The Carthage R-9 School District is fully accredited by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and serves approximately 5,000 K-12 students on thirteen campuses – five elementary schools (K-3), intermediate center (4-5), 6th grade center, junior high, high school, technical center (two locations), powers learning center, early childhood special education center, and an autism center.

Parents As Teachers and early childhood special education programs are offered at the district’s early childhood center.  A new autism center opened in Carthage in August 2017 to provide services for students from area districts in partnership with the Beacon School.  Other special services available include special education, gifted education, English Language Learners, Immigrant education, Migrant education, and Title I communication arts and math.

A wide variety of adult education classes are offered at Carthage Technical Center – North Campus, including Adult Education and Literacy preparatory courses for the High School Equivalency (HSE) certificate.  Foreign language, trade/technical, medical, computer and personal enrichment courses are also offered.  Students in the medical/health science field can earn certification as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant (CNA) or Practical Nurse (LPN).  Please access the Adult/Post Secondary link on the Technical Center Web page for a current course catalog, applications, and related fees.  Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Breakfast and lunch are served daily in all schools, and students who reside one mile or more from their school are eligible for transportation.

The district employs approximately 452 certified staff members and 333 support personnel.  Evaluated by a performance-based system, over 200 of the teachers have earned a master’s degree or higher.

The assessed valuation for the Carthage R-9 School District is $379,506,165, and the tax levy for 2023-24 is $3.8826 (Operating Fund $2.7666, Debt Service Fund $0.83, Capital Projects Fund $0.2860).  The district’s preliminary budget for fiscal year 2023-24 reflects $68,512,051 in projected revenues.

Economic and demographic forecasts indicate that the district will continue to grow as it has for each of the past several years.

Great things happen in the Carthage R-9 School District every day. We are proud to be a destination district. We are devoted to "inspiring excellence" in each student and making decisions by focusing on the best interests of our students.