Clark Moores Middle School, Richmond KY

Original Research by School Decision on Clark Moores Middle School

Clark Moores Middle School is a regular public school serving grades six through eight in Richmond, Kentucky, within the Madison County district. The school draws from a community that is itself a mix: Richmond is the county seat, home to Eastern Kentucky University, and a regional commercial hub with manufacturing, agriculture, and the Blue Grass Army Depot nearby. The city has grown steadily in recent decades and blends a traditional downtown core with a sprawling university campus and suburban-style development along highway corridors. Housing in the area is moderately priced compared to national averages but higher than typical for Kentucky, reflecting the demand from university employees and commuters who work in Lexington, about a half-hour drive north.

Academically, Clark Moores Middle School performs above the midpoint among the county’s three districts, with an overall proficiency index landing in the top quartile of that small comparison set. That is a meaningful strength in a local context, though the picture varies by subject and grade. Reading and English language arts results are the school’s strongest area: across all three grades, the share of students scoring proficient or above is solid, with the lowest rate appearing in eighth grade. Math performance is more uneven. Proficiency in sixth and seventh grade is moderate, while eighth-grade math lags behind, with fewer than half of students meeting the bar. Science, tested only in seventh grade, shows a notably lower proficiency rate, and a parent may want to look into this further with the school. Social studies, tested in eighth grade, falls in between. The school’s overall performance, however, is a relative standout in the county, indicating that its academic programming is effective for most students, especially in reading.

The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic, Black, Asian, multiracial, and other backgrounds. A substantial share of students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, signaling a community with real economic diversity. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so it is not possible to assess how the school supports those populations from this information. The school’s size is typical for a middle school in the region, with enrollment spread roughly evenly across the three grades.

No information was provided about course offerings, extracurricular programs, or staffing, so a full picture of the school environment beyond test scores is incomplete. The district reported no recent major changes of lasting parent relevance. The school sits on Berea Road in Richmond, close to the university and within reach of local public transit and the civic amenities of the downtown area. For a family considering Richmond, this middle school offers a solid reading program and a comparative edge within the county, while math and science outcomes suggest room for improvement. Parents who prioritize a strong reading foundation may find this a good fit; those concerned about science or eighth-grade math may want to ask the school about targeted supports.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 650%

School 50% · District 46% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▲ 8 pts above state median

Grade 761%

School 61% · District 57% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▲ 18 pts above state median

Grade 848%

School 48% · District 53% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▲ 7 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 666%

School 66% · District 62% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▲ 12 pts above state median

Grade 768%

School 68% · District 63% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 19 pts above state median

Grade 858%

School 58% · District 59% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▲ 16 pts above state median

Science

Grade 736%

School 36% · District 40% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▲ 6 pts above state median

Social studies

Grade 852%

School 52% · District 56% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▲ 14 pts above state median

This schoolMadison County, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income57%Higher-income79%22 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income62%Higher-income77%15 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income46%Higher-income77%31 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income41%Higher-income64%23 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income46%Higher-income81%35 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income36%Higher-income68%32 pp gap