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MOMissouri rankings

Towns with the best public schools in Missouri

Ranked by how far each town's public schools score above or below the Missouri average in math and reading proficiency, weighted by enrollment. 226 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-yearTest scores SY2020–21

1 Oronogo +37.8 pts Math 79% · Reading 77% Clayton 2 Clayton +30.8 pts Math 71.2% · Reading 70.9% Map of Ladue 3 Ladue +27.9 pts Math 65.6% · Reading 70.8%
#Townvs. state averageMathReading
1 OronogoWEBB CITY R-VII +37.8 pts 79% 77%
2 Clayton ClaytonCLAYTON +30.8 pts 71.2% 70.9%
3 Map of Ladue LadueLADUE +27.9 pts 65.6% 70.8%
4 RiversidePARK HILL +27.8 pts 67% 69%
5 Map of Battlefield BattlefieldSPRINGFIELD R-XII +27.3 pts 67% 68%
6 Map of Nixa NixaNixa Public Schools +26.9 pts 66.7% 67.6%
7 Brentwood BrentwoodBRENTWOOD +26.5 pts 65.7% 67.9%
8 Kirkwood KirkwoodKIRKWOOD R-VII +25.5 pts 60.8% 70.8%
9 Clarkson ValleyROCKWOOD R-VI +24.9 pts 54.4% 75.9%
10 Map of Olivette OlivetteLADUE +24.3 pts 62% 67%
11 ChesterfieldPARKWAY C-2 +23.8 pts 58.3% 69.8%
12 Map of Glendale GlendaleKIRKWOOD R-VII +23.3 pts 60% 67%
13 Map of Weldon Spring Weldon SpringFRANCIS HOWELL R-III +22.0 pts 58.9% 65.6%
14 Map of Webster Groves Webster GrovesWEBSTER GROVES +21.3 pts 54.4% 68.7%
15 Map of Festus FestusFESTUS R-VI +19.9 pts 54.9% 65.4%
16 ParkvillePARK HILL +19.8 pts 56% 64%
17 Map of Ozark OzarkOZARK R-VI +19.6 pts 56.7% 63.1%
18 KearneyKEARNEY R-I +18.2 pts 55.8% 61%
19 CottlevilleFRANCIS HOWELL R-III +18.2 pts 46.7% 70.1%
20 Wildwood WildwoodROCKWOOD R-VI +18.1 pts 49.8% 66.8%
21 Map of Lake St. Louis Lake St. LouisWENTZVILLE R-IV +17.8 pts 55% 61%
22 RepublicREPUBLIC R-III +17.7 pts 57% 59%
23 EllisvilleROCKWOOD R-VI +17.5 pts 55.6% 60%
24 Map of Ballwin BallwinROCKWOOD R-VI +17.3 pts 51.5% 63.6%
25 Map of Marceline MarcelineLinn County · MARCELINE R-V +17.1 pts 53.8% 60.9%
26 Map of O'Fallon O'FallonFORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT +16.9 pts 54% 60.2%
27 Maplewood MaplewoodMAPLEWOOD-RICHMOND HEIGHTS +16.8 pts 52.1% 62%
28 Blue Springs Blue SpringsBLUE SPRINGS R-IV +16.7 pts 51.2% 62.7%
29 Fort Leonard WoodWAYNESVILLE R-VI +16.6 pts 56.9% 56.9%
30 Platte CityPLATTE CO. R-III +15.6 pts 49.2% 62.5%
31 Map of Dardenne Prairie Dardenne PrairieWENTZVILLE R-IV +15.4 pts 50.9% 60.4%
32 SappingtonLINDBERGH SCHOOLS +14.1 pts 47.4% 61.3%
33 Smithville SmithvilleSMITHVILLE R-II +13.9 pts 52.2% 56.2%
