Vernon County
15 public K-12 schools, roughly 2,938 students, one county, 19,687 residents. That is Vernon County, Missouri on the numbers. By level, that breaks down as 7 elementary, 1 middle, and 5 high schools.
7-year change in Vernon County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Vernon 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".
Test scores in Vernon County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Missouri state average: 49.5%.
- BRONAUGH ELEM.· 84.9%
- TRUMAN ELEM.· 77.6%
- SHELDON ELEM.· 58.4%
- NEVADA MIDDLE· 52.6%
- SHELDON HIGH· 17.2%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEVADA HIGH | Nevada | High | 09-12 | 754 | · |
| TRUMAN ELEM. | Nevada | Elementary | 03-05 | 512 | · |
| NEVADA MIDDLE | Nevada | Middle | 06-08 | 511 | · |
| BRYAN ELEM. | Nevada | Elementary | PK-01 | 400 | · |
| BENTON ELEM. | Nevada | Elementary | 02-02 | 173 | · |
| SHELDON ELEM. | Sheldon | Elementary | PK-06 | 123 | · |
| BRONAUGH ELEM. | Bronaugh | Elementary | PK-06 | 104 | · |
| NORTHEAST VERNON CO. R-I ELEM. | Schell City | Elementary | PK-06 | 94 | · |
| NORTHEAST VERNON CO. R-I HIGH | Walker | High | 07-12 | 92 | · |
| SHELDON HIGH | Sheldon | High | 07-12 | 89 | · |
| BRONAUGH HIGH | Bronaugh | High | 07-12 | 65 | · |
| CEDAR RIDGE SCHOOL | Nevada | Combined | KG-12 | 21 | · |
| HEARTLAND R-V SCH. | Nevada | Combined | 02-12 | 0 | · |
| NEVADA REGIONAL TECH.-CTR. | Nevada | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| WEBER ELEM. | Nevada | Elementary | PK-02 | · | · |
Cities in Vernon County
About Vernon County
In Missouri, Vernon County is a small county of about 19,687 residents. 15 public schools across the county serves about 2,938 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $52,230, about 17% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 9% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 15% noticeably below the Missouri median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Vernon County is built around 7 elementary schools (1,406 students), 1 middle school (511), 5 high schools (1,000), and 2 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Vernon County is NEVADA R-V, which alone enrolls about 2,350 students.
Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,365 students, declined 23% from the 3,052 reported in SY 2017-18. Vernon County now counts 10 public schools, down from 12 in SY 2017-18. Demographically, the White share of enrollment fell from 93% to 90%.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Vernon County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.