Public schools in Carthage, MO
11 open public schools with an address in Carthage, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
11
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
5,070
11 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.5:1
Missouri median 12.3:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Carthage public schools
The federal directory lists 11 public schools in Carthage, MO: 6 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 11 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 5,070 students, an average of 461 per school. The largest campus is Carthage High School (1,626 students), and the largest elementary school is Carthage Intermediate Center (664).
Every listed school belongs to Carthage R-IX. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 12.5:1, similar to the statewide school median of 12.3:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 64% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Carthage
Elementary schools in Carthage
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carthage Intermediate Center Carthage R-IX | 04–05 | 664 | 12.7:1 | |
| Columbian Elem. Carthage R-IX | KG–03 | 398 | 11.5:1 | |
| Fairview Elem. Carthage R-IX | KG–03 | 444 | 12.5:1 | |
| Mark Twain Elem. Carthage R-IX | KG–03 | 164 | 12.5:1 | |
| Pleasant Valley Elem. Carthage R-IX | PK–03 | 162 | 17.8:1 | |
| Steadley Elem. Carthage R-IX | KG–03 | 346 | 13.6:1 |
Middle schools in Carthage
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carthage 6th Grade Center Carthage R-IX | 06–06 | 377 | 12.3:1 | |
| Carthage Jr. High Carthage R-IX | 07–08 | 773 | 13:1 |
High schools in Carthage
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carthage High School Carthage R-IX | 09–12 | 1,626 | 18.4:1 | |
| Carthage Technical Ctr. Carthage R-IX · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 0 | 0:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Carthage
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood and Pat Center Carthage R-IX | PK–PK | 116 | 11.5:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White48.3%
- Hispanic46.7%
- Black0.7%
- Asian0.4%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.8%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.3%
- Multiracial2.9%
Enrollment-weighted across 10 Carthage schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (5,070 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Carthage
How many public schools are in Carthage, MO?
The current NCES directory lists 11 open public schools with a location address in Carthage: 6 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 5,070 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Carthage?
All listed public schools with an address in Carthage belong to Carthage R-IX. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Carthage?
Carthage High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Carthage, with 1,626 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Carthage?
No school with an address in Carthage is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Missouri.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Carthage schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Carthage public schools is 12.5:1, similar to the Missouri school median of 12.3:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Carthage guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Missouri cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Missouri cities