The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in English language arts. The lowest is 20% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Morristown Elementary
Morristown Elementary serves fifth and sixth grade only, a narrow two-year band that makes it a transitional building within the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown district. Before fifth grade, students attend a different elementary school; after sixth, they move to the district’s middle and high school campus. That structure means a family living in Morristown will see their child spend just these two grades at this particular school before the next shift.
The school is small, with a total enrollment that reflects its limited grade span. The student body is predominantly white, and a modest share of students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, though the proportion is moderate compared to some other districts. Because the school serves only two grades, several common metrics simply do not apply: there is no graduation rate, no chronic absenteeism data reported, and no four-year cohort to track.
On state assessments, the picture is mixed. In English language arts, half of sixth graders met the proficiency standard, while a smaller share of fifth graders did. In math, both grade levels posted results well below half, with fifth graders and sixth graders both under the midway point. Science, tested only in fifth grade, showed a lower proficiency rate, a result that parents may want to ask the school about further, particularly since the assessment has undergone a name and cut-score change that makes direct comparisons to prior years unreliable. Overall, when the school’s proficiency across tested subjects and grades is compared with other schools in Rice County districts, it sits above the midpoint, meaning it performs better than several peers in the county but not at the very top of the local field.
Because this is a school within a consolidated district, the facilities story matters for the full K-12 experience. Publicly reported, the WEM district completed a round of extensive construction and remodeling projects in 2021, leaving buildings that are relatively new in their finishes and systems. Families should note that the elementary building in Morristown itself is one part of a broader network of school facilities spread across the district’s communities, and the daily commute for athletic, arts, or other district-wide programs may not always be to this building.
Morristown itself is a small rural community on the Cannon River, with a historic feed mill, a community center, a recreational trail that runs through town, and an annual Dam Days celebration that draws residents together. Housing is primarily single-family, and median home values have risen in recent years. The town has seen slow, incremental population growth, and no large new housing developments have been reported. The local economy likely revolves around small businesses, local government, and the school district itself, though specific major employers are not publicly identified in available records. The district name — Waterville-Elysian-Morristown — names the three communities it ties together, so the school experience is one of a rural consolidated system rather than a single-town district.
For a parent evaluating this school, the key takeaway is that Morristown Elementary is a small, short-stop building in a consolidated rural district. Academic results are middling, better than some nearby schools but with clear soft spots in math and science. The facilities are recently updated. The peer group is small and homogeneous. Families who value a tight-knit rural setting, a short transitional grade span, and a district with recently modernized buildings may find this a good fit. Families who are looking for a school with stronger academic results, especially in math and science, or who want a single building that carries students through the full elementary arc, may want to explore how the preceding and following schools in the WEM system compare.
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