The top reported proficiency rate is 51% in Science. The lowest is 21% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Thomas Benton Elem.
Thomas Benton Elementary is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Columbia, Missouri, part of the Columbia 93 district. The school’s enrollment is modest for an elementary, and every student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting very high economic need. The student body is racially diverse, with roughly even shares of Black and white students, a notable portion of students who identify as two or more races, and a smaller Hispanic population. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not provided.
State assessment results from the Missouri Assessment Program for grades three through five show a mixed but overall low picture. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above was well below a third in third and fourth grades, rising to about a third in fifth grade. In English language arts, proficiency was similarly low in third grade, improved to about a third in fourth grade, and was suppressed for fifth grade, meaning the count was too small to report publicly. Science, tested only in fifth grade, was stronger, with roughly half of students meeting proficiency. When the school’s combined proficiency across all tested subjects and grades is compared with other schools in Boone County districts, it falls in the lowest quarter. A parent may wish to ask the school about its specific interventions in literacy and math for students who are not yet on grade level.
No data on programs, extracurricular offerings, or course access were available for this school. The district has recently adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum based on the science of reading and has completed a one-to-one technology initiative providing devices for students in grades three through five, so these resources apply here as well. Attendance, discipline, and staffing information were also missing, making it hard to characterize school climate from the evidence at hand. Because the school serves only elementary grades, graduation rate is not applicable.
Columbia is a fast-growing college town anchored by the University of Missouri and two other colleges. Its economy is centered on education and healthcare, with major employers including the university, hospital systems, and companies such as Shelter Insurance and Veterans United Home Loans. The city has a walkable downtown, an extensive trail network, and cultural institutions like the Missouri Theatre and Ragtag Cinema. Columbia is the fastest-growing municipality in Missouri, and Boone County has low unemployment and steady job growth.
Housing values in the area are above the Missouri median but below the national median, and they have been rising. Rents have also increased over the past year. The cost of housing is moderate relative to national trends but notable for families comparing options.
The Columbia 93 district passed a significant bond issue in 2024 for facility improvements, including safety upgrades and classroom renovations, without raising the tax rate. The district also adopted attendance boundary changes that took effect in the 2024-2025 school year to address overcrowding, so families should confirm which attendance zone Thomas Benton Elementary serves for their address. The district has also invested in a new literacy curriculum and technology devices.
Thomas Benton Elementary serves a high-poverty community, and its state test results are below many peers in Boone County, with the exception of fifth-grade science. The recent district-level investments in literacy instruction and technology may support improvement. Families evaluating this school will want to speak directly with staff about the school’s academic supports, enrichment opportunities, and school climate, areas where the available data is thin.
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