Total enrollment
10,312
-508 (-5%) vs SY 2017-18
Cole County
Missouri · Public K-12
Public-school enrollment in Cole County clocks in around 10,312 students across 28 schools (15 elementary, 3 middle, and 9 high).
7-year change in Cole County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
23
-1 (-4%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
67%
was 70%
% Hispanic
7%
was 6%
% Black
16%
was 17%
% Asian
2%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
28
7 districts
Enrollment
10,312
NCES CCD
Median income
$74,876
Above Missouri avg
Free/reduced lunch
47.2%
Below Missouri avg
Elementary
15
4,476 students
Middle
3
2,183 students
High
9
3,637 students
Combined / other
1
16 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
JEFFERSON CITY
7,900 students · 7 districts in Cole County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Cole 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+
38.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.9%
civilian labor
Median age
40
22.1% under 18
Test scores in Cole County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 17 schools ranked. Missouri state average: 49.5%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- SOUTH ELEM.· 94.0%
- THOMAS JEFFERSON MIDDLE· 70.6%
- EUGENE ELEM.· 66.2%
- PIONEER TRAIL ELEMENTARY· 64.6%
- WEST ELEM.· 63.8%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- EUGENE HIGH· 19.0%
- COLE CO. R-I ELEM.· 30.0%
- MOREAU HEIGHTS ELEM.· 34.3%
- BLAIR OAKS MIDDLE SCHOOL· 34.8%
- RUSSELLVILLE HIGH· 38.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEFFERSON CITY HIGH | Jefferson City | High | 09-12 | 1,353 | · |
| CAPITAL CITY HIGH SCHOOL | Jefferson City | High | 09-12 | 1,314 | · |
| LEWIS AND CLARK MIDDLE | Jefferson City | Middle | 06-08 | 966 | · |
| THOMAS JEFFERSON MIDDLE | Jefferson City | Middle | 06-08 | 927 | · |
| CLARENCE LAWSON ELEM. | Jefferson City | Elementary | KG-05 | 440 | · |
| BLAIR OAKS HIGH | Jefferson City | High | 09-12 | 421 | · |
| PIONEER TRAIL ELEMENTARY | Jefferson City | Elementary | KG-05 | 396 | · |
| EUGENE ELEM. | Eugene | Elementary | PK-06 | 365 | · |
| BELAIR ELEM. | Jefferson City | Elementary | KG-05 | 363 | · |
| MOREAU HEIGHTS ELEM. | Jefferson City | Elementary | KG-05 | 324 | · |
| COLE CO. R-I ELEM. | Russellville | Elementary | PK-06 | 319 | · |
| WEST ELEM. | Jefferson City | Elementary | KG-05 | 317 | · |
| CEDAR HILL ELEM. | Jefferson City | Elementary | KG-05 | 313 | · |
| SOUTHWEST EARLY CHILDHOOD CTR | Jefferson City | Elementary | PK-PK | 305 | · |
| SOUTH ELEM. | Jefferson City | Elementary | KG-05 | 302 | · |
| THORPE J. GORDON ELEM. | Jefferson City | Elementary | KG-05 | 294 | · |
| BLAIR OAKS MIDDLE SCHOOL | Jefferson City | Middle | 06-08 | 290 | · |
| EAST ELEM. | Jefferson City | Elementary | KG-05 | 286 | · |
| RUSSELLVILLE HIGH | Russellville | High | 07-12 | 285 | · |
| EUGENE HIGH | Eugene | High | 07-12 | 264 | · |
| BLAIR OAKS INTERMEDIATE | Jefferson City | Elementary | 03-05 | 228 | · |
| BLAIR OAKS ELEM. | Jefferson City | Elementary | PK-02 | 224 | · |
| H KENNETH KIRCHNER SCHOOL | Jefferson City | Combined | KG-12 | 16 | · |
| ALGOA CORRECTIONAL CENTER | Jefferson City | High | 07-12 | 0 | · |
| MOCAP ELEM.SCHOOL | Jefferson City | Elementary | KG-05 | 0 | · |
| MOCAP HIGH SCHOOL | Jefferson City | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| NICHOLS CAREER CTR. | Jefferson City | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| PRENGER FAMILY CTR. | Jefferson City | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Cole County
About Cole County
Cole County is an average-sized county of about 77,032 residents in Missouri. Its public-school system instructs approximately 10,312 students across 28 schools.
For perspective, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $74,876, roughly 39% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 22% meaningfully above the Missouri median.
On the school-mix side, Cole County is made up of 15 elementary schools (4,476 students), 3 middle schools (2,183), 9 high schools (3,637), and 1 combined or other schools.
JEFFERSON CITY is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 7,900 students across Cole County.
Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 10,312 students, contracted 5% from the 10,820 reported in SY 2017-18. Cole County now counts 23 public schools, down from 24 in SY 2017-18.
On allk12, the community for Cole County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
Cole County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data