34 Map of Lee's Summit Lee's SummitLEE'S SUMMIT R-VII +13.8 pts 47.2% 61%
35 Manchester ManchesterPARKWAY C-2 +13.8 pts 46.1% 62%
36 Map of Marionville MarionvilleMARIONVILLE R-IX +13.7 pts 44.8% 63%
37 St. PetersFORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT +13.6 pts 48.6% 59%
38 Map of Castor CastorStoddard County · BLOOMFIELD R-XIV +12.8 pts 48.6% 57.6%
39 Map of Fenton FentonROCKWOOD R-VI +12.8 pts 51% 55%
40 LawsonLAWSON R-XIV +12.5 pts 47.8% 57.7%
41 Map of Greenwood GreenwoodLEE'S SUMMIT R-VII +12.3 pts 51% 54%
42 Map of Crestwood CrestwoodLINDBERGH SCHOOLS +12.2 pts 44.7% 60.3%
43 Map of Creve Coeur Creve CoeurPARKWAY C-2 +11.8 pts 47.9% 56.2%
44 Map of Rock Hill Rock HillWEBSTER GROVES +11.8 pts 44% 60%
45 Holts Summit Holts SummitJEFFERSON CITY +11.8 pts 47% 57%
46 Country ClubSAVANNAH R-III +11.8 pts 47% 57%
47 Anderson AndersonMCDONALD CO. R-I +11.3 pts 50% 53%
48 Map of Strafford StraffordSTRAFFORD R-VI +11.2 pts 44.6% 58.2%
49 Map of Webb City Webb CityWEBB CITY R-VII +11.1 pts 43.8% 58.8%
50 PolkNodaway County · MARYVILLE R-II +11.0 pts 43% 59.6%
51 Map of Branson BransonBRANSON R-IV +10.9 pts 48.3% 54.1%
52 Map of Carl Junction Carl JunctionCARL JUNCTION R-I +10.8 pts 44.4% 57.6%
53 Sullivan SullivanSULLIVAN +10.8 pts 47.8% 54.3%
54 St. James St. JamesST. JAMES R-I +10.6 pts 49.8% 52%
55 Map of Eureka EurekaROCKWOOD R-VI +10.2 pts 39.2% 61.7%
56 Map of Chillicothe ChillicotheLivingston County · CHILLICOTHE R-II +10.1 pts 49.6% 51.1%
57 LibertyLIBERTY 53 +9.9 pts 37.1% 63.3%
58 Map of Washington WashingtonWASHINGTON +9.8 pts 35.2% 64.9%
59 Map of St. Charles St. CharlesST. CHARLES R-VI +9.7 pts 44.4% 55.5%
60 MurphyNORTHWEST R-I +9.5 pts 52.2% 47.2%
61 Whiteman AFBKNOB NOSTER R-VIII +9.3 pts 42% 57%
62 Map of Potosi PotosiPOTOSI R-III +9.2 pts 43.6% 55.3%
63 Maryland HeightsPATTONVILLE R-III +9.1 pts 39.7% 58.9%
64 FarmingtonFARMINGTON R-VII +9.1 pts 45.2% 53.5%
65 PikeStoddard County · ADVANCE R-IV +9.1 pts 46.4% 52.4%
66 Map of Knob Noster Knob NosterKNOB NOSTER R-VIII +9.1 pts 45% 53.8%
67 Grain ValleyGRAIN VALLEY R-V +9.0 pts 40.3% 58.1%
68 CaliforniaMONITEAU CO. R-I +9.0 pts 41.5% 57.1%
69 Map of Cuba CubaCRAWFORD CO. R-II +9.0 pts 45.1% 53.3%
70 RaymoreRAYMORE-PECULIAR R-II +8.8 pts 46.1% 51.9%
71 HerculaneumDUNKLIN R-V +8.7 pts 39.6% 58.3%
72 Map of Centralia CentraliaCENTRALIA R-VI +8.7 pts 45.8% 52.1%
73 Map of Macon MaconMACON CO. R-I +8.6 pts 45.1% 52.6%
