Education
Education in the Springfield region reaches beyond any single district. Universities, community colleges, K-12 schools and nonprofits are building shared pathways into teaching, health care and the skilled trades. Those partnerships are growing stronger as social, economic, and enrollment pressures test the system.
key metrics
1 in 5
Private school enrollment has grown by 30% in just the two years between 2022 and 2024.
Enrolled students attended a private school in 2024.
37%
Growth of people with an education degree from 2022 to 2024.
That is an increase of over 5,000 people in the two year period.
2026 report
Education in the Springfield region is growing stronger through partnership, powered by new routes into teaching, colleges and school districts building shared career pathways, and a community that shows up for students. The challenges are just as clear: poverty, hunger, and mental health follow students into the classroom, the lasting effects of COVID-19 and the rise of AI are reshaping learning, and shifting enrollment and funding are making the system less predictable.
Educator Pipeline is Growing
Although teacher shortages have been identified as a Red Flag since 2021, there are some encouraging signs of progress. Recent Department of Elementary and Secondary Education data show increased enrollment in teacher education programs and improved teacher retention.
In the Springfield area, local universities and school districts are working together to create accessible pathways into teaching for high school students and non-traditional learners.
These programs reflect the strong partnerships among area school districts, universities, and educators, who invest their time in mentoring future teachers.
Institutional Partnerships Expand Career and Technical Training
Career and technical education continues to grow across the region in response to workforce demand.
Through collaboration with businesses, civic leaders and community partners, Ozarks Tech has become a driver of economic development across southwest Missouri. Investments in advanced manufacturing, technology and health care have expanded the college’s capacity to prepare students for high-demand careers.
Today, Ozarks Tech is a leading producer of technical education graduates and graduates more health science professionals than any other community college in Missouri.
Community Commitment to Student Success
The region has a growing ecosystem of youth programs to support the whole student.
The Boys & Girls Club of Springfield opened the Risdal Family Teen Center in August 2025, a community hub for students that supports youth to “become responsible, caring citizens, build leadership skills, and become more civically minded.”
Empower:abilities, an organization committed to empowering people with disabilities to live independently, has recently grown its year-round youth programs that focus on experiential learning to advance life-skills like budgeting and employment preparation.
Social & Economic Barriers to Learning
Social and economic factors such as poverty, hunger, and mental health are barriers to student attendance, academic progress, and overall success. These barriers can start at home but are felt in the classroom and across the school, contributing to an environment that is not conducive for both learning and teaching.
While students face many barriers to success, and the number of students experiencing these challenges continues to grow each year, these issues extend beyond the school system.
Care to Learn partners with school districts to provide emergent health, hunger, and hygiene resources to students. They partner with each School District in Greene County with a dedicated Care to Learn Chapter in each that meets the specific needs of their enrolled students. Care to Learn saw about a 47% increase in students served from 2024-2026.
Ongoing and Emerging Disruptions Facing Teaching and Learning
Over the last several years there have been two significant disruptors to teaching and learning.
The first was the COVID-19 pandemic, which dramatically impacted teaching and learning. There continue to be residual impacts. Educators report chronic absenteeism, an over-reliance on technology, and a disparate profile of readiness.
Annual Performance Reports show that Ozarks and Nixa have fully recovered to 2019 levels, but other districts continue to lag. Nixa High School has been recognized for its performance. The school ranks 9th in Missouri on the most recent U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking.
Greater Volatility
Demographic shifts, changing enrollment patterns, postsecondary trends, uncertain state funding, and growing concerns about families’ ability to pay for education are creating greater volatility across the community.
These pressures extend beyond individual institutions. Higher education, K–12 schools, nonprofits, employers, and community organizations are interconnected parts of the same ecosystem and increasingly compete for students, employees, funding, and public support.
Educator and staff recruitment and retention illustrate these challenges. Missouri’s relatively low pay, unpaid or underfunded student-teaching practicums, and reliance on annual legislative wins rather than durable investment can weaken the education pipeline.
Staff retention remains a perennial concern, while fewer qualified individuals are entering the field. When education is perceived as overworked and underpaid, recruitment becomes even more difficult.
