Malden R-I

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.

Malden, Missouri - 2 schools

An equity score of 71/100 ranks Malden R-I #66 of 433 districts in Missouri (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,214 per pupil, Malden R-I ranks #433 of 552 Missouri districts by per-pupil spending (Missouri districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

879
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$11,214
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Malden R-I operates 2 public schools serving 879 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Missouri. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Dunklin County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,214 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 28.1% local, 37.8% state, and 34.2% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 71/100, ranked #66 of 433 in Missouri against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 2 schools offering Advanced Placement (1 AP courses district-wide), a 297.5:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 20.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 57.5% White, 29.1% African American, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Malden Lower Elem., enrolling 424 students (53% of the district's total enrollment).

Malden Lower Elem. accounts for 48.2% of all Malden R-I student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Malden R-I a distant remainder — means Malden R-I-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. 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

Malden R-I reports 100.0% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share is above 87.5%, so economic need is widespread across the measured student population. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Malden R-I student-counselor ratio is 298:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

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 Variation between sub-units within Malden R-I is typically wider than the Malden R-I-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Malden R-I chronic absenteeism rate is 20.9% — 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 Malden R-I is typically wider than the Malden R-I-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

34.2%
Federal
37.8%
State
28.1%
Local

Funding Equity

71
Equity Score
66 / 433
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in Malden R-I.

White 57.5%
Hispanic or Latino 5.3%
African American 29.1%
Multiracial 7.4%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 2
Schools with AP
1 AP courses total
297.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
20.9%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Malden R-I

School Enrollment
Malden Lower Elem.
424
Malden High
383

How Malden R-I Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Missouri districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Brookfield R-Iii Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Mid-Buchanan Co. R-V Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Gasconade Co. R-I Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Crawford Co. R-I Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Dixon R-I Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Malden R-I'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 Malden R-I →
Rockwood R-Vi
20,563 students · 31 schools · $12,527/pupil
Compare vs Malden R-I →
North Kansas City 74
20,561 students · 34 schools · $14,136/pupil
Compare vs Malden R-I →
Columbia 93
18,800 students · 36 schools · $13,936/pupil
Compare vs Malden R-I →
St. Louis City
18,321 students · 68 schools · $22,979/pupil
Compare vs Malden R-I →

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 Malden R-I

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 Malden R-I?

Malden R-I has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 879 students.

How much does Malden R-I spend per student?

Malden R-I spends $11,214 per student. The district has an equity score of 71/100, ranking #66 in Missouri.

What is the demographic composition of Malden R-I?

Malden R-I students are 57.5% White, 29.1% African American, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Malden R-I?

Malden R-I has an equity score of 71/100, ranking #66 out of 433 districts in Missouri.