74 Mountain GroveMOUNTAIN GROVE R-III +8.6 pts 48.1% 49.7%
75 SedaliaSEDALIA 200 +8.4 pts 46.9% 50.4%
76 Map of Richmond Heights Richmond HeightsMAPLEWOOD-RICHMOND HEIGHTS +8.3 pts 40% 57%
77 Eldon EldonELDON R-I +8.1 pts 43.3% 53.3%
78 Map of Rogersville RogersvilleLOGAN-ROGERSVILLE R-VIII +8.0 pts 40.3% 56.2%
79 Monroe CityMONROE CITY R-I +8.0 pts 48.4% 48.1%
80 Map of Jackson JacksonJACKSON R-II +7.6 pts 42.5% 53.2%
81 WaynesvilleWAYNESVILLE R-VI +7.6 pts 42.4% 53.3%
82 Map of Bolivar BolivarBOLIVAR R-I +7.3 pts 42.2% 52.8%
83 Map of Willard WillardWILLARD R-II +7.0 pts 40.4% 54.2%
84 Ste. Genevieve Ste. GenevieveSTE. GENEVIEVE CO. R-II +6.9 pts 39.9% 54.5%
85 Map of Brookfield BrookfieldLinn County · BROOKFIELD R-III +6.9 pts 43.5% 50.9%
86 Map of New Haven New HavenNEW HAVEN +6.8 pts 43.9% 50.3%
87 Map of Forsyth ForsythFORSYTH R-III +6.7 pts 43.1% 50.7%
88 Palmyra PalmyraPALMYRA R-I +6.5 pts 41.4% 52.1%
89 Map of Ashland AshlandSOUTHERN BOONE CO. R-I +6.1 pts 44.4% 48.2%
90 Wentzville WentzvilleWENTZVILLE R-IV +5.9 pts 40.9% 51.4%
91 Map of Camdenton CamdentonCAMDENTON R-III +5.8 pts 44% 48%
92 Map of Hollister HollisterHOLLISTER R-V +5.6 pts 40.4% 51.2%
93 Park Hills Park HillsCENTRAL R-III +5.5 pts 40.9% 50.5%
94 LibertyStoddard County · DEXTER R-XI +5.3 pts 38.3% 52.8%
95 PortagevillePORTAGEVILLE +5.2 pts 43.4% 47.5%
96 Troy TroyTROY R-III +5.1 pts 39.5% 51.2%
97 Map of Bethany BethanyHarrison County · SOUTH HARRISON CO. R-II +4.9 pts 38.3% 52%
98 Rolla RollaROLLA 31 +4.8 pts 37.5% 52.5%
99 Map of Osage Beach Osage BeachSCHOOL OF THE OSAGE +4.6 pts 40.4% 49.3%
100 St. Robert St. RobertWAYNESVILLE R-VI +4.3 pts 44% 45%
101 BucknerFORT OSAGE R-I +4.3 pts 42% 47%
102 Map of Gladstone GladstoneNORTH KANSAS CITY 74 +3.4 pts 38.5% 48.8%
103 OakvilleMEHLVILLE R-IX +3.1 pts 32.7% 54%
104 Map of Jefferson City Jefferson CityJEFFERSON CITY +3.0 pts 36.1% 50.4%
105 Cameron CameronCAMERON R-I +3.0 pts 38.4% 48.2%
106 MonettMONETT R-I +2.7 pts 35.6% 50.3%
107 De Soto De SotoDESOTO 73 +2.2 pts 37.3% 47.6%
108 Map of Pleasant Hill Pleasant HillPLEASANT HILL R-III +2.1 pts 30.5% 54.3%
109 Ava AvaAVA R-I +2.1 pts 37.3% 47.3%
110 Crystal City Crystal CityCRYSTAL CITY 47 +1.8 pts 29.9% 54.1%
111 Map of Neosho NeoshoNEOSHO SCHOOL DISTRICT +1.7 pts 32.5% 51.4%
112 WarrentonWARREN CO. R-III +1.5 pts 32.3% 51.1%
113 Map of Lathrop LathropLATHROP R-II +1.4 pts 37.1% 46.3%
114 Map of Poplar Bluff Poplar BluffPOPLAR BLUFF R-I +1.1 pts 35.4% 47.3%
