Total enrollment
2,365
-548 (-19%) vs SY 2020-21
Vernon County
Missouri · Public K-12
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.
4-year change in Vernon County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
10
-2 (-17%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Vernon County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Missouri | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 33.6% | #79 of 100 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 2,938 | #51 of 101 | #1,865 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 12 | #55 of 101 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.5:1 | #60 of 101 | #732 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 54.8% | #46 of 101 | #1,369 of 2,526 |
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.
Vernon County school rankings
Residents
19,687
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
15
5 districts
Enrollment
2,938
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$52,230
Below Missouri avg
Free/reduced lunch
54.8%
Above Missouri avg
Elementary
7
1,406 students
Middle
1
511 students
High
5
1,000 students
Combined / other
2
21 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
NEVADA R-V
2,350 students · 5 districts in Vernon County
County 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".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
16.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.2%
civilian labor
Median age
42
23.8% under 18
Test scores in Vernon County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 8 schools ranked. Missouri state average: 44.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- NEVADA HIGH· 49.3%
- NEVADA MIDDLE· 41.4%
- TRUMAN ELEM.· 36.5%
- BRONAUGH ELEM.· 30.3%
- SHELDON ELEM.· 27.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- BRONAUGH HIGH· 18.3%
- NORTHEAST VERNON CO. R-I ELEM.· 18.5%
- NORTHEAST VERNON CO. R-I HIGH· 18.7%
- SHELDON ELEM.· 27.0%
- BRONAUGH ELEM.· 30.3%
| 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 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,365 students, declined 19% from the 2,913 reported in SY 2020-21. Vernon County now counts 10 public schools, down from 12 in SY 2020-21.
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.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data