Missouri Education Statistics 2026: Schools, Enrollment & Spending
Missouri reported 896,167 K-12 students, 566 local districts and charter schools, and 72,700 K-12 teachers in the state’s 2024-25 public education snapshot.
The latest final federal finance release covers fiscal year 2024. Missouri public school systems recorded $14,241 in current spending per pupil, compared with $17,619 nationwide.
Missouri Education Snapshot
State figures use the newest published period available for each measure. Federal comparison data may use an earlier school-year reference.
Current Spending per Pupil Comparison
Current spending covers public pre-K-12 operating costs and excludes capital outlay, debt service, and non-pre-K-12 programs.
Missouri, Midwest, and U.S. Current Spending
Nominal dollars per pupil, fiscal year 2024
Missouri’s reported amount was $2,906 below the Midwest weighted average and $3,378 below the nationwide average. Values are not adjusted for inflation or regional price differences.
Chart analysis
- Missouri reported $14,241 in current spending per pupil for FY2024.
- The Missouri value was 16.9% below the Midwest weighted average.
- The Missouri value was 19.2% below the nationwide average.
- Missouri ranked 36th among the 50 states, or 37th when the District of Columbia is included as a separate jurisdiction.
- The Census measure excludes capital outlay and debt service.
Missouri Schools, Enrollment, Staffing, and Spending Table
The table keeps state, federal nonfiscal, and federal finance measures in separate rows so that source periods and definitions remain visible.
| Indicator | Value | Period | Coverage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K-12 students | 896,167 | 2024-25 | State K-12 count | Missouri DESE |
| Local districts and charter schools | 566 | 2024-25 | State-reported local systems | Missouri DESE |
| K-12 teachers | 72,700 | 2024-25 | State K-12 count | Missouri DESE |
| Student mobility rate | 19.9% | 2024-25 | State K-12 students | Missouri DESE |
| Free or reduced-price lunch | 49.3% | 2024-25 | State K-12 students | Missouri DESE |
| Special education | 13.9% | 2024-25 | State K-12 students | Missouri DESE |
| Operating public schools | 2,475 | 2023-24 | Operating schools | NCES CCD |
| Operating public districts | 565 | 2023-24 | Operating districts | NCES CCD |
| Public school membership | 891,248 | 2023-24 | Pre-K through grade 13 | NCES CCD |
| Teacher FTE | 69,786 | 2023-24 | Pre-K through grade 13 | NCES CCD |
| Pupil-teacher ratio | 12.8:1 | 2023-24 | Membership per teacher FTE | NCES CCD |
| Current spending per pupil | $14,241 | FY2024 | Public pre-K-12 operations | U.S. Census Bureau |
| Midwest current spending per pupil | $17,147 | FY2024 | Weighted regional average | U.S. Census Bureau |
| U.S. current spending per pupil | $17,619 | FY2024 | Nationwide average | U.S. Census Bureau |
| Difference from U.S. average | -$3,378 | FY2024 | Missouri minus U.S. | Calculated from Census values |
| Spending rank among states | 36 of 50 | FY2024 | Current spending per pupil | Calculated from Census values |
| DESE finance membership | 866,112.46 | 2024 | September membership denominator | Missouri district report card |
| Federal current expenditure per pupil | $1,613.79 | 2024 | District-level federal funds | Missouri district report card |
| State and local current expenditure per pupil | $14,301.57 | 2024 | District-level state and local funds | Missouri district report card |
| DESE district-level expenditure per pupil | $15,915.36 | 2024 | Federal plus state and local | Missouri district report card |
Table analysis
- The 2024-25 DESE snapshot reports 896,167 K-12 students across 566 local districts and charter schools.
- DESE reports 72,700 K-12 teachers for the same snapshot period.
- NCES counted 2,475 operating public schools and 565 operating districts in 2023-24.
- The NCES pupil-teacher ratio was 12.8 students per teacher FTE.
- Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility covered 49.3% of students in the DESE snapshot.
- Special education participation was 13.9%; the mobility rate was 19.9%.
- The FY2024 Census current-spending measure was $14,241 per pupil.
- The DESE district-level measure was $15,915.36 per pupil under a different definition and denominator.
- DESE, NCES, and Census counts should not be treated as one synchronized reporting period.