115 West Plains West PlainsWEST PLAINS R-VII +1.1 pts 33.3% 49.3%
116 Map of Peculiar PeculiarRAYMORE-PECULIAR R-II +1.1 pts 29.2% 53.6%
117 Owensville OwensvilleGASCONADE CO. R-II +1.1 pts 39% 43.6%
118 Clever CleverCLEVER R-V +0.9 pts 38.4% 43.9%
119 Map of Pevely PevelyDUNKLIN R-V +0.8 pts 36% 46%
120 Duck CreekStoddard County · PUXICO R-VIII +0.8 pts 37.9% 44.3%
121 Valley Park Valley ParkVALLEY PARK +0.6 pts 37.8% 43.9%
122 Bonne Terre Bonne TerreNORTH ST. FRANCOIS CO. R-I +0.3 pts 25% 56%
123 Mountain View Mountain ViewMOUNTAIN VIEW-BIRCH TREE R-III +0.3 pts 40% 41%
124 Union UnionUNION R-XI 0.0 pts 34.5% 46.1%
125 FredericktownFREDERICKTOWN R-I −0.1 pts 34.1% 46.1%
126 CenterVernon County · NEVADA R-V −0.2 pts 34.1% 46%
127 Moscow Mills Moscow MillsTROY R-III −0.3 pts 39% 41%
128 Savannah SavannahSAVANNAH R-III −0.5 pts 36.3% 43.2%
129 KirksvilleKIRKSVILLE R-III −0.6 pts 29.9% 49.4%
130 Perryville PerryvillePERRY CO. 32 −0.6 pts 33.8% 45.6%
131 CassvilleCASSVILLE R-IV −0.6 pts 27.4% 51.9%
132 Boonville BoonvilleBOONVILLE R-I −1.0 pts 31.2% 47.2%
133 Hannibal HannibalHANNIBAL 60 −1.1 pts 35.6% 42.8%
134 Map of Fulton FultonFULTON 58 −1.1 pts 36% 42.3%
135 Mount VernonMT. VERNON R-V −1.2 pts 29.1% 49%
136 WarrensburgWARRENSBURG R-VI −1.4 pts 28.4% 49.4%
137 Map of Sunset Hills Sunset HillsLINDBERGH SCHOOLS −1.4 pts 32.9% 44.8%
138 Map of Oak Grove Oak GroveOAK GROVE R-VI −1.4 pts 24.8% 52.8%
139 OdessaODESSA R-VII −1.4 pts 25.2% 52.5%
140 Carrollton CarrolltonCarroll County · CARROLLTON R-VII −1.7 pts 29.6% 47.4%
141 MehlvilleMEHLVILLE R-IX −1.9 pts 27.7% 49%
142 Harrisonville HarrisonvilleHARRISONVILLE R-IX −1.9 pts 29.9% 46.9%
143 Trenton TrentonGrundy County · TRENTON R-IX −1.9 pts 28.6% 48%
144 Imperial ImperialWINDSOR C-1 −2.4 pts 28.6% 47.2%
145 Bowling GreenBOWLING GREEN R-I −2.4 pts 27.1% 48.6%
146 Columbia ColumbiaCOLUMBIA 93 −2.5 pts 29.1% 46.4%
147 St. Clair St. ClairST. CLAIR R-XIII −2.5 pts 26.1% 49.4%
148 Map of Carthage CarthageCARTHAGE R-IX −2.7 pts 37.8% 37.4%
149 Arnold ArnoldFOX C-6 −2.8 pts 24.4% 50.5%
150 ConcordMEHLVILLE R-IX −3.0 pts 28.9% 45.6%
151 Map of Sherrill SherrillTexas County · LICKING R-VIII −3.1 pts 29.6% 44.8%
152 Map of Montgomery City Montgomery CityMONTGOMERY CO. R-II −3.3 pts 37% 37%
153 Clinton ClintonHenry County · CLINTON −3.5 pts 32.3% 41.1%
154 Map of Scott City Scott CitySCOTT CITY R-I −3.7 pts 30.3% 42.9%
155 Map of Cape Girardeau Cape GirardeauCAPE GIRARDEAU 63 −3.8 pts 31.7% 41.2%
