Total enrollment
3,543
+375 (+12%) vs SY 2020-21
Saline County
Missouri · Public K-12
Saline County serves about 3,543 K-12 students across 20 public schools, an average of roughly 177 students per school. By grade band, the county runs 11 elementary, 2 middle, and 5 high schools.
4-year change in Saline County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
18
+2 (+13%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Saline County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Missouri | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 31.3% | #90 of 100 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 3,543 | #44 of 101 | #1,670 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 18 | #33 of 101 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.7:1 | #34 of 101 | #468 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 55.2% | #43 of 101 | #1,343 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 57.0% | #5 of 99 | #734 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.
Saline County school rankings
Residents
23,231
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
20
9 districts
Enrollment
3,543
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$57,931
Below Missouri avg
Free/reduced lunch
55.2%
Above Missouri avg
Elementary
11
1,622 students
Middle
2
728 students
High
5
1,187 students
Combined / other
2
6 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
MARSHALL
2,498 students · 9 districts in Saline County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Saline 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+
22.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
11.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.2%
civilian labor
Median age
35
22.0% under 18
Test scores in Saline County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 10 schools ranked. Missouri state average: 44.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- SWEET SPRINGS HIGH· 55.6%
- OREARVILLE ELEM.· 53.2%
- SWEET SPRINGS ELEM.· 46.8%
- MARSHALL SR. HIGH· 41.5%
- MIAMI ELEM.· 37.5%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- EASTWOOD ELEM.· 23.3%
- Northwest 5th Grade Center· 30.4%
- ALEXANDER ELEM.· 31.2%
- BUEKER MIDDLE· 31.2%
- BENTON ELEM.· 35.7%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARSHALL SR. HIGH | Marshall | High | 09-12 | 827 | · |
| BUEKER MIDDLE | Marshall | Middle | 06-08 | 550 | · |
| SPAINHOWER PRIMARY SCHOOL | Marshall | Elementary | KG-02 | 455 | · |
| ALEXANDER ELEM. | Slater | Elementary | PK-08 | 226 | · |
| BENTON ELEM. | Marshall | Elementary | 03-04 | 200 | · |
| SWEET SPRINGS ELEM. | Sweet Springs | Elementary | PK-06 | 191 | · |
| Northwest 5th Grade Center | Marshall | Middle | 05-05 | 178 | · |
| SWEET SPRINGS HIGH | Sweet Springs | High | 07-12 | 174 | · |
| SLATER HIGH | Slater | High | 09-12 | 153 | · |
| EASTWOOD ELEM. | Marshall | Elementary | 03-04 | 148 | · |
| Tom Butterfield Early Chld Ctr | Marshall | Elementary | PK-PK | 140 | · |
| MIAMI ELEM. | Miami | Elementary | PK-08 | 67 | · |
| HARDEMAN ELEM. | Marshall | Elementary | PK-08 | 64 | · |
| OREARVILLE ELEM. | Slater | Elementary | PK-08 | 59 | · |
| GILLIAM ELEM. | Gilliam | Elementary | KG-08 | 38 | · |
| Malta Bend Elementary School | Malta Bend | Elementary | PK-06 | 34 | · |
| Malta Bend High School | Malta Bend | High | 07-12 | 33 | · |
| PRAIRIE VIEW SCHOOL | Marshall | Combined | KG-12 | 6 | · |
| SALINE CO. CAREER CTR. | Marshall | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| SOUTHEAST ELEM. | Marshall | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Saline County
About Saline County
Saline County is a small county of about 23,231 residents in Missouri. Its public-school system serves approximately 3,543 students across 20 schools.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $57,931 a year, roughly 23% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 12% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 5% lower than the Missouri median.
On the school-mix side, Saline County is made up of 11 elementary schools (1,622 students), 2 middle schools (728), 5 high schools (1,187), and 2 combined or other schools.
MARSHALL dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 2,498 students on its own.
Five-year track record. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment grew 12%: 3,168 students in SY 2020-21 versus 3,543 in SY 2024-25. Saline County now counts 18 public schools, up from 16 in SY 2020-21.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Saline County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data