Total enrollment
6,820
+182 (+3%) vs SY 2020-21
Pettis County
Missouri · Public K-12
Pettis County in Missouri has 20 public K-12 schools in service today, collectively responsible for roughly 6,820 students with Sedalia 200 the largest district. By grade band, the county runs 11 elementary, 2 middle, and 6 high schools.
4-year change in Pettis County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
19
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Pettis County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Missouri | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 43.0% | #29 of 100 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 6,820 | #24 of 101 | #1,082 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 19 | #30 of 101 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.6:1 | #65 of 101 | #766 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 61.2% | #29 of 101 | #1,061 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 47.1% | #17 of 99 | #1,220 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.
Pettis County school rankings
Residents
43,397
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
20
8 districts
Enrollment
6,820
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$60,430
Below Missouri avg
Free/reduced lunch
61.2%
Above Missouri avg
Elementary
11
3,020 students
Middle
2
1,529 students
High
6
2,260 students
Combined / other
1
11 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
SEDALIA 200
5,209 students · 8 districts in Pettis County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Pettis 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+
18.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
10.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.8%
civilian labor
Median age
38
25.1% under 18
Test scores in Pettis County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 17 schools ranked. Missouri state average: 44.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- NORTHWEST ELEM.· 61.0%
- HORACE MANN ELEM.· 60.1%
- SKYLINE ELEM.· 55.8%
- PARKVIEW ELEM.· 55.0%
- GREEN RIDGE HIGH· 49.9%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- SMITHTON ELEM.· 33.2%
- SMITH COTTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHL· 34.1%
- SMITHTON HIGH· 34.2%
- GREEN RIDGE ELEM.· 34.3%
- LA MONTE HIGH· 36.1%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMITH-COTTON HIGH SCHOOL | Sedalia | High | 09-12 | 1,551 | · |
| SMITH COTTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHL | Sedalia | Middle | 06-08 | 1,133 | · |
| SKYLINE ELEM. | Sedalia | Elementary | KG-04 | 483 | · |
| HEBER HUNT ELEM. | Sedalia | Elementary | KG-04 | 448 | · |
| PARKVIEW ELEM. | Sedalia | Elementary | KG-04 | 447 | · |
| SEDALIA MIDDLE SCHOOL | Sedalia | Middle | 05-05 | 396 | · |
| SMITHTON ELEM. | Smithton | Elementary | PK-06 | 288 | · |
| HORACE MANN ELEM. | Sedalia | Elementary | KG-04 | 276 | · |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD CTR. | Sedalia | Elementary | PK-PK | 260 | · |
| SMITHTON HIGH | Smithton | High | 07-12 | 217 | · |
| WASHINGTON ELEM. | Sedalia | Elementary | KG-04 | 215 | · |
| GREEN RIDGE HIGH | Green Ridge | High | 07-12 | 181 | · |
| GREEN RIDGE ELEM. | Green Ridge | Elementary | KG-06 | 171 | · |
| NORTHWEST HIGH | Hughesville | High | 07-12 | 167 | · |
| LA MONTE ELEM. | La Monte | Elementary | PK-06 | 161 | · |
| NORTHWEST ELEM. | Houstonia | Elementary | PK-06 | 161 | · |
| LA MONTE HIGH | La Monte | High | 07-12 | 144 | · |
| PETTIS CO. ELEM. | Sedalia | Elementary | PK-08 | 110 | · |
| E W Thompson | Sedalia | Combined | KG-12 | 11 | · |
| STATE FAIR | Sedalia | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Pettis County
About Pettis County
In Missouri, Pettis County is a compact county of about 43,397 residents. 20 public schools across the county teaches about 6,820 students between them.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $60,430 a year, about 18% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 10%.
Looking at the level breakdown, Pettis County comprises 11 elementary schools (3,020 students), 2 middle schools (1,529), 6 high schools (2,260), and 1 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Pettis County is SEDALIA 200, which alone enrolls about 5,209 students.
Trend over the past 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment grew 3%: 6,638 students in SY 2020-21 versus 6,820 in SY 2024-25.
On this page, the community for Pettis County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data