The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in English language arts. The lowest is 33% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Belle Elem.
Belle Elementary serves a student body that is almost entirely White and draws from a small, rural community where a substantial share of families qualify for economic support. The school covers pre-kindergarten through fourth grade, so the academic picture is shaped by early elementary assessments only, with no graduation rate to consider.
On the Missouri Assessment Program, third graders posted a stronger result in English language arts than in math, with roughly half of students reaching the proficient or advanced level. Fourth grade math was a softer spot, with about a quarter of students hitting that bar. Fourth grade English language arts results were suppressed, so a parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand how that grade is performing in reading and writing. Across tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency sits above the midpoint of the two districts that make up Maries County. That is a narrow comparison, but within this rural county it positions Belle Elementary as the stronger of two options on the academic measures available.
The town of Belle itself is a slow-shrinking rural community at a highway crossroads, with a small downtown and a set of civic amenities including a public library, a swimming pool, parks, and a golf course. Housing values in the area are below both the state and national benchmarks, which is typical for a rural Missouri market, though prices have risen recently. The schools and town hall are integrated into the same small-town fabric rather than sitting on separate campuses, so children walk or ride a short distance from home to school in a setting where most daily trips are car-dependent.
The district, Maries County R-II, appears stable. A search for recent changes such as bond measures, curriculum shifts, or property tax adjustments turned up nothing of note. That means a family moving in is not stepping into a period of upheaval or major reinvestment; the district is likely operating much as it has.
Belle Elementary is a straightforward public school in a rural, economically modest community. Its student body is small and overwhelmingly White. Academically, it shows a mixed picture, with a clear strength in third grade reading and a weaker math showing in fourth grade that warrants a closer look if that is a priority. There is no data on special education or English learner populations, so a family with a child receiving those services will need to ask the school directly about supports. The school fits a family who values a small-town, rural elementary experience with a community where the school building is part of the town’s daily life, and who wants to know that their child is at a school that, within its small county, holds the academic edge among available options.
See more original research from School Decision →