For the 2025 school year, there are 29 blue ribbon public high schools serving 19,218 students in Missouri.
Blue ribbon schools have been recognized by the Department of Education for achieving superior standards of academic excellence. Read more about this national school awards program and how blue ribbon schools work.
The top ranked blue ribbon public high schools in Missouri are Metro High School, Nixa High School and Lawson High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Missouri blue ribbon public high schools have an average math proficiency score of 56% (versus the Missouri public high school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 66% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Missouri blue ribbon public high school have a Graduation Rate of 94%, which is more than the Missouri average of 89%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Clayton High School, with ≥99% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Missouri or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 25% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the Missouri public high school average of 30% (majority Black).
Best Blue Ribbon Public High Schools in Missouri (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Metro High School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
4015 Mcpherson Ave
Saint Louis, MO 63108
(314) 534-3894
Saint Louis, MO 63108
(314) 534-3894
Gr: 9-12 | 333 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #22.
Nixa High School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
514 South Nicholas Road
Nixa, MO 65714
(417) 724-3500
Nixa, MO 65714
(417) 724-3500
Gr: 9-12 | 1,987 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #33.
Lawson High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
600 Bob Gill Dr
Lawson, MO 64062
(816) 580-7270
Lawson, MO 64062
(816) 580-7270
Gr: 9-12 | 369 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 4%
Rank: #44.
Brentwood High School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2221 High School Dr
Saint Louis, MO 63144
(314) 962-3837
Saint Louis, MO 63144
(314) 962-3837
Gr: 9-12 | 191 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #55.
Park Hill South High School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
4500 Nw River Park Dr
Riverside, MO 64150
(816) 359-4120
Riverside, MO 64150
(816) 359-4120
Gr: 9-12 | 1,869 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #66.
Kearney High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
715 E 19th St
Kearney, MO 64060
(816) 628-4585
Kearney, MO 64060
(816) 628-4585
Gr: 10-12 | 804 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #77.
Mound City High School
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
708 Nebraska St
Mound City, MO 64470
(660) 442-5429
Mound City, MO 64470
(660) 442-5429
Gr: 9-12 | 85 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #88.
Francis Howell High School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
7001 Hwy 94 South
Saint Charles, MO 63304
(636) 851-4700
Saint Charles, MO 63304
(636) 851-4700
Gr: 9-12 | 1,844 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #99.
New Haven High School
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
100 Park Dr
New Haven, MO 63068
(573) 237-2629
New Haven, MO 63068
(573) 237-2629
Gr: 9-12 | 137 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #1010.
Clayton High School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
#1 Mark Twain Circle
Saint Louis, MO 63105
(314) 854-6600
Saint Louis, MO 63105
(314) 854-6600
Gr: 9-12 | 844 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #1111.
Lee's Summit West High School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2600 Sw Ward Rd
Lees Summit, MO 64082
(816) 986-4000
Lees Summit, MO 64082
(816) 986-4000
Gr: 9-12 | 1,976 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #1212.
Richland High School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
24456 State Hwy 114
Essex, MO 63846
(573) 283-5332
Essex, MO 63846
(573) 283-5332
Gr: 7-12 | 117 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #1313.
Lindbergh Sr. High School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5000 S. Lindbergh
Saint Louis, MO 63126
(314) 729-2410
Saint Louis, MO 63126
(314) 729-2410
Gr: 9-12 | 2,266 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #1414.
North Shelby High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3071 Hwy 15
Shelbyville, MO 63469
(573) 633-2410
Shelbyville, MO 63469
(573) 633-2410
Gr: 7-12 | 134 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Rank: #1515.
University Academy-upper
Charter School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6801 Holmes Rd
Kansas City, MO 64131
(816) 412-5930
Kansas City, MO 64131
(816) 412-5930
Gr: 9-12 | 209 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1616.
Valley Park Sr. High School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1 Main St
Valley Park, MO 63088
(636) 923-3613
Valley Park, MO 63088
(636) 923-3613
Gr: 9-12 | 240 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #1717.
Bolivar High School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1401 N Hwy D
Bolivar, MO 65613
(417) 326-5228
Bolivar, MO 65613
(417) 326-5228
Gr: 9-12 | 831 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #1818.
Chillicothe High School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2801 Hornet Rd
Chillicothe, MO 64601
(660) 646-0700
Chillicothe, MO 64601
(660) 646-0700
Gr: 9-12 | 591 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #1919.
Kirkwood Sr. High School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
801 W Essex Ave
Saint Louis, MO 63122
(314) 213-6110
Saint Louis, MO 63122
(314) 213-6110
Gr: 9-12 | 1,737 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #2020.
Lincoln College Prep.
Magnet School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2111 Woodland
Kansas City, MO 64108
(816) 418-3000
Kansas City, MO 64108
(816) 418-3000
Gr: 9-12 | 958 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #2121.
Stanberry High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
610 N Park St
Stanberry, MO 64489
(660) 783-2163
Stanberry, MO 64489
(660) 783-2163
Gr: 7-12 | 159 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #2222.
Spokane High School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1123 Spokane Rd
Spokane, MO 65754
(417) 443-3502
Spokane, MO 65754
(417) 443-3502
Gr: 9-12 | 205 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #2323.
Pierce City High School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
300 Myrtle St
Pierce City, MO 65723
(417) 476-2515
Pierce City, MO 65723
(417) 476-2515
Gr: 9-12 | 204 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #2424.
Chadwick High School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
7090 State Hwy 125 S
Chadwick, MO 65629
(417) 634-3588
Chadwick, MO 65629
(417) 634-3588
Gr: 7-12 | 133 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #2525.
Jefferson High School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
37614 Us Hwy 136
Conception Junction, MO 64434
(660) 944-2316
Conception Junction, MO 64434
(660) 944-2316
Gr: 7-12 | 58 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 2%
Rank: #2626.
Cole Camp High School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
500 Keeney St
Cole Camp, MO 65325
(660) 668-3751
Cole Camp, MO 65325
(660) 668-3751
Gr: 7-12 | 354 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #2727.
Cooter High School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1867 State Highway E
Cooter, MO 63839
(573) 695-4972
Cooter, MO 63839
(573) 695-4972
Gr: 7-12 | 126 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Rank: #2828.
Willow Springs High School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
215 W Fourth St
Willow Springs, MO 65793
(417) 469-2114
Willow Springs, MO 65793
(417) 469-2114
Gr: 9-12 | 401 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #2929.
Ballard High School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
10247 Ne State Route 18
Butler, MO 64730
(816) 297-2656
Butler, MO 64730
(816) 297-2656
Gr: 7-12 | 56 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked blue ribbon public high schools in Missouri?
The top ranked blue ribbon public high schools in Missouri include Metro High School, Nixa High School and Lawson High School.
How many blue ribbon public high schools are located in Missouri?
29 blue ribbon public high schools are located in Missouri.
What is the racial composition of students in Missouri?
Missouri blue ribbon public high schools minority enrollment is 25% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the Missouri public high schools average of 30% (majority Black).
Recent Articles
Is It Time to Say Goodbye to No Child Left Behind?
The Obama administration is proposing to leave NCLB behind. Learn about the proposed reforms that will change the No Child Left Behind Act.
How the Arts Benefit Your Children Academically and Behaviorally
Often underfunded in the past, the arts are gaining a resurgence in support as research shows benefits for children academically, along with improvements in behavior and attendance.
Florida Governor Calls for More Funding for State’s Public School System
Florida Governor Rick Scott has introduced a state budget for next year that pumps one billion more dollars into the public school system. We’ll look at his reasons for the increase and the responses to the proposal.
