The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in Math. The lowest is 44% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Bolivar Intermediate Sch.
Bolivar Intermediate Sch. serves third through fifth graders within the Bolivar R-I district, a conventional public school that acts as a step between the district’s primary school and its middle school. This is a regular public school, neither a charter nor a magnet, and its enrollment is substantial for an intermediate building that covers only three grade levels.
The student body is overwhelmingly white, reflecting the composition of the surrounding community. Slightly more than half of the students come from households that qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that places the school in a middle economic position relative to many districts nationally. Data on students with individualized education plans and English learners was not available, so a parent seeking information on special education services or language support programs would need to follow up directly with the school.
State testing results for the 2024-25 school year show a mixed picture that varies notably by grade and subject. In English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above hovered close to half at each grade level, with third grade a bit lower and fourth and fifth grades a bit higher. Math results were more uneven. Fourth graders posted a comparatively strong result, with a solid majority reaching proficiency. Fifth graders were roughly in the middle, with just under half proficient. However, third grade math was notably weaker, with a minority of students meeting the bar. In fifth grade science, a little under half of students were proficient. When the school’s overall performance across all tested subjects and grades is averaged together, it lands in the top quartile among the six school districts in Polk County, a grouping that tells a parent this school tends to outperform its immediate county peers, even if individual grade-level results within the building vary.
Because the school serves only up to fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. That is not a gap; it simply reflects the grade band.
Bolivar itself is the county seat of Polk County, described by the city as a small-town community with a family-friendly atmosphere and affordable housing. The town has grown steadily over the past several decades and is part of the Springfield metropolitan area, about a moderate drive from that larger city’s amenities. The dominant local employer is Citizens Memorial Hospital and its affiliated health care foundation, with Southwest Baptist University also a significant presence. Housing values in the area are near the middle of the national range, and rents are moderate relative to incomes, which together suggest that a family moving to the area for the school can find reasonably priced options. The district brief turned up no recent parent-relevant changes such as boundary shifts, new curriculum adoptions, or tax referendums; the district appears to have been operating without notable policy churn in the last few years.
For a family considering this school, the key takeaway is a building that sits in a stable, growing small town and delivers academic results that are generally stronger than those of neighboring rural districts but show some unevenness, particularly for younger students in math. A parent of a third grader or rising third grader may want to ask the school directly about math support and intervention practices. The overall proficiency picture, especially the stronger fourth grade showing, suggests that many students find their footing by the time they have been in the building for a year or two. The school’s size means it can likely offer a range of classroom groupings and specialist teachers, though the absence of program offerings data means a parent should inquire directly about art, music, physical education, and any gifted or enrichment options. The community context of steady growth, a major employer, and a university presence adds a layer of economic stability that many small-town schools do not have.
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