6.8 avg / 10

Best Schools in Cape Girardeau, Missouri

17 schools · 10 Elementary · 2 Middle · 3 High · 2 Other

Last updated: May 2026

Public: 11

Private: 6

Districts: 4

Avg Rating: 6.8/10

Estimated Scores: 40%

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 6.8/10
Median household income: $52,407
Median home value: $168,450
Bachelor's degree or higher: 31%
Avg commute: 17 min
Owner-occupied homes: 50%

How Cape Girardeau compares

Missouri rank

#70 of 257

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+0.5

above Missouri avg (6.3)

Median household income

$52k

80% of Missouri median

Schools in this city

15

About Schools in Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Cape Girardeau, Missouri is home to 17 schools, including 11 public schools and 6 private schools. The city's schools span 10 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools.

With an average rating of 6.8 out of 10, schools in Cape Girardeau show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which measures academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

The highest-performing school in Cape Girardeau is St Mary Cathedral School with a composite score of 7.9/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Cape Girardeau is served by 4 school districts. These districts collectively serve 5,804 students.

Cape Girardeau's community shows 31% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $52,407. The poverty rate in the area is 24.6%.

Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.

Filter by Level: All Levels (17) Elementary (10) Middle (2) High (3)

Filter by Type: All Types (17) Public (11) Private (6)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (17) Academics (17) Growth (9) Resources (9)

Filter by ZIP: 63701 (12) 63703 (4)

Elementary Schools

10 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	FRANKLIN ELEM. 224 students · Pre-K–4th	224	Pre-K–4th	7.8
2	CLIPPARD ELEM. 424 students · Pre-K–4th	424	Pre-K–4th	7.4
3	NELL HOLCOMB ELEM. 241 students · Kindergarten–8th	241	Kindergarten–8th	7.1
4	BLANCHARD ELEM. 303 students · Pre-K–4th	303	Pre-K–4th	6.7
5	ALMA SCHRADER ELEM. 357 students · Kindergarten–4th	357	Kindergarten–4th	5.5
6	JEFFERSON ELEM. 470 students · Pre-K–5th	470	Pre-K–5th	5.0
Private Schools 4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	ST MARY CATHEDRAL SCHOOL Private 127 students · Pre-K–8th	127	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
2	LYNWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Private 69 students · Kindergarten–8th	69	Kindergarten–8th	Not Rated
3	LYNWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Private 68 students · Pre-K–8th	68	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
4	ST VINCENT DE PAUL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Private 327 students · Pre-K–8th	327	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated

Middle Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	CENTRAL JR. HIGH 598 students · 7th–8th	598	7th–8th	7.7
2	CENTRAL MIDDLE 610 students · 5th–6th	610	5th–6th	5.6

High Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	CENTRAL HIGH 1,315 students · 9th–12th	1,315	9th–12th	6.9
2	GIRARDOT CENTER FOR YOUTH 27 students · 5th–12th	27	5th–12th	—
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	NOTRE DAME REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL Private 434 students · 9th–12th	434	9th–12th	Not Rated

Other Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	PARKVIEW SCHOOL 26 students · Kindergarten–12th	26	Kindergarten–12th	—
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	EAGLE RIDGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Private 128 students · Pre-K–12th	128	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated

Schools in Cape Girardeau

Cape Girardeau, Missouri · 17 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes

Median Income

$52,407

Median Home Value

$168,450

Median Rent

$853/mo

Population

47,303

College Educated

31%

Homeownership

50%

Avg Commute

17 min

Poverty Rate

24.6%

Community Profile

Cape Girardeau has a median household income of $52,407. It is an area where 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $168,450, with a median rent of $853/month. The area has a poverty rate of 24.6%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 17 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Quick Facts

State: Missouri
Total Schools: 17
Elementary: 10
Middle: 2
High: 3
Districts: 4
Avg Rating: 6.8/10

Resources

🔍 Google "Cape Girardeau schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Cape Girardeau 📊 Niche Cape Girardeau Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (4)

DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICE

41 schools · 570 students

MO SCHLS FOR THE SEV DISABLED

35 schools · 692 students

CAPE GIRARDEAU 63

9 schools · 4,301 students

NELL HOLCOMB R-IV

1 school · 241 students

Nearby Cities

Scott City (4 schools)

Millersville (1 school)

15 mi

Oak Ridge (2 schools)

Bell City (2 schools)

25 mi

Advance (2 schools)

24 mi

Other Major Cities in Missouri

Top metros statewide by school count.

St. Louis 290 schools Kansas City 197 schools Springfield 82 schools Columbia 47 schools St. Charles 41 schools

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Cape Girardeau, Missouri

How many schools are in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?

Cape Girardeau has 17 schools, including 11 public and 6 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Cape Girardeau is 6.8 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

What is the top-ranked school in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?

The top-ranked school in Cape Girardeau on MySchoolScout is St Mary Cathedral School with a composite score of 7.9/10.

What is the best elementary school in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?

The top-ranked elementary school in Cape Girardeau on MySchoolScout is St Mary Cathedral School with a composite score of 7.9/10.

What is the best middle school in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?

The top-ranked middle school in Cape Girardeau on MySchoolScout is Central Jr. High with a composite score of 7.7/10.

What is the best high school in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?

The top-ranked high school in Cape Girardeau on MySchoolScout is Central High with a composite score of 6.9/10.

How many school districts serve Cape Girardeau, Missouri?

Cape Girardeau is served by 4 school districts: Division of Youth Service, Mo Schls for the Sev Disabled, Cape Girardeau 63, Nell Holcomb R-iv.

What is the education level in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?

According to Census data, 31% of adults in Cape Girardeau have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?

The median household income in Cape Girardeau is approximately $52,407 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?

Yes, Cape Girardeau has 6 private schools alongside 11 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Mary Cathedral School with a score of 7.9/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Cape Girardeau is 10.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.