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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.

7-year change in Dent County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
2,169
-94 (-4%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
9
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
91%
was 94%
% Hispanic
4%
was 2%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
9
6 districts
Enrollment
2,169
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
White
92%
Hispanic
2%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
5%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
91%
Hispanic
4%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
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, 6 schools ranked. Missouri state average: 49.5%.

Top 5 schools (ELA)
  1. GREEN FOREST ELEM.· 62.1%
  2. DENT-PHELPS ELEM.· 60.0%
  3. OAK HILL ELEM.· 51.9%
  4. SALEM MIDDLE SCHOOL· 37.4%
  5. NORTH WOOD ELEM.· 26.4%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
  1. SALEM UPPER ELEM.· 18.6%
  2. NORTH WOOD ELEM.· 26.4%
  3. SALEM MIDDLE SCHOOL· 37.4%
  4. OAK HILL ELEM.· 51.9%
  5. DENT-PHELPS ELEM.· 60.0%

See all 6 schools in Dent County ranked by score →

All schools (9)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
SALEM SR. HIGHSalemHigh09-12606·
SALEM UPPER ELEM.SalemElementary02-05335·
WM. H. LYNCH ELEM.SalemElementaryPK-01257·
DENT-PHELPS ELEM.SalemElementaryPK-08256·
SALEM MIDDLE SCHOOLSalemMiddle06-08254·
NORTH WOOD ELEM.SalemElementaryPK-08155·
GREEN FOREST ELEM.SalemElementaryKG-08152·
OAK HILL ELEM.SalemElementaryKG-08149·
OZARK HILLS SCHOOLSalemCombinedKG-125·

Cities in Dent County

Salem9 schools

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 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Dent County has declined 4% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 2,263 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

How many public schools are in Dent County?
Dent County, Missouri has 9 public K-12 schools serving approximately 2,169 students.
How many high schools are in Dent County?
Dent County, Missouri has 1 public high school, serving approximately 606 students.
How many middle schools are in Dent County?
Dent County, Missouri has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 254 students.
How many elementary schools are in Dent County?
Dent County, Missouri has 6 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,304 students.
What is the largest school district in Dent County?
SALEM R-80 is the largest school district in Dent County, serving approximately 1,452 students. The county contains 6 school districts overall.
What is the population of Dent County?
Dent County, Missouri has a population of approximately 14,539, with a median age of 44. About 22.6% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Dent County?
Median household income in Dent County is $56,312, below the Missouri average of $61,285. About 7.6% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Dent County?
Approximately 16.5% of adults 25 and older in Dent County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Dent County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 73.4% of students in Dent County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Missouri county average of 54.0%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Dent County schools?
Across Dent County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.3 to 1.

Dent County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data