The top reported proficiency rate is 41% in English language arts. The lowest is 22% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Appleton City Elem.
Appleton City Elementary serves kindergarten through sixth grade in the small rural community of Appleton City, Missouri. It is a regular public school within the Appleton City R-II district. Because it does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate data available. That absence reflects the school’s grade band rather than any outcome measure.
State testing results from the most recent year show a mixed academic picture. In third grade math, the share of students scoring proficient or above was below what many families would hope for. Fifth grade math was higher, though still limited. Fourth and sixth grade math results were suppressed, meaning the data was not reported. In English language arts, third grade proficiency was similar to the math figure. Fourth grade ELA was notably stronger, with a majority of students reaching proficiency. Fifth grade ELA results were suppressed. Sixth grade ELA was around the midpoint. Fifth grade science proficiency was in line with the math result for that grade. Parents may want to talk with the school about the reasons for the suppressed data and how instruction is being adjusted across the elementary years.
A proficiency index that averages the reported results across tested subjects and grades places this school above the midpoint relative to other districts in St. Clair County. That is a useful reference point, but keep in mind the index is drawn from a small number of districts, and the gap between the lowest and highest in the county is modest. The school’s multi-year trend data shows only a single year of reporting, so there is no trend line to assess.
The student population and enrollment data fields are all reported as zero or missing across every category: total enrollment, race and ethnicity counts, free or reduced-price lunch status, special education, and English learner identification. This is highly unusual. It is possible the data was not reported to the state for this cycle, or that the school is too small for typical disclosure thresholds. A parent should confirm the current enrollment and student support services directly with the school.
The town of Appleton City is a very small, predominantly rural community in St. Clair County. The population is overwhelmingly White, and the town has experienced a period of demographic stability with some years of slight decline and a recent modest uptick. Housing values are modest, and the cost of living is low. The town is car-dependent, with most residents driving alone to work. Schools, the library, and city hall are clustered along 4th Street, giving a compact civic core. The district has the elementary school and a combined middle-high school within the community. No major new housing developments or commercial projects were identified in publicly reported information about the town.
The search for recent district-level changes found little of lasting impact. A parent may want to ask the district office about any curriculum updates, facility improvements, or staffing changes that are not visible in the public record.
This is a very small elementary school in a very small town. The academic results are uneven, with some grade and subject combinations showing the majority of students meeting proficiency and others well below that mark. The data gaps in enrollment and student demographics are a significant unknown. For a family considering this school, a direct conversation with the principal about class sizes, available supports, and how the school addresses areas where proficiency is lower would be a sensible next step.
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