156 Map of Aurora AuroraAURORA R-VIII −4.1 pts 32.6% 39.8%
157 Piedmont PiedmontCLEARWATER R-I −4.1 pts 35% 37.2%
158 PacificMERAMEC VALLEY R-III −4.2 pts 29% 43.1%
159 Map of Joplin JoplinJOPLIN SCHOOLS −4.4 pts 31.4% 40.3%
160 Map of Sikeston SikestonSIKESTON R-6 −4.4 pts 34.4% 37.4%
161 Springfield SpringfieldSPRINGFIELD R-XII −4.6 pts 26.7% 44.5%
162 Belton BeltonBELTON 124 −4.6 pts 28.5% 42.7%
163 Map of Canton CantonCANTON R-V −4.7 pts 27% 44.2%
164 Richmond RichmondRICHMOND R-XVI −4.9 pts 29.3% 41.3%
165 Map of City CityBarton County · LAMAR R-I −4.9 pts 32.1% 38.5%
166 MarshfieldMARSHFIELD R-I −5.1 pts 30.4% 39.9%
167 Excelsior SpringsEXCELSIOR SPRINGS 40 −5.2 pts 23.8% 46.3%
168 Higginsville HigginsvilleLAFAYETTE CO. C-1 −5.2 pts 27.1% 42.9%
169 IndependenceINDEPENDENCE 30 −5.4 pts 29.6% 40.2%
170 Mount PleasantBates County · BUTLER R-V −5.6 pts 27.4% 41.9%
171 DeslogeNORTH ST. FRANCOIS CO. R-I −5.8 pts 29.6% 39.4%
172 New MadridNEW MADRID CO. R-I −5.8 pts 37% 32%
173 Wright City Wright CityWRIGHT CITY R-II OF WARREN CO. −5.9 pts 27.5% 41.2%
174 Versailles VersaillesMORGAN CO. R-II −6.0 pts 26.8% 41.7%
175 Map of Mexico MexicoMEXICO 59 −6.1 pts 27.6% 40.7%
176 IndependenceDunklin County · KENNETT 39 −6.2 pts 27.8% 40.3%
177 Louisiana LouisianaLOUISIANA R-II −6.4 pts 27.6% 40.2%
178 Map of Affton AfftonAFFTON 101 −6.5 pts 15.4% 52.2%
179 Map of St. Joseph St. JosephST. JOSEPH −6.6 pts 27.5% 39.9%
180 PineyTexas County · HOUSTON R-I −7.2 pts 23.3% 42.7%
181 Fayette FayetteFAYETTE R-III −7.3 pts 24.4% 41.5%
182 UnionDunklin County · CAMPBELL R-II −7.5 pts 32% 33.4%
183 High RidgeNORTHWEST R-I −8.3 pts 37% 27%
184 Kansas City Kansas CityNORTH KANSAS CITY 74 −8.9 pts 25.1% 37.6%
185 Map of Bridgeton BridgetonPATTONVILLE R-III −8.9 pts 25.2% 37.4%
186 Lemay LemayHANCOCK PLACE −9.0 pts 27.9% 34.6%
187 Map of Chaffee ChaffeeCHAFFEE R-II −9.2 pts 27.7% 34.4%
188 SalemSALEM R-80 −9.5 pts 18.2% 43.4%
189 WindsorHenry County · HENRY CO. R-I −9.5 pts 27% 34.4%
190 Hillsboro HillsboroHILLSBORO R-III −9.6 pts 20.3% 40.9%
191 MoberlyMOBERLY −9.8 pts 20.1% 40.9%
192 Lebanon LebanonLEBANON R-III −10.0 pts 25.6% 34.9%
193 Map of Buffalo BuffaloDALLAS CO. R-I −10.4 pts 24.5% 35.2%
194 El Dorado SpringsEL DORADO SPRINGS R-II −10.5 pts 22.6% 36.9%
195 BurdineTexas County · CABOOL R-IV −10.8 pts 21.8% 37.1%
196 Map of Granby GranbyEAST NEWTON CO. R-VI −11.3 pts 26% 32%
197 Map of Tipton TiptonTIPTON R-VI −11.3 pts 18.5% 39.3%