Missouri Spending Sources and Student Profile
The DESE spending split uses the 2024 Missouri district report card definition. Student percentages use the 2024-25 state snapshot.
District-Level Expenditure per Pupil by Funding Source
Missouri DESE, 2024
Federal funds accounted for 10.1% of the DESE district-level total; state and local funds accounted for 89.9%.
Selected Student Indicators
Share of K-12 students, 2024-25
These indicators have separate definitions and overlapping student groups. The percentages are not parts of a single total.
Chart analysis
- State and local funds supplied $14,301.57 of the DESE district-level per-pupil amount.
- Federal funds supplied $1,613.79 per pupil.
- The state and local amount was about 8.9 times the federal amount.
- Free or reduced-price lunch had the largest reported share among the three selected student indicators at 49.3%.
Missouri District-Level Expenditure Components
| Funding source | Per pupil | Share | Period | Measure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal | $1,613.79 | 10.1% | 2024 | District-level current expenditure |
| State and local | $14,301.57 | 89.9% | 2024 | District-level current expenditure |
| Total | $15,915.36 | 100.0% | 2024 | Federal plus state and local |
Table analysis
- The DESE source components sum to $15,915.36 per pupil.
- State and local funds supplied nearly nine-tenths of the reported total.
- The shares are calculated from unrounded dollar amounts shown in the source.
Reporting Period and Definition Crosswalk
| Source | Period | Primary use | Coverage note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri DESE snapshot | 2024-25 school year | Current state counts and student shares | K-12 students, local districts, charters, and teachers |
| NCES Common Core of Data | 2023-24 school year | Nationally comparable school, district, enrollment, and staffing counts | Pre-K through grade 13; teachers reported as FTE |
| Census school finance survey | Fiscal year 2024 | Current spending per pupil and geographic comparison | Public pre-K-12 systems; excludes capital outlay and debt service |
| Missouri district report card | 2024 | Federal and state-local district-level expenditure split | Uses September membership and Missouri’s stated exclusions |
Table analysis
- School-year counts and fiscal-year finance values refer to different reporting calendars.
- NCES and DESE publish different district and enrollment counts because their scope and reporting rules differ.
- The Census and DESE per-pupil values use different expenditure definitions and denominators.
What the Missouri Education Data Shows
The statewide indicators describe system scale, student coverage, staffing, and reported operating expenditures.
System scale
Missouri’s state snapshot covers nearly 900,000 K-12 students. NCES separately counted 2,475 operating public schools in its 2023-24 final files.
Enrollment scope
The DESE K-12 count and NCES pre-K-through-grade-13 membership are not direct substitutes. Each figure remains tied to its published scope.
Operating spending
Missouri’s FY2024 Census current spending per pupil was below both the Midwest and U.S. averages. The comparison uses nominal dollars.
Student indicators
Lunch eligibility, special education participation, and mobility measure different conditions. A student may appear in more than one category.
Source and Methodology
Missouri state snapshot
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 2024-2025 Public Education Snapshot. Used for K-12 students, local districts and charter schools, K-12 teachers, mobility, lunch eligibility, and special education shares.
Federal nonfiscal data
NCES Common Core of Data, 2023-24 final state summary. Used for operating schools, operating districts, membership, teacher FTE, and the pupil-teacher ratio.
Federal finance data
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data and the FY2024 state and regional spending graphic. Used for current spending per pupil and comparison values.
Missouri finance detail
Missouri DESE Data Portal. The 2024 district report card values identify federal and state-local district-level expenditures per pupil and the September membership denominator.
Method: Published statewide values are reproduced at the precision supplied by each source. Differences and shares are calculated from those displayed values. Census current spending excludes capital outlay, debt service, and non-pre-K-12 programs. Dollar figures are nominal and are not adjusted for inflation or regional price levels.
Coverage: DESE’s snapshot, NCES CCD, the Census finance survey, and Missouri district report cards use different calendars, enrollment concepts, and expenditure rules. No value is relabeled as 2026 data solely because 2026 appears in the title.
The spending ranking describes current operating expenditure per pupil only. It does not measure school quality, student outcomes, purchasing power, capital investment, or total educational resources. The Census value of $14,241 and the DESE value of $15,915.36 should not be combined or treated as duplicate estimates because their definitions and pupil denominators differ.