Total enrollment
2,169
-15 (-1%) vs SY 2020-21
Dent County
Missouri · Public K-12
Dent County sits inside Missouri and runs 9 public K-12 schools, enrolling about 2,169 students. Salem R-80 alone accounts for 1,452 of those students. By level, that breaks down as 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
4-year change in Dent County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
9
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Dent County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Missouri | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 42.0% | #36 of 100 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 2,169 | #66 of 101 | #2,140 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 9 | #76 of 101 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.0:1 | #71 of 101 | #900 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 73.4% | #16 of 101 | #647 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 17.3% | #57 of 99 | #2,256 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.
Dent County school rankings
Residents
14,539
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
9
6 districts
Enrollment
2,169
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$56,312
Below Missouri avg
Free/reduced lunch
73.4%
Above Missouri avg
Elementary
6
1,304 students
Middle
1
254 students
High
1
606 students
Combined / other
1
5 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
SALEM R-80
1,452 students · 6 districts in Dent County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Dent 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+
16.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.4%
civilian labor
Median age
44
22.6% under 18
Test scores in Dent County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 7 schools ranked. Missouri state average: 44.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- GREEN FOREST ELEM.· 62.0%
- SALEM SR. HIGH· 57.2%
- NORTH WOOD ELEM.· 43.3%
- DENT-PHELPS ELEM.· 43.2%
- SALEM UPPER ELEM.· 29.8%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- OAK HILL ELEM.· 27.4%
- SALEM MIDDLE SCHOOL· 29.1%
- SALEM UPPER ELEM.· 29.8%
- DENT-PHELPS ELEM.· 43.2%
- NORTH WOOD ELEM.· 43.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SALEM SR. HIGH | Salem | High | 09-12 | 606 | · |
| SALEM UPPER ELEM. | Salem | Elementary | 02-05 | 335 | · |
| WM. H. LYNCH ELEM. | Salem | Elementary | PK-01 | 257 | · |
| DENT-PHELPS ELEM. | Salem | Elementary | PK-08 | 256 | · |
| SALEM MIDDLE SCHOOL | Salem | Middle | 06-08 | 254 | · |
| NORTH WOOD ELEM. | Salem | Elementary | PK-08 | 155 | · |
| GREEN FOREST ELEM. | Salem | Elementary | KG-08 | 152 | · |
| OAK HILL ELEM. | Salem | Elementary | KG-08 | 149 | · |
| OZARK HILLS SCHOOL | Salem | Combined | KG-12 | 5 | · |
Cities in Dent County
About Dent County
In Missouri, Dent County is a rural-scale county of about 14,539 residents. 9 public schools across the county instructs about 2,169 students between them.
Zooming out, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $56,312, roughly 17% 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 8% meaningfully below the Missouri median.
On the school-mix side, Dent County is made up of 6 elementary schools (1,304 students), 1 middle school (254), 1 high school (606), and 1 combined or other schools.
SALEM R-80 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,452 students across Dent County.
Looking at the last 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Dent County has stayed largely flat since SY 2020-21, moving from about 2,184 students to 2,169.
On allk12, the community for Dent County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data