Total enrollment
1,593
-242 (-13%) vs SY 2017-18
Barton County
Missouri · Public K-12
Public education in Barton County reaches 1,593 students across 10 schools. Lamar R-I is the largest district at 1,158 students. That works out to 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools.
7-year change in Barton County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
9
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
89%
was 89%
% Hispanic
5%
was 4%
% Black
1%
was 0%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
10
3 districts
Enrollment
1,593
NCES CCD
Median income
$51,635
Below Missouri avg
Free/reduced lunch
51.5%
Below Missouri avg
Elementary
4
726 students
Middle
2
314 students
High
4
553 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
LAMAR R-I
1,158 students · 3 districts in Barton County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Barton 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+
17.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
16.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.3%
civilian labor
Median age
41
23.4% under 18
Test scores in Barton County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Missouri state average: 49.5%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- LAMAR ELEM.· 81.9%
- LIBERAL ELEM.· 37.3%
- LAMAR MIDDLE· 35.2%
- GOLDEN CITY HIGH· 23.4%
- LIBERAL MIDDLE· 19.2%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAMAR HIGH | Lamar | High | 09-12 | 369 | · |
| EAST ELEM. | Lamar | Elementary | PK-02 | 281 | · |
| LAMAR MIDDLE | Lamar | Middle | 06-08 | 255 | · |
| LAMAR ELEM. | Lamar | Elementary | 03-05 | 253 | · |
| LIBERAL ELEM. | Liberal | Elementary | PK-05 | 116 | · |
| LIBERAL HIGH | Liberal | High | 09-12 | 96 | · |
| GOLDEN CITY HIGH | Golden City | High | 06-12 | 88 | · |
| GOLDEN CITY ELEM. | Golden City | Elementary | PK-05 | 76 | · |
| LIBERAL MIDDLE | Liberal | Middle | 06-08 | 59 | · |
| LAMAR CAREERTECHNICAL CENTER | Lamar | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Barton County
About Barton County
Across the low-population Missouri county of Barton County of about 11,690 residents, the public-school footprint covers 10 schools and about 1,593 students.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $51,635, about 17% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 17%. That income level is 16% lower than the Missouri median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Barton County is built around 4 elementary schools (726 students), 2 middle schools (314), and 4 high schools (553).
The largest single district in Barton County is LAMAR R-I, which alone enrolls about 1,158 students.
Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 1,593 students, contracted 13% from the 1,835 reported in SY 2017-18.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Barton County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Barton County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data