Total enrollment
2,724
-268 (-9%) vs SY 2017-18
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.
7-year change in Adair County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
8
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
81%
was 89%
% Hispanic
4%
was 1%
% Black
10%
was 5%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
9
3 districts
Enrollment
2,724
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, 2 schools ranked. Missouri state average: 49.5%.
Top 2 schools (ELA)
- RAY MILLER ELEM.· 45.0%
- WILLIAM MATTHEW MIDDLE SCHOOL· 39.5%
| 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 9% from the 2,992 reported in SY 2017-18. On the demographic side, White enrollment moved from 89% to 81% over the same window.
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
Adair County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data