Zalma R-V

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.

Zalma, Missouri - 2 schools

At $13,777 per pupil, Zalma R-V ranks #206 of 552 Missouri districts by per-pupil spending (Missouri districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

197
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$13,777
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Zalma R-V operates 2 public schools serving 197 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 Bollinger County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,777 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 29.0% local, 42.3% state, and 28.7% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one.

a 137.5:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 18.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 97.8% White, 1.7% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Zalma Elem., enrolling 101 students (58% of the district's total enrollment).

Enrollment across the district's NCES-reporting campuses held roughly steady from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (197 to 195 students, -1%), per the NCES Common Core of Data annual universe files.

Of the district's $4,124,000 in reported FY2023 expenditures, 34.2% went to instruction, 27.2% to support services, and 33.4% to capital outlay, a capital-heavy year, consistent with active construction, renovation, or major equipment purchases. Figures come from the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey's function-level breakdown, not the aggregate per-pupil figure above.

Zalma Elem. accounts for 51.3% of all Zalma R-V student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Zalma R-V a distant remainder — means Zalma R-V-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

Zalma R-V 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

Zalma R-V student-counselor ratio is 138:1 — well below typical (typically associated with unusually small scale or exceptionally high per-unit investment)

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 Values this far below typical often correlate with unusually small scale or population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se — worth checking whether the underlying denominator is itself an outlier.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Zalma R-V chronic absenteeism rate is 18.3% — 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 Zalma R-V is typically wider than the Zalma R-V-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

28.7%
Federal
42.3%
State
29.0%
Local

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in Zalma R-V.

White 97.8%
African American 1.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

137.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
18.3%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Zalma R-V

School Enrollment
Zalma Elem.
101
Zalma High
73

How Zalma R-V Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Missouri districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Lesterville R-Iv Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Bell City R-Ii Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Northeast Vernon Co. R-I Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Pattonsburg R-Ii Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Atlanta C-3 Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

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

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 Zalma R-V

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 Zalma R-V?

Zalma R-V has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 197 students.

How much does Zalma R-V spend per student?

Zalma R-V spends $13,777 per student.

What is the demographic composition of Zalma R-V?

Zalma R-V students are 97.8% White, 1.7% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.