Excellent
#269 of 2,216 schools in MO
Top 12% in state
Penney High
High School · HAMILTON R-II
PO BOX 130, Hamilton, MO 64644
Enrollment
192
Student-Teacher
10.1:1
Score
8.0
Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
192
Student-Teacher
10.1:1
Score
8.0
Grades
9th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Hamilton
#1 of 3
public schools
Missouri high schools
#57 of 532
In district
#1 of 3
HAMILTON R-II
Academic performance
8.9 / 10
Exceptional
About Penney High
Penney High School serves 192 students in grades 9-12 in Hamilton, Missouri, earning recognition as one of the state's top-performing high schools. With a MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10 and ranking #119 out of 2,234 Missouri schools, Penney High places in the 95th percentile statewide for academic achievement. The school maintains an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 10.1:1 with 19 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for personalized attention and strong student-teacher relationships.
Academically, students show solid performance in English Language Arts with 64% achieving proficiency or above, while mathematics presents opportunities for continued growth with 44% of students meeting proficiency standards. Despite its remote rural location, Penney High demonstrates that small schools can deliver excellent educational outcomes. The surrounding Hamilton community in Caldwell County reflects typical rural characteristics, with a median household income of $69,688 and median home values around $175,000.
About 25% of area residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, and the poverty rate stands at 15%. Penney High School offers students a close-knit educational environment where individual attention and community connections thrive in Missouri's rural landscape.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 192 students, Penney High is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
Located in a rural area, Penney High may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
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Penney High — Students at Penney High score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
39.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MO EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 test records from MO state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.8/10.
How Penney High Compares
See how Penney High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 44.5% (2019) to 44.5% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 64.5% (2019) to 64.5% (2022).
Location
PO BOX 130, Hamilton, MO 64644
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Penney High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. GALLATIN HIGH (rated 8.0/10, 11.0 miles away, in nearby Gallatin), with a very similar rating. Another option is WINSTON HIGH (rated 7.1/10, 11.3 miles away, in nearby Winston), with a comparable rating. Additionally, POLO HIGH (rated 5.8/10, 14.1 miles away, in nearby Polo), a more accessible option. For more schools in Hamilton, see our Hamilton schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 13.1 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| HAMILTON MIDDLE Hamilton | 0.0 mi | 6.5 |
| HAMILTON ELEM. Hamilton | 0.2 mi | 7.1 |
| NEW YORK ELEM. Hamilton | 6.0 mi | — |
| KINGSTON ELEM. Kingston | 7.6 mi | 8.9 |
| GALLATIN HIGH Gallatin | 11.0 mi | 8.0 |
| GALLATIN MIDDLE SCHOOL Gallatin | 11.0 mi | 6.5 |
| COVEL D. SEARCY ELEM. Gallatin | 11.1 mi | 8.0 |
| WINSTON ELEM. Winston | 11.3 mi | 6.5 |
| WINSTON HIGH Winston | 11.3 mi | 7.1 |
| BRECKENRIDGE ELEM. Breckenridge | 10.3 mi | 5.0 |
| BRECKENRIDGE HIGH Breckenridge | 10.3 mi | — |
| MIRABILE ELEM. Polo | 12.1 mi | 3.4 |
| POLO MIDDLE Polo | 14.1 mi | 9.2 |
| POLO ELEM. Polo | 14.1 mi | 3.9 |
| POLO HIGH Polo | 14.1 mi | 5.8 |
| COWGILL ELEM. Cowgill | 13.9 mi | 9.3 |
| CAMERON HIGH Cameron | 13.0 mi | 5.6 |
| CAMERON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL Cameron | 13.0 mi | 5.2 |
| CAMERON VETERANS MIDDLE Cameron | 13.0 mi | 5.9 |
| PARKVIEW ELEM. Cameron | 13.1 mi | 5.1 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 64644 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$72,628
Median Home Value
$171,600
Median Rent
$650/mo
Population
3,265
College Educated
24.3%
Homeownership
76.9%
Avg Commute
32.2 min
Poverty Rate
12.8%
Median Age
37.8
Community Profile
The community surrounding Penney High has a median household income of $72,628. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $171,600, with a median rent of $650/month. The area has a poverty rate of 12.8%. The average commute for residents is 32 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| GALLATIN HIGH Gallatin, MO | 8.0 |
| SHERWOOD HIGH Creighton, MO | 8.0 |
| BAKERSFIELD HIGH Bakersfield, MO | 7.9 |
| BERNIE HIGH Bernie, MO | 8.1 |
| CLEARWATER HIGH Piedmont, MO | 7.9 |
| FAIR PLAY HIGH Fair Play, MO | 8.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Penney High
What grades does Penney High serve?
Penney High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Penney High?
Penney High has an enrollment of approximately 192 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Penney High?
The student-teacher ratio at Penney High is 10.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Penney High rank in MO?
Penney High is ranked #269 out of 2,216 schools in MO.
What is Penney High's MySchoolScout rating?
Penney High has a composite rating of 8.0 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Penney High?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Penney High has 37.8% math proficiency and 64.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Penney High a charter school?
No, Penney High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Penney High a Title I school?
No, Penney High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Penney High?
39.1% of students at Penney High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 192
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 10.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 19
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 39.1%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Caldwell County
- Phone
- (816) 583-2136
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
HAMILTON R-II- District Enrollment
- 613
- Schools in District
- 3
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,154
- District Rank
- #1 of 3
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated reading
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