Joplin Schools

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Joplin, Missouri - 15 schools

An equity score of 29/100 ranks Joplin Schools #364 of 433 districts in Missouri (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $10,792 per pupil, Joplin Schools ranks #477 of 552 Missouri districts by per-pupil spending (Missouri districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

7,694
Total Enrollment
15
Schools
$10,792
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Joplin Schools operates 15 public schools serving 7,694 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Missouri. The school portfolio breaks down into 10 elementary, 3 middle, 1 high, 1 combined schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Jasper County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $10,792 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 552 Missouri districts by per-pupil spending. See how Missouri compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 54.9% local, 26.1% state, and 19.0% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 29/100, ranked #364 of 433 in Missouri against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 15 schools offering Advanced Placement (9 AP courses district-wide), a 403.3:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 17.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 65.2% White, 13.1% Hispanic or Latino, 4.8% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Eastmorland Elem., with a diversity index of 59.4/100.

Its largest campus is Joplin High, enrolling 2,288 students (29% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Jefferson Elem., at 218 students, a 10x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Joplin High accounts for 29.1% of all Joplin Schools student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Joplin Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: high. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Joplin Schools school enrollment varies 10× across entities

Joplin Schools school enrollment ranges from 218 students (lowest) to 2,288 students (highest), a spread of 2,070 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Joplin Schools student-counselor ratio is 403:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Joplin Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 17.0% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Joplin Schools is typically wider than the Joplin Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

19.0%
Federal
26.1%
State
54.9%
Local

Funding Equity

29
Equity Score
364 / 433
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 15 schools in Joplin Schools.

White 65.2%
Hispanic or Latino 13.1%
African American 4.8%
Asian 1.6%
Multiracial 10.3%
Other 5.0%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 54.0/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Joplin Schools's schools, above the Missouri average of 31.0.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Eastmorland Elem. 59.4
  2. 2 Mckinley Elem. 59.0
  3. 3 Kelsey Norman Elem. 58.1
  4. 4 East Middle 57.1
  5. 5 Irving Elementary 56.6

Programs & Resources

1 / 15
Schools with AP
9 AP courses total
403.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
17.0%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Joplin Schools

School Enrollment
Joplin High
2,288
South Middle
596
East Middle
592
North Middle
549
Cecil Floyd Elem.
532
Irving Elementary
434
Dover Hill Elementary
412
Stapleton Elem.
400
Soaring Heights Elem.
395
Mckinley Elem.
324
Joplin Early Childhood Ctr.
311
Kelsey Norman Elem.
300
Royal Heights Elem.
277
Eastmorland Elem.
245
Jefferson Elem.
218

How Joplin Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Missouri districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Lindbergh Schools Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Raytown C-2 Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Troy R-Iii Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Nixa Public Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Jefferson City Similar size Higher spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Joplin Schools's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Missouri

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Springfield R-Xii
22,937 students · 57 schools · $14,461/pupil
Compare vs Joplin Schools →
Rockwood R-Vi
20,563 students · 31 schools · $12,527/pupil
Compare vs Joplin Schools →
North Kansas City 74
20,561 students · 34 schools · $14,136/pupil
Compare vs Joplin Schools →
Columbia 93
18,800 students · 36 schools · $13,936/pupil
Compare vs Joplin Schools →
St. Louis City
18,321 students · 68 schools · $22,979/pupil
Compare vs Joplin Schools →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Joplin Schools

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Springfield R-Xii →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Joplin Schools?

Joplin Schools has 15 schools, including 1 high, 3 middle, 10 elementary, 1 combined. Total enrollment is 7,694 students.

How much does Joplin Schools spend per student?

Joplin Schools spends $10,792 per student. The district has an equity score of 29/100, ranking #364 in Missouri.

What is the demographic composition of Joplin Schools?

Joplin Schools students are 65.2% White, 13.1% Hispanic or Latino, 4.8% African American, 1.6% Asian, averaged across 15 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Joplin Schools?

Joplin Schools has an equity score of 29/100, ranking #364 out of 433 districts in Missouri.