Public schools in West Plains, MO
11 open public schools with an address in West Plains, operated by 7 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
11
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
4,137
11 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.1:1
Missouri median 12.3:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of West Plains public schools
The federal directory lists 11 public schools in West Plains, MO: 7 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 11 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 4,137 students, an average of 376 per school. The largest campus is West Plains Sr. High (1,108 students), and the largest elementary school is West Plains Elem. (767).
West Plains R-VII operates the most schools here (5), and 6 regular districts have at least one West Plains campus, plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. 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 12.1:1, 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 0 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 60% 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 West Plains
West Plains R-VII
Public school district
5 schools in West Plains
Fairview R-XI
Public school district
1 school in West Plains
Glenwood R-VIII
Public school district
1 school in West Plains
Howell Valley R-I
Public school district
1 school in West Plains
Junction Hill C-12
Public school district
1 school in West Plains
Mo Schls for the Sev Disabled
State operated agency
1 school in West Plains · 35 total
Richards R-V
Public school district
1 school in West Plains
Elementary schools in West Plains
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairview Elem. Fairview R-XI | PK–08 | 466 | 15:1 | |
| Glenwood Elem. Glenwood R-VIII | PK–08 | 252 | 10.4:1 | |
| Howell Valley Elem. Howell Valley R-I | PK–08 | 201 | 11.3:1 | |
| Junction Hill Elem. Junction Hill C-12 | PK–08 | 186 | 10.9:1 | |
| Richards Elem. Richards R-V | PK–08 | 389 | 15:1 | |
| South Fork Elem. West Plains R-VII | PK–06 | 196 | 12.7:1 | |
| West Plains Elem. West Plains R-VII | PK–04 | 767 | 12.1:1 |
Middle schools in West Plains
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Plains Middle West Plains R-VII | 05–08 | 555 | 13.1:1 |
High schools in West Plains
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Mo Tech Institute West Plains R-VII · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| West Plains Sr. High West Plains R-VII | 09–12 | 1,108 | 16.5:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in West Plains
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozark Horizon School Mo Schls for the Sev Disabled · Special Education School | KG–12 | 17 | 4.3:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White92.2%
- Hispanic3.8%
- Black0.5%
- Asian0.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial2.3%
Enrollment-weighted across 10 West Plains schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (4,137 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in West Plains
How many public schools are in West Plains, MO?
The current NCES directory lists 11 open public schools with a location address in West Plains: 7 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 4,137 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve West Plains?
Schools with an address in West Plains belong to 7 education agencies, led by West Plains R-VII (5 schools), Fairview R-XI (1 school), Glenwood R-VIII (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 West Plains?
West Plains Sr. High reported the largest high-school enrollment in West Plains, with 1,108 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in West Plains?
No school with an address in West Plains 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 West Plains schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across West Plains public schools is 12.1:1, 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 West Plains 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