What share of students in Missouri are proficient in math?

In 2024, 23% of eighth graders in Missouri public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (13th lowest among the 50 states and DC) and 26% in reading, compared with 32% and 33% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Missouri, United States: official figures

89.8% of public high school students in Missouri graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 7th highest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

89.8%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

212

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

270

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$14,241

FY2024

Public school enrollment

891,248

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

33.5%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Missouri rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Missouri was 89.8% in 2021-22, compared with 84% in 2011-12 and 89.7% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Missouri?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Missouri was 81.7% for economically disadvantaged students, 78.1% for students with disabilities and 73.0% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Missouri?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Missouri was 80.1% for Black, 85.5% for Hispanic and 92.2% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Missouri score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Missouri averaged 212 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 15th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 218 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 27% scored at or above Proficient and 42% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Missouri score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Missouri averaged 255 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 21st lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 263 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 26% scored at or above Proficient and 35% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Missouri score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Missouri averaged 235 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 18th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 238 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 36% scored at or above Proficient and 25% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Missouri score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Missouri averaged 270 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 23rd lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 281 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 23% scored at or above Proficient and 41% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Missouri spend per student?

Public school systems in Missouri spent $14,241 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 15th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Missouri going up?

Current spending per pupil in Missouri rose from $11,200 in fiscal 2019 to $14,241 in fiscal 2024, up 27.1% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 5.7%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Missouri spend school money on?

Of the $14,241 spent per pupil in Missouri in fiscal 2024, $7,820 went on instruction and $5,830 on support services; salaries and wages came to $8,592 per pupil and employee benefits $2,689.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Missouri come from?

Public school systems in Missouri received $15.3 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 11.4% from the federal government, 55.2% from the state and 53.7% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Missouri spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Missouri was $15.0 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $12.6 billion was current spending and $2.0 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $9.2 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Missouri?

891,248 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Missouri in fall 2023, down 2.1% on fall 2019 (910,466) and down 2.9% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Missouri?

Public schools in Missouri had 69,838 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 12.8 pupils per teacher, 13th fewest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Missouri in fall 2019: 13.2).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Missouri have a college degree?

33.5% of adults aged 25 and over in Missouri, about 1,440,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 19th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 1.8 percentage points on 2021 (31.7%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Missouri have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 13.3% of adults 25 and over in Missouri had a graduate or professional degree and 8.7% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Missouri did not finish high school?

92.0% of adults 25 and over in Missouri had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 8.0% without one; that share is joint 24th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Missouri compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Missouri ranks 7 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
4	Massachusetts	90.1%
5	Kentucky	90.1%
6	Iowa	89.9%
7	Missouri	89.8%
8	Texas	89.7%
9	Virginia	89.1%
10	Kansas	89.1%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Missouri ranks 16 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
13	Iowa	82.3%
14	Kansas	82.2%
15	Connecticut	82.1%
16	Missouri	81.7%
17	New York	81.6%
18	Nevada	81.5%
19	Wisconsin	81.4%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Missouri ranks 39 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
36	Vermont	213
37	California	212
38	Texas	212
39	Missouri	212
40	Nebraska	212
41	Arkansas	210
42	Maine	210

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Missouri ranks 33 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
30	Nebraska	256
31	North Carolina	255
32	Michigan	255
33	Missouri	255
34	Oregon	255
35	Arkansas	255
36	Kansas	255

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Missouri ranks 35 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
32	Georgia	236
33	Alabama	236
34	Michigan	235
35	Missouri	235
36	Louisiana	235
37	Vermont	235
38	New York	234

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Missouri ranks 31 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
28	Kentucky	271
29	Michigan	270
30	Arizona	270
31	Missouri	270
32	Hawaii	270
33	Rhode Island	270
34	California	269

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Missouri ranks 39 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
36	South Carolina	23.7%
37	Oregon	23.7%
38	Hawaii	23.2%
39	Missouri	23.0%
40	Mississippi	21.6%
41	Alaska	21.5%
42	Florida	21.1%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Missouri ranks 16 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
13	Texas	42.9%
14	Alabama	42.4%
15	Nebraska	42.2%
16	Missouri	42.1%
17	Vermont	41.8%
18	North Carolina	41.7%
19	Virginia	41.5%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Missouri ranks 37 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
34	Nevada	$14,812
35	Kentucky	$14,596
36	Iowa	$14,369
37	Missouri	$14,241
38	Arkansas	$13,873
39	Montana	$13,656
40	Alabama	$13,627

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Missouri ranks 40 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
37	Kentucky	+29.3%
38	Minnesota	+27.7%
39	Ohio	+27.5%
40	Missouri	+27.1%
41	New York	+27.0%
42	Nebraska	+26.7%
43	Wisconsin	+26.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Missouri ranks 7 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
4	Nebraska	55.9%
5	Florida	55.4%
6	Colorado	54.8%
7	Missouri	53.7%
8	Ohio	53.6%
9	Pennsylvania	52.4%
10	Illinois	51.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Missouri ranks 39 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
36	Pennsylvania	13.3
37	Mississippi	13.0
38	Kansas	12.9
39	Missouri	12.8
40	Arkansas	12.7
41	Rhode Island	12.7
42	Wyoming	12.6

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Missouri ranks 23 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
20	New Jersey	-1.4%
21	Indiana	-1.8%
22	Iowa	-1.8%
23	Missouri	-2.1%
24	Maryland	-2.1%
25	Connecticut	-2.1%
26	Pennsylvania	-2.3%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Missouri ranks 33 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
30	Wisconsin	34.6%
31	South Dakota	34.2%
32	North Dakota	34.0%
33	Missouri	33.5%
34	Michigan	33.3%
35	South Carolina	33.3%
36	Idaho	33.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Missouri ranks 28 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
25	Virginia	8.3%
26	Connecticut	8.2%
27	Delaware	8.2%
28	Missouri	8.0%
29	Kansas	8.0%
30	District of Columbia	8.0%
31	Ohio	7.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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