Total enrollment
1,164
+58 (+5%) vs SY 2020-21
Carter County
Missouri · Public K-12
Carter County operates 5 public K-12 schools inside Missouri, with combined enrollment of approximately 1,164 (about 233 students per school). By level, that breaks down as 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
4-year change in Carter County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
5
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Carter County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Missouri | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 42.7% | #32 of 100 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,164 | #96 of 101 | #2,653 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 5 | #95 of 101 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.4:1 | #29 of 101 | #365 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 66.2% | #22 of 101 | #858 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 9.5% | #91 of 99 | #2,538 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.
Residents
5,297
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
5
2 districts
Enrollment
1,164
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$50,000
Below Missouri avg
Free/reduced lunch
66.2%
Above Missouri avg
Elementary
2
609 students
Middle
1
154 students
High
2
401 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
EAST CARTER CO. R-II
698 students · 2 districts in Carter County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Carter 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+
10.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
11.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.8%
civilian labor
Median age
39
24.3% under 18
Test scores in Carter County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 4 schools ranked. Missouri state average: 44.9%.
Top 4 schools (ELA)
- EAST CARTER CO. R-II ELEM.· 55.2%
- EAST CARTER CO. R-II MIDDLE· 40.9%
- VAN BUREN HIGH· 39.3%
- VAN BUREN ELEM.· 33.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST CARTER CO. R-II ELEM. | Ellsinore | Elementary | PK-05 | 364 | · |
| VAN BUREN ELEM. | Van Buren | Elementary | PK-06 | 245 | · |
| VAN BUREN HIGH | Van Buren | High | 07-12 | 221 | · |
| EAST CARTER CO. R-II HIGH | Ellsinore | High | 09-12 | 180 | · |
| EAST CARTER CO. R-II MIDDLE | Ellsinore | Middle | 06-08 | 154 | · |
Cities in Carter County
About Carter County
Across the rural-scale Missouri county of Carter County of about 5,297 residents, the public-school footprint covers 5 schools and about 1,164 students.
In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $50,000, about 10% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 12%. That income level is 18% below the Missouri median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Carter County is built around 2 elementary schools (609 students), 1 middle school (154), and 2 high schools (401).
EAST CARTER CO. R-II dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 698 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Carter County has rose 5% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 1,106 students to 1,164.
On allk12, the community for Carter 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