rankings
Residents
25,301
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
9
3 districts
Enrollment
2,724
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$61,536
Above Missouri avg
Free/reduced lunch
47.4%
Below Missouri avg
Elementary
4
1,247 students
Middle
1
514 students
High
4
963 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
KIRKSVILLE R-III
2,374 students · 3 districts in Adair County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Adair County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
35.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
10.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.1%
civilian labor
Median age
30
18.7% under 18
Test scores in Adair County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 4 schools ranked. Missouri state average: 44.9%.
Top 4 schools (ELA)
- KIRKSVILLE SR. HIGH· 55.2%
- RAY MILLER ELEM.· 44.2%
- ADAIR CO. HIGH· 42.8%
- WILLIAM MATTHEW MIDDLE SCHOOL· 41.1%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIRKSVILLE SR. HIGH | Kirksville | High | 09-12 | 791 | · |
| KIRKSVILLE PRIMARY | Kirksville | Elementary | PK-02 | 539 | · |
| RAY MILLER ELEM. | Kirksville | Elementary | 03-05 | 530 | · |
| WILLIAM MATTHEW MIDDLE SCHOOL | Kirksville | Middle | 06-08 | 514 | · |
| ADAIR CO. ELEM. | Novinger | Elementary | PK-06 | 105 | · |
| ADAIR CO. HIGH | Novinger | High | 07-12 | 101 | · |
| ADAIR CO. ELEM. | Brashear | Elementary | KG-06 | 73 | · |
| ADAIR CO. HIGH | Brashear | High | 07-12 | 71 | · |
| KIRKSVILLE AREA TECH. CTR. | Kirksville | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Adair County
About Adair County
Adair County is a thinly populated county of about 25,301 residents in Missouri. Its public-school system enrolls approximately 2,724 students across 9 schools.
Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $61,536 a year, 36% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 10% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
For a sense of the school types, Adair County spans 4 elementary schools (1,247 students), 1 middle school (514), and 4 high schools (963).
The largest single district in Adair County is KIRKSVILLE R-III, which alone enrolls about 2,374 students.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,724 students, declined 3% from the 2,795 reported in SY 2020-21.
On allk12, the community for Adair County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data