The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in Math. The lowest is 36% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Mill Creek Upper Elem.
Mill Creek Upper Elementary serves only fifth and sixth graders, so it functions as a dedicated upper-elementary building, a bridge between the primary grades and middle school. The school has a moderate enrollment for a two-grade campus, with the sixth-grade class larger than the fifth. About two-thirds of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a substantial share that signals economic need across the student body. Racially and ethnically, the school is majority white, with sizable Hispanic and Black populations and a notable multiracial group; Asian and Native American students are present in much smaller numbers.
Belton is a suburban city in Cass County within the Kansas City metropolitan area. It is car-dependent, with residential subdivisions and commercial strips along the highway corridor rather than a dense walkable downtown. The city has seen steady population growth in recent years. The school district is the largest employer in town, along with a distribution center, a hospital, and retail anchors. The community is a mix of owner-occupied homes and rental properties, with housing values that are relatively affordable compared to closer-in Kansas City suburbs. The city government operates recreational facilities—parks, a pool, a wellness center, a community center, and a golf course—that serve as gathering points; the historic downtown area retains some traditional storefronts but street life is limited.
On state assessments, Mill Creek Upper Elementary’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places above the midpoint among the county’s school districts. That relative standing is a strength, but the absolute numbers give a more sober picture. In fifth grade, about two out of five students scored proficient or above in math and in English language arts; in science, the share was similar. Sixth grade showed a split: math proficiency was just under half, but English language arts was lower, at about three in ten students. These figures suggest that many students arrive at this building needing solid academic support, and that literacy skills in particular may be an area families want to investigate further with the school. The data available does not include counts of students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about how those populations are served and how they perform.
The district recently passed a bond issue that funds facility improvements, safety upgrades, HVAC replacements, and classroom additions across all schools without raising the property tax rate. That investment applies to Mill Creek Upper Elementary as well, so the physical learning environment and some infrastructure should see near-term upgrades.
Because Mill Creek serves only two grades, there is no graduation rate to report; that measure simply does not apply. There is no chronic absenteeism data in the available records either.
For a family, this school fits a few distinct profiles. It is a straightforward regular public school in a growing suburban community where housing is relatively accessible compared to the core metro. A parent whose child needs a solid general education with attentive support for foundational skills, especially in reading and writing, will want to understand what interventions and enrichment the school offers. The fact that the sixth-grade testing cohort is larger than fifth suggests some enrollment growth; the building handles a fair number of students at each grade. A family looking for a school that is part of a stable district that recently invested in its facilities and has community backing for that investment may find that reassuring. A parent concerned about academic gaps will want to see how the school addresses the relatively low ELA proficiency rate—whether through targeted tutoring, extended learning time, or other programming. The school’s relative performance within the county is better than many peers, but the absolute level of proficiency is modest. That is the central tension: a school that compares favorably in its immediate region but where more than half of students are not yet meeting state benchmarks in core subjects.
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