- Enrollment
- 1,133
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Sedalia, MO
Smith-Cotton High School
Federal NCES profile for Smith-Cotton High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 292783001709
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 22
📋 Attendance 46
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Smith-Cotton High School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Missouri schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Missouri.
- #10 of 11
- public schools in Sedalia · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.6:1
- large classes for Missouri
- 49.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Smith-Cotton High School has class sizes larger than 93% of Missouri schools. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Smith-Cotton High School ranks #10 of 11 public schools in Sedalia, MO.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+61 students YoY
Smith-Cotton High School held near 1,535 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+61 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 88.5 → 88.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+61 students YoY 292783001709 · Sedalia, MO High · MID · TRAD
1,551 enr · 17.6:1 · 49.1% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Smith Cotton Junior High Schl (1,133 students)
Smith-Cotton High School held near 1,535 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+61 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 88.5 → 88.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Missouri schools → · Find another →
Smith-Cotton High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Smith-Cotton High School
1,551 students
- Smith Cotton J
Smith Cotton Junior High Schl
1,133 students
- Skyline Elem. 483
Skyline Elem.
483 students
- Heber Hunt Ele 448
Heber Hunt Elem.
448 students
- Parkview Elem. 447
Parkview Elem.
447 students
- Sedalia Middle 396
Sedalia Middle School
396 students
What this shows Smith-Cotton High School reports 1,551 students on the CCD universe file.
How Smith-Cotton High School compares
Smith-Cotton High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Missouri and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Missouri | Missouri avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.6:1 | ▲ 38% | 12.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 49.1% | ▲ 7% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,551 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.6:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,551
Bigger than 96% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
49.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 7% 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
17.6:1
students per teacher
- 38% above state mean
Top 93% in Missouri - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
21.7%
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
$10,620
per pupil, district-wide
- below Missouri avg of $14,087
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 388 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
116
in-school suspensions + 81 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 65.9%
Hispanic or Latino 21.1%
Two or More 8.2%
African American 3.3%
Asian 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 65.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.3, Smith-Cotton High School is more mixed than the Missouri school average of 31.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 16
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Sedalia 200 reports $10,620 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Smith-Cotton High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smith Cotton Junior High Schl | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Skyline Elem. | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Heber Hunt Elem. | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Parkview Elem. | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sedalia Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Smith-Cotton High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 483
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 448
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 447
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 396
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,551 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.6:1)
Frequently asked questions about Smith-Cotton High School
How many students attend Smith-Cotton High School?
Smith-Cotton High School has 1,551 students enrolled. It is a high school in Sedalia, MO. CCD year-over-year: 1,474 (2022-23) → 1,535 (2023-24), nearly flat (+61).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Smith-Cotton High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Smith-Cotton High School is 17.6:1, which is 38% higher than the Missouri average of 12.8:1 and 12% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Smith-Cotton High School?
49.1% of students at Smith-Cotton High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Smith-Cotton High School?
The largest demographic group at Smith-Cotton High School is White at 65.9% of enrollment, in Sedalia, MO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Smith-Cotton High School?
Smith-Cotton High School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Smith-Cotton High School rank among public schools in Sedalia?
By Resource Investment Index, Smith-Cotton High School ranks #10 of 11 public schools in Sedalia, 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 Sedalia on the city page.
What other schools are in Sedalia 200?
Besides Smith-Cotton High School, Sedalia 200 also operates Smith Cotton Junior High Schl (1,133 students), Skyline Elem. (483 students), and Heber Hunt Elem. (448 students). See the Sedalia 200 district page for the complete list.