Enrollment
1,075
Missouri · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Anderson, MO
Mcdonald County High
Federal NCES profile for Mcdonald County High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 292061001104
👥 S:T ratio 38
📚 AP courses 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 46
📋 Attendance 29
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mcdonald County High earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Missouri schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Missouri.
- #3 of 4
- public schools in Anderson · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.4:1
- large classes for Missouri
- 52.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Mcdonald County High has class sizes larger than 83% of Missouri schools. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mcdonald County High ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Anderson, MO.
School address
District: Mcdonald Co. R-I · Missouri
NCES ID 292061001104 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
70.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.4:1
vs 12.8:1 Missouri avg
+20% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
52.1%
vs 46.1% Missouri avg
+13% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Mcdonald County High compares with Missouri and U.S. medians
What stands out at Mcdonald County High
Mcdonald County High is a higher-need, large high school in Anderson, Missouri, enrolling 1,075 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.4:1 puts it in the larger third of Missouri schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 52.1% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Missouri, bigger than 96% of state schools at 1,075 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,313 scored Missouri schools.
Against 55 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #20.
Its student body is led by White (62%) and Hispanic or Latino (23%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 55/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 8 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 269 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 28.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Mcdonald Co. R-I spends $10,211 per pupil, 21% below the Missouri average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 17.8% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 389 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,075 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Mcdonald Co. R-I also operates Anderson Elem. (521 students) and Southwest City Elem. (350 students) alongside Mcdonald County High.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Mcdonald County High compares
Mcdonald County High on the metrics families compare, against Missouri and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Missouri | Missouri avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.4:1 | ▲ 20% | 12.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 52.1% | ▲ 13% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,075 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,075
Bigger than 92% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
52.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 13% above the Missouri average of 46.1%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 20% above state mean
Top 83% in Missouri - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
28.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$10,211
per pupil, district-wide
- below Missouri avg of $12,931
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 269 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
304
in-school suspensions + 85 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 28.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 36.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 62.2%
Hispanic or Latino 23.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 6.8%
Two or More 3.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.0%
Asian 1.0%
African American 0.5%
Largest group: White at 62.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.2, Mcdonald County High is more mixed than the Missouri school average of 31.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 8
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Mcdonald Co. R-I, which includes Mcdonald County High.
$10,211
Per student
-21%
vs Missouri
Avg $12,931
-38%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 33.9%
State 48.3%
Federal 17.8%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Mcdonald County High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson Elem. | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Southwest City Elem. | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Noel Elem. | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| White Rock Elem. | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Anderson Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mcdonald County High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 521
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 350
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 349
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 347
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 275
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 61/100
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Missouri, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,075 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Mcdonald County High's federal record.
- Compare Mcdonald County High against another school. Compare schools
- Mcdonald Co. R-I's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Mcdonald County High
How many students attend Mcdonald County High?
Mcdonald County High has 1,075 students enrolled. It is a high school in Anderson, MO.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mcdonald County High?
The student-teacher ratio at Mcdonald County High is 15.4:1, which is 20% higher than the Missouri average of 12.8:1 and 2% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mcdonald County High?
52.1% of students at Mcdonald County High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mcdonald County High?
The largest demographic group at Mcdonald County High is White at 62.2% of enrollment, in Anderson, MO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mcdonald County High?
Mcdonald County High has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Mcdonald County High rank among public schools in Anderson?
By Resource Investment Index, Mcdonald County High ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Anderson, MO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Anderson on the city page.
Is Mcdonald County High a good school?
Mcdonald County High earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Missouri schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Missouri. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Mcdonald Co. R-I?
Besides Mcdonald County High, Mcdonald Co. R-I also operates Anderson Elem. (521 students), Southwest City Elem. (350 students), and Noel Elem. (349 students). See the Mcdonald Co. R-I district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.