Southland C-9

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.

Cardwell, Missouri - 2 schools

An equity score of 75/100 ranks Southland C-9 #48 of 433 districts in Missouri (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $14,289 per pupil, Southland C-9 ranks #182 of 552 Missouri districts by per-pupil spending (Missouri districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

249
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$14,289
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Southland C-9 operates 2 public schools serving 249 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 $14,289 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 552 Missouri districts by per-pupil spending. See how Missouri compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 25.7% local, 39.6% state, and 34.7% 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 75/100, ranked #48 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.

a 299.5:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 25.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 75.3% White, 23.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Southland Elem., enrolling 150 students (57% of the district's total enrollment).

Southland Elem. accounts for 57.3% of all Southland C-9 student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Southland C-9 a distant remainder — means Southland C-9-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. Because it contains a majority of the affected population, enrollment-weighted aggregates will sit closer to this entity's reported fields than to those of smaller peers; an unweighted entity count answers a different question.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Southland C-9 reports 97.6% 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

Southland C-9 student-counselor ratio is 300:1 — 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 Southland C-9 is typically wider than the Southland C-9-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Southland C-9 chronic absenteeism rate is 25.0% — 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 Southland C-9 is typically wider than the Southland C-9-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

34.7%
Federal
39.6%
State
25.7%
Local

Funding Equity

75
Equity Score
48 / 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 Southland C-9.

White 75.3%
Hispanic or Latino 23.2%
Multiracial 1.0%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

299.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
25.0%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Southland C-9

School Enrollment
Southland Elem.
150
Southland High
112

How Southland C-9 Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Missouri districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Braymer C-4 Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Nell Holcomb R-Iv Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Chadwick R-I Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Kingsville R-I Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Glenwood R-Viii Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Southland C-9'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 Southland C-9 →
Rockwood R-Vi
20,563 students · 31 schools · $12,527/pupil
Compare vs Southland C-9 →
North Kansas City 74
20,561 students · 34 schools · $14,136/pupil
Compare vs Southland C-9 →
Columbia 93
18,800 students · 36 schools · $13,936/pupil
Compare vs Southland C-9 →
St. Louis City
18,321 students · 68 schools · $22,979/pupil
Compare vs Southland C-9 →

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 Southland C-9

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 Southland C-9?

Southland C-9 has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 249 students.

How much does Southland C-9 spend per student?

Southland C-9 spends $14,289 per student. The district has an equity score of 75/100, ranking #48 in Missouri.

What is the demographic composition of Southland C-9?

Southland C-9 students are 75.3% White, 23.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Southland C-9?

Southland C-9 has an equity score of 75/100, ranking #48 out of 433 districts in Missouri.