4.9 avg / 10

Best Schools in Poplar Bluff, Missouri

15 schools · 7 Elementary · 2 Middle · 3 High · 3 Other

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 12

Private: 3

Districts: 3

Avg Rating: 4.9/10

Estimated Scores: 21%

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Choosing a school in Poplar Bluff?

Use this page to compare every school in Poplar Bluff by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Explore the map How we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Middle · Poplar Bluff R-i. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Poplar Bluff for 2026 are First Baptist School (6.9/10), Sacred Heart School (6.7/10), and Poplar Bluff Middle School (5.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 11 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.

Best value · beats the odds

Poplar Bluff Middle School

Rates 5.7/10 despite 72% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.4 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 Poplar Bluff schools.

Top-Rated Schools in Poplar Bluff

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (11 of 15). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	First Baptist School	6.9 / 10	Elementary	—	66th
2	Sacred Heart School	6.7 / 10	Elementary	—	61th
3	Poplar Bluff Middle School	5.7 / 10	Middle	+1.4	36th
4	Oak Grove Elem.	5.1 / 10	Elementary	+0.4	25th
5	O'neal Elem.	5.0 / 10	Elementary	+0.3	23th
6	Westwood Baptist Academy	4.8 / 10	Other	—	11th
7	Lake Road Elem.	4.5 / 10	Elementary	-0.2	15th
8	Eugene Field Elem.	4.1 / 10	Elementary	-0.6	10th
9	Shady Grove School	4.0 / 10	Other	-0.5	10th
10	Poplar Bluff Jr. High	3.7 / 10	Middle	-0.5	6th

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: 4.9/10
Median household income: $49,979
Median home value: $143,200
Bachelor's degree or higher: 16%
Avg commute: 18 min
Owner-occupied homes: 62%

How Poplar Bluff compares

Missouri rank

#245 of 258

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-1.4

below Missouri avg (6.3)

Median household income

$50k

76% of Missouri median

Schools in this city

14

About Schools in Poplar Bluff, Missouri

Poplar Bluff, Missouri is home to 15 schools, including 12 public schools and 3 private schools. The city's schools span 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools.

With an average rating of 4.9 out of 10, schools in Poplar Bluff show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

The highest-performing school in Poplar Bluff is First Baptist School with a composite score of 6.9/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Poplar Bluff is served by 3 school districts: DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICE, MO SCHLS FOR THE SEV DISABLED, POPLAR BLUFF R-I. These districts collectively serve 6,336 students.

Poplar Bluff's community shows 16% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $49,979. The poverty rate in the area is 19.9%.

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 (15) Elementary (7) Middle (2) High (3)

Filter by Type: All Types (15) Public (12) Private (3)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (15) Academics (11) Growth (8) Diversity (8) Resources (11)

Filter by ZIP: 63901 (15)

Elementary Schools

7 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Oak Grove Elem. 324 students · 1st–3rd	324	1st–3rd	5.1
2	O'neal Elem. 335 students · 1st–3rd	335	1st–3rd	5.0
3	Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Ctr. 359 students · Kindergarten–Kindergarten	359	Kindergarten–Kindergarten	4.9
4	Lake Road Elem. 318 students · 1st–6th	318	1st–6th	4.5
5	Eugene Field Elem. 261 students · 1st–3rd	261	1st–3rd	4.1
Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	First Baptist School Private 63 students · Pre-K–6th	63	Pre-K–6th	6.9
2	Sacred Heart School Private 73 students · Pre-K–6th	73	Pre-K–6th	6.7

Middle Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Poplar Bluff Middle School 970 students · 4th–6th	970	4th–6th	5.7
2	Poplar Bluff Jr. High 750 students · 7th–8th	750	7th–8th	3.7

High Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	W. E. Sears Youth Ctr. 61 students · 5th–12th	61	5th–12th	6.3
2	Poplar Bluff High 1,459 students · 9th–12th	1,459	9th–12th	3.7
3	Sierra-osage Treatment Ctr. 21 students · 5th–12th	21	5th–12th	—

Other Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Shady Grove School 39 students · Kindergarten–12th	39	Kindergarten–12th	4.0
2	Poplar Bluff Early Childhood C 298 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	298	Pre-K–Pre-K	3.5
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	Westwood Baptist Academy Private 209 students · Pre-K–12th	209	Pre-K–12th	4.8

Schools in Poplar Bluff

Poplar Bluff, Missouri · 15 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$49,979

Median Home Value

$143,200

Median Rent

$785/mo

Population

34,920

College Educated

16%

Homeownership

62%

Avg Commute

18 min

Poverty Rate

19.9%

Community Profile

Poplar Bluff has a median household income of $49,979. It is a community where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $143,200, with a median rent of $785/month. The area has a poverty rate of 19.9%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: Missouri
Elementary: 7
Middle: 2
High: 3
Other: 3

Resources

🔍 Google "Poplar Bluff schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Poplar Bluff 📊 Niche Poplar Bluff Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (3)

DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICE

41 schools · 570 students

MO SCHLS FOR THE SEV DISABLED

35 schools · 692 students

POPLAR BLUFF R-I

10 schools · 5,074 students

Nearby Cities

Williamsville (1 school)

15 mi

Neelyville (2 schools)

Ellsinore (3 schools)

20 mi

Greenville (3 schools)

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

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Poplar Bluff, Missouri

How many schools are in Poplar Bluff, Missouri?

Poplar Bluff has 15 schools, including 12 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Poplar Bluff, Missouri?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Poplar Bluff is 4.9 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 Poplar Bluff, Missouri?

The top-ranked school in Poplar Bluff on MySchoolScout is First Baptist School with a composite score of 6.9/10.

What is the best elementary school in Poplar Bluff, Missouri?

The top-ranked elementary school in Poplar Bluff on MySchoolScout is First Baptist School with a composite score of 6.9/10.

What is the best middle school in Poplar Bluff, Missouri?

The top-ranked middle school in Poplar Bluff on MySchoolScout is Poplar Bluff Middle School with a composite score of 5.7/10.

What is the best high school in Poplar Bluff, Missouri?

The top-ranked high school in Poplar Bluff on MySchoolScout is Poplar Bluff High with a composite score of 3.7/10.

How many school districts serve Poplar Bluff, Missouri?

Poplar Bluff is served by 3 school districts: Division of Youth Service, Mo Schls for the Sev Disabled, Poplar Bluff R-i.

What is the education level in Poplar Bluff, Missouri?

According to Census data, 16% of adults in Poplar Bluff have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Poplar Bluff, Missouri?

The median household income in Poplar Bluff is approximately $49,979 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Poplar Bluff, Missouri?

Yes, Poplar Bluff has 3 private schools alongside 12 public schools. The top-rated private school is First Baptist School with a score of 6.9/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Poplar Bluff, Missouri?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Poplar Bluff is 11.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Poplar Bluff, 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.