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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.

7-year change in Vernon County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
2,365
-687 (-23%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
10
-2 (-17%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
90%
was 93%
% Hispanic
4%
was 3%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
15
5 districts
Enrollment
2,938
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
White
93%
Hispanic
3%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
90%
Hispanic
4%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
3%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
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, 5 schools ranked. Missouri state average: 49.5%.

Top 5 schools (ELA)
  1. BRONAUGH ELEM.· 84.9%
  2. TRUMAN ELEM.· 77.6%
  3. SHELDON ELEM.· 58.4%
  4. NEVADA MIDDLE· 52.6%
  5. SHELDON HIGH· 17.2%

See all 5 schools in Vernon County ranked by score →

All schools (15)

NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
NEVADA HIGHNevadaHigh09-12754·
TRUMAN ELEM.NevadaElementary03-05512·
NEVADA MIDDLENevadaMiddle06-08511·
BRYAN ELEM.NevadaElementaryPK-01400·
BENTON ELEM.NevadaElementary02-02173·
SHELDON ELEM.SheldonElementaryPK-06123·
BRONAUGH ELEM.BronaughElementaryPK-06104·
NORTHEAST VERNON CO. R-I ELEM.Schell CityElementaryPK-0694·
NORTHEAST VERNON CO. R-I HIGHWalkerHigh07-1292·
SHELDON HIGHSheldonHigh07-1289·
BRONAUGH HIGHBronaughHigh07-1265·
CEDAR RIDGE SCHOOLNevadaCombinedKG-1221·
HEARTLAND R-V SCH.NevadaCombined02-120·
NEVADA REGIONAL TECH.-CTR.NevadaHigh09-120·
WEBER ELEM.NevadaElementaryPK-02··

Cities in Vernon County

Nevada9 schoolsBronaugh2 schoolsSheldon2 schoolsSchell City1 schoolWalker1 school

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.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Vernon County?
There are 15 public K-12 schools in Vernon County, Missouri, with a combined enrollment of about 2,938.
How many high schools are in Vernon County?
Vernon County, Missouri has 5 public high schools, serving approximately 1,000 students.
How many middle schools are in Vernon County?
Vernon County, Missouri has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 511 students.
How many elementary schools are in Vernon County?
Vernon County, Missouri has 7 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,406 students.
What is the largest school district in Vernon County?
NEVADA R-V is the largest school district in Vernon County, serving approximately 2,350 students. The county contains 5 school districts overall.
How many people live in Vernon County?
Vernon County has roughly 19,687 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Vernon County?
Median household income in Vernon County is $52,230, below the Missouri average of $61,285. About 8.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Vernon County?
Approximately 16.6% of adults 25 and older in Vernon County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Vernon County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 54.8% of students in Vernon 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 Vernon County schools?
Across Vernon County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.3 to 1.

Vernon County school rankings

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