Best Schools in Carthage, Missouri
10 schools · 6 Elementary · 2 Middle · 1 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Carthage?
Use this page to compare every school in Carthage by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Carthage Intermediate Center
Elementary · Carthage R-ix. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Carthage Jr. High
Middle · Carthage R-ix. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Pleasant Valley Elem.
Elementary · Carthage R-ix. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Carthage for 2026 are Carthage Intermediate Center (7.6/10), Carthage Jr. High (7.3/10), and Pleasant Valley Elem. (6.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 9 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
10
in this city
Avg Score
5.7
out of 10
Median Home
$157,700
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
10
in this city
Avg Score
5.7
out of 10
Median Home
$157,700
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 7.6/10 despite 71% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Carthage schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Carthage
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (9 of 10). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carthage Intermediate Center | 7.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Carthage Jr. High | 7.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Pleasant Valley Elem. | 6.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Steadley Elem. | 5.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Carthage 6th Grade Center | 5.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Fairview Elem. | 5.7 / 10 |
| 7 | Mark Twain Elem. | 5.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Columbian Elem. | 4.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Carthage High School | 4.0 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.7/10
- Median household income
- $58,775
- Median home value
- $157,700
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 24%
- Avg commute
- 19 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 65%
20% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Carthage compares
Missouri rank
#196 of 258
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.6
below Missouri avg (6.3)
Median household income
$59k
89% of Missouri median
Schools in this city
10
About Schools in Carthage, Missouri
Carthage, Missouri has 10 ranked public schools, giving parents a complete pipeline from early childhood through high school. The city-wide average sits at 6.1 out of 10, a baseline that masks real variation across grade levels. Four of those 10 schools — 40% — score 7 or above, so a substantial portion of students can access above-average options without leaving the district.
The standout is Mark Twain Elementary, which earns an 8.9. That's a strong anchor at the elementary level and gives parents with younger children a clear top choice. Carthage Jr. High follows at 8.2, meaning the move from elementary into middle school doesn't come with a steep performance drop — a detail that matters for families planning across multiple grade transitions.
Two more schools clear the 7.0 mark. Carthage 6th Grade Center scores 7.3 and Carthage Intermediate Center — an elementary building — scores 7.2. Together with Mark Twain and Carthage Jr. High, these four schools account for that 40% above-average rate. Early Childhood and PAT Center scores 6.4, sitting close to the city average and serving as the district's entry point for the youngest learners. The lower-scoring schools in the district pull the overall figure to 6.1, which is why the aggregate number tells only part of the story.
Parents researching Carthage should focus on individual buildings rather than the city-wide average. The top of the pipeline is genuinely strong: Mark Twain Elementary at 8.9 and Carthage Jr. High at 8.2 give families at those stages competitive options. With 40% of ranked schools scoring 7 or above, Carthage puts above-average choices within reach across most grade levels. The 6.1 city-wide figure reflects a wide spread across all 10 schools, not a flat performance floor — families prioritizing the elementary and middle school years will find the most to work with here.
Elementary Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 725 students · 4th–5th | 7.6 |
| 2 | 158 students · Pre-K–3rd | 6.0 |
| 3 | 350 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 5.9 |
| 4 | 411 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 5.7 |
| 5 | 169 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 5.3 |
| 6 | 378 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 4.7 |
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 732 students · 7th–8th | 7.3 |
| 2 | 393 students · 6th–6th | 5.9 |
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,634 students · 9th–12th | 4.0 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 112 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.7 |
Schools in Carthage
Carthage, Missouri · 10 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$58,775
Median Home Value
$157,700
Median Rent
$883/mo
Population
25,727
College Educated
24%
Homeownership
65%
Avg Commute
19 min
Poverty Rate
23.7%
Community Profile
Carthage has a median household income of $58,775. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $157,700, with a median rent of $883/month. The area has a poverty rate of 23.7%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Missouri
- Elementary
- 6
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 1
- Other
- 1
Resources
School District
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Missouri
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Carthage, Missouri
How many schools are in Carthage, Missouri?
Carthage has 10 schools, including 10 public and 0 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Carthage, Missouri?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Carthage is 5.7 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Carthage, Missouri?
The top-ranked school in Carthage on MySchoolScout is Carthage Intermediate Center with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Carthage, Missouri?
The top-ranked elementary school in Carthage on MySchoolScout is Carthage Intermediate Center with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What is the best middle school in Carthage, Missouri?
The top-ranked middle school in Carthage on MySchoolScout is Carthage Jr. High with a composite score of 7.3/10.
What is the best high school in Carthage, Missouri?
The top-ranked high school in Carthage on MySchoolScout is Carthage High School with a composite score of 4.0/10.
How many school districts serve Carthage, Missouri?
Carthage is served by 1 school district: Carthage R-ix.
What is the education level in Carthage, Missouri?
According to Census data, 24% of adults in Carthage have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Carthage, Missouri?
The median household income in Carthage is approximately $58,775 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Carthage, Missouri?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Carthage is 13.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Carthage, 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 built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Missouri Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.