The top reported proficiency rate is 16% in Math. The lowest is 14% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Genesis School Inc.
Genesis School Inc. serves grades PK through 8 in Jackson County, Missouri, as a single-school district. The enrollment is small relative to other districts in the county, with students distributed fairly evenly across kindergarten through eighth grade and a modest prekindergarten program. The student body is predominantly Black, with smaller shares of Hispanic students, students of two or more races, and white students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch was not available.
The district's academic results on Missouri's state assessments are generally low across tested subjects and grades. In math, proficiency rates were in the single digits or teens through most elementary and middle school grades, with a slightly higher rate in seventh grade. In English language arts, the pattern is similar: most grade-level proficiency rates were low, with seventh grade again showing a somewhat higher result, though still below where many families would hope. Science results were suppressed for both tested grades, so a clear picture is not available for that subject. Compared to other districts in Jackson County, the district's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile. A parent considering this school will want to look into the specific instructional and intervention programs the school uses, and ask what the pathway looks like for a student who is not yet at grade level.
Chronic absenteeism was a substantial challenge. The district's rate placed it in the bottom quartile among Jackson County districts, meaning a high share of students miss enough school days to affect learning. This is a soft spot that families should discuss with the school, particularly around what supports are in place to address attendance barriers.
Per-pupil spending is in the upper range among the county's districts. This stands out given the district's small size and low test results; a parent may want to ask the school or the Missouri Charter Public School Commission how those funds are allocated and what the return on that spending has been.
The district's governance structure carries significant uncertainty. Publicly reported sources indicate that the Missouri Charter Public School Commission issued a non-renewal letter in January 2025, with the current charter contract set to expire in mid-2025. This means the district's continued operation is not guaranteed beyond the current school year. The school moved from University of Missouri sponsorship to the state charter commission in 2022. The school itself reports that it has made academic gains since 2020, reducing the share of students scoring below basic in both English language arts and math while increasing the share scoring proficient or advanced. Those reported improvements would need to be verified against the state's published results, but the claim suggests the school believes it is on a positive trajectory.
No data were available on high school outcomes, because the district does not serve grades 9 through 12, so there is no graduation rate to report. Information on special education identification, English learner services, discipline, staffing, and course access was also absent from the available data. This is a small district with a focused grade band, and the central question for a family right now is whether it will remain open. If it does, the academic and attendance data point to a school with considerable room for growth and a student population that faces challenges outside the classroom.
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