The top reported proficiency rate is 34% in English language arts. The lowest is 24% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on University Academy
University Academy is a small PK-12 district in Jackson County, Missouri, operating three schools: Lower, Middle, and Upper. The district serves a modest total enrollment spread across all grades. Community details, such as the city or town the district is located in, were not available in the data provided.
The student body is predominantly Black, with a very small number of white, Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian or Alaska Native students enrolled. Data on free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, students with disabilities, and English learners were not included, so a parent looking for that information should ask the district directly.
Academically, the district's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint among Jackson County's districts, which is a relative strength in this peer set. However, absolute performance varies notably by subject and grade. On state assessments in math, the share of students scoring proficient or above was low across all tested grades, with the highest level seen in grade 4, still well below half. The other elementary and middle school grades showed proficiency rates that were lower than that. In English language arts, results were stronger, particularly in grade 8, where roughly half of students met the proficiency bar. Other grades in ELA ranged around a third, with grade 3 being the weakest. Science results for grades 5 and 8 were each near a quarter of students proficient. This pattern suggests the district's ELA instruction is a comparative bright spot relative to its own math and science outcomes, and the overall index benefits from that. A parent may want to explore what math interventions or supports are in place, especially since those scores lag behind even the district's own ELA performance.
No graduation rate was reported in the data. The district serves through grade 12, so this is a meaningful gap; a prospective family should follow up with the school for that number.
On the environment side, the district's chronic absenteeism rate is among the lowest in the county, placing it in the top quartile for low absenteeism. That indicates most students attend school regularly. Per-pupil current spending falls in the middle range, but in the lower half among county districts, meaning the district spends a bit less than the typical peer district on each student, though not dramatically so.
The district brief found no significant changes or new developments in the past several years, suggesting a period of relative stability. The three-school structure (Lower, Middle, Upper) implies a traditional grade-span arrangement that may offer a sense of progression through the system.
For a family considering University Academy, the picture is one of a small, predominantly Black district with an overall proficiency record that is above average for its county, driven more by ELA results than math or science. Attendance is strong, spending is modest, and recent district activity has been quiet. The limited data on student support programs and the absence of a graduation rate mean that direct conversations with the district office will be important to fill in the full picture.
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