Public schools in Poplar Bluff, MO
13 open public schools with an address in Poplar Bluff, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
13
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
5,006
13 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.4:1
Missouri median 12.3:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Poplar Bluff public schools
The federal directory lists 13 public schools in Poplar Bluff, MO: 5 elementary, 2 middle, 4 high, 2 combined or other. The 13 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 5,006 students, an average of 385 per school. The largest campus is Poplar Bluff High (1,416 students), and the largest elementary school is O'Neal Elem. (344).
Poplar Bluff R-I operates the most schools here (10), plus 2 charter, service, or other agencies. 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 12.4:1, 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 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 5 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 77% 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 Poplar Bluff
Elementary schools in Poplar Bluff
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene Field Elem. Poplar Bluff R-I | 01–03 | 227 | 9.1:1 | |
| Lake Road Elem. Poplar Bluff R-I | 01–06 | 300 | 12.4:1 | |
| O'Neal Elem. Poplar Bluff R-I | 01–03 | 344 | 12.2:1 | |
| Oak Grove Elem. Poplar Bluff R-I | 01–03 | 317 | 13.8:1 | |
| Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Ctr. Poplar Bluff R-I | KG–KG | 333 | 12.4:1 |
Middle schools in Poplar Bluff
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poplar Bluff Jr. High Poplar Bluff R-I | 07–08 | 735 | 13.1:1 | |
| Poplar Bluff Middle School Poplar Bluff R-I | 04–06 | 932 | 12.6:1 |
High schools in Poplar Bluff
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poplar Bluff High Poplar Bluff R-I | 09–12 | 1,416 | 16.3:1 | |
| Poplar Bluff Tech. Career Ctr. Poplar Bluff R-I · Career and Technical School | 10–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| Sierra-Osage Treatment Ctr. Division of Youth Service | 05–12 | 14 | 4.7:1 | |
| W. E. Sears Youth Ctr. Division of Youth Service | 05–12 | 54 | 6:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Poplar Bluff
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poplar Bluff Early Childhood C Poplar Bluff R-I | PK–PK | 295 | 17.3:1 | |
| Shady Grove School Mo Schls for the Sev Disabled · Special Education School | KG–12 | 39 | 4.9:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White74.8%
- Hispanic3.3%
- Black11.5%
- Asian0.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial9.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 12 Poplar Bluff schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (5,006 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Poplar Bluff
How many public schools are in Poplar Bluff, MO?
The current NCES directory lists 13 open public schools with a location address in Poplar Bluff: 5 elementary, 2 middle, 4 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 5,006 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Poplar Bluff?
Schools with an address in Poplar Bluff belong to 3 education agencies, led by Poplar Bluff R-I (10 schools), Division of Youth Service (2 schools), Mo Schls for the Sev Disabled (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Poplar Bluff?
Poplar Bluff High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Poplar Bluff, with 1,416 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Poplar Bluff?
No school with an address in Poplar Bluff 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 Poplar Bluff schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Poplar Bluff public schools is 12.4:1, 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 Poplar Bluff 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