WATKINS MILL PARK CAMP

As a minimally staffed 9-12 campus in LAWSON, Missouri, WATKINS MILL PARK CAMP educates 46 students from grades 6 through 12, operated by DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICE. That puts it 91% leaner than the typical public school in Missouri, which averages around 501 students.

WATKINS MILL PARK CAMP is one of 26 schools operated by DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICE, a district that instructs 496 students overall.

On the student-mix side, WATKINS MILL PARK CAMP lists that 65% of the student body identifies as White; the rest is composed of 28% Black, 7% multiracial. That is visibly less White than the county at large, where the share is closer to 79%.

Looking at the economic backdrop, Staff filings list 7 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 6.6:1 students per teacher. The state averages around 12.2:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. About 93% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal. Set against Clay County (around 35%), the school's rate is meaningfully above typical.

Across the wider county, community-level numbers for Clay County indicate median household earnings sit near $88,468, roughly 37% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. WATKINS MILL PARK CAMP is one of 80 public schools in Clay County (combined enrollment of about 41,553 students).

The closest other public school is SOUTHWEST ELEM., roughly 3.8 miles away. Within five miles, there are 7 other public schools.

Geographically, the school is in a low-density area.

Five-year trend. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at WATKINS MILL PARK CAMP has ticked down 19%, going from 57 students in 2018 to 46 in 2025. The White share of enrollment edged down from 75% to 65% over that span. Class-load math has tightened: from 8.1:1 in 2018 to 6.6:1 in 2025.

Inside the community feed, members of the WATKINS MILL PARK CAMP community share and discuss science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Contributors range from current parents to recent graduates and teachers.