K-12 Public School Participation: A Regional Profile

Written By SLU PRiME

A regional profile of public school participation in Missouri.

Key Points:

  • Between 2009–2013 and 2019–2023, the percent of all Missouri school-age children enrolled in public schools increased slightly in the St. Louis region (+1.5 percentage points) and the Central region (+1.1 pp) but decreased in seven of nine Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MO DESE) supervisory regions.

  • The largest percentage point decreases in percent public were in the Northeast (–3.3 percentage points), Southwest (–3.0 pp), Kansas City (–1.3 pp), and Western Plains (–1.3 pp) regions.

  • Though percent public increased in St. Louis, percent public remains lowest in the St. Louis region (82.6%) and highest in the Bootheel region (89.9%).

Please Cite As: Shelton, A. (2025). K-12 public school participation: A regional profile. Policy Research in Missouri Education, 7(13). Saint Louis University.

SLU PRiME
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Missouri Education Profile 2023