198 East Prairie East PrairieEAST PRAIRIE R-II −11.9 pts 21.1% 35.6%
199 Map of Hazelwood HazelwoodHAZELWOOD −12.8 pts 16.1% 38.9%
200 Sugar CreekINDEPENDENCE 30 −13.3 pts 20% 34%
201 North Kansas CityNORTH KANSAS CITY 74 −14.8 pts 14% 37%
202 GrandviewGRANDVIEW C-4 −15.0 pts 16.5% 33.9%
203 Cotton HillDunklin County · MALDEN R-I −15.8 pts 17.8% 31.2%
204 MarshallMARSHALL −17.0 pts 16.4% 30.2%
205 Map of St. Ann St. AnnPATTONVILLE R-III −17.7 pts 17% 28%
206 Map of Breckenridge Hills Breckenridge HillsRITENOUR −17.8 pts 9% 36%
207 University CityUNIVERSITY CITY −17.9 pts 11.6% 33.1%
208 Map of Lexington LexingtonLEXINGTON R-V −18.6 pts 17.1% 26.2%
209 Caruthersville CaruthersvilleCARUTHERSVILLE 18 −19.3 pts 13.9% 28%
210 Map of Old Jamestown Old JamestownHAZELWOOD −19.7 pts 13% 28%
211 Town and Country Town and CountrySPECL. SCH. DST. ST. LOUIS CO. −20.0 pts 18.2% 22.3%
212 Map of Overland OverlandRITENOUR −20.3 pts 14.3% 25.5%
213 RaytownRAYTOWN C-2 −20.7 pts 9.3% 29.7%
214 CharlestonCHARLESTON R-I −21.7 pts 11.6% 25.5%
215 St. Louis St. LouisST. LOUIS CITY −22.0 pts 13.3% 23.2%
216 Map of Black Jack Black JackHAZELWOOD −23.6 pts 7.7% 25.6%
217 Florissant FlorissantFERGUSON-FLORISSANT R-II −25.2 pts 7.9% 22.2%
218 Jennings JenningsJENNINGS −25.2 pts 9.9% 20.3%
219 FergusonFERGUSON-FLORISSANT R-II −25.8 pts 5.2% 23.7%
220 St. JohnRITENOUR −26.8 pts 11% 16%
221 Map of Spanish Lake Spanish LakeHAZELWOOD −29.4 pts 4.3% 17.4%
222 Map of Berkeley BerkeleyFERGUSON-FLORISSANT R-II −31.8 pts 4% 13%
223 Map of Bellefontaine Neighbors Bellefontaine NeighborsRIVERVIEW GARDENS −32.6 pts 1.8% 13.5%
224 Pine Lawn Pine LawnNORMANDY SCHOOLS COLLABORATIVE −34.3 pts 3% 9%
225 Moline AcresRIVERVIEW GARDENS −35.7 pts 1.2% 8%
226 Map of Glasgow Village Glasgow VillageRIVERVIEW GARDENS −37.8 pts 2.5% 2.5%

How this ranking works

For every public school in a town we take its latest math and reading proficiency and subtract the Missouri average for the same test. The town’s score is the average of those gaps, weighted by each school’s enrollment, so a big high school counts more than a small annex. Private schools aren’t included.

Each state writes its own tests, so these scores compare towns within Missouri only. We don’t rank a town unless at least 150 students in its schools were tested. Test data: EDFacts via Urban Institute Education Data Portal (SY2020-21).

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states

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