JOEL E. BARBER ELEM.

JOEL E. BARBER ELEM. is a substantial elementary-level community in LEBANON, Missouri, run under LACLEDE CO. C-5. The school works with 505 students in grades pre-K through 8. Compared to the state average of about 315 students per school, that is 60% bigger than typical.

JOEL E. BARBER ELEM. sits inside LACLEDE CO. C-5, the local public-school operator responsible for the campus.

On the student-mix side, JOEL E. BARBER ELEM. shows that nearly all students (93%) are White. Other groups include 3% multiracial, 3% Hispanic. Compared to Laclede County overall, the school's racial mix sits in roughly the same range.

On the income-and-resources front, JOEL E. BARBER ELEM. shows 36 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 14.0:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 12.4:1, putting JOEL E. BARBER ELEM. higher than the state norm the norm. An estimated 100% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. That share is north of Laclede County's rate of about 64%.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, JOEL E. BARBER ELEM. sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 49.4%; this one delivers 55.9%.

Across the wider county, ACS estimates for Laclede County put the typical household earns roughly $53,282 per year, 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 11% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Across Laclede County's 12 public schools (combined enrollment of about 5,763 students), JOEL E. BARBER ELEM. is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is LEBANON SR. HIGH, roughly 3.8 miles away. 6 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts JOEL E. BARBER ELEM. at 1st of 6; the average score across the group is 45.7%.

The school occupies an outlying site.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at JOEL E. BARBER ELEM. has climbed 13%, going from 448 students in 2018 to 505 in 2025. The student-to-teacher ratio grew from 12.1:1 in 2018 to 14.0:1 today.

In the discussion threads here, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around open house dates, ride-share offers, and field-trip permission slips. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.