Total enrollment
1,164
-47 (-4%) vs SY 2017-18
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.
7-year change in Carter County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
5
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
95%
was 97%
% Hispanic
1%
was 1%
% Black
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
5
2 districts
Enrollment
1,164
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: 49.5%.
Top 4 schools (ELA)
- VAN BUREN ELEM.· 55.4%
- EAST CARTER CO. R-II ELEM.· 24.2%
- EAST CARTER CO. R-II MIDDLE· 23.7%
- VAN BUREN HIGH· 15.0%
| 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 7-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Carter County has fell 4% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 1,211 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