The top reported proficiency rate is 34% in Math. The lowest is 32% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Clippard Elem.
Clippard Elementary serves students in prekindergarten through fourth grade as part of the Cape Girardeau 63 school district, located in the city of Cape Girardeau in southeastern Missouri. The school has a significant student population and operates as a regular public school with a strong federal support presence. Every enrolled student qualifies for free or reduced-price meals under federal guidelines that provide universal meals to the school community. State testing data from the most recent year covers third and fourth grade in both math and English language arts, and performance in those grades is generally below the midpoint of what is reported across Missouri schools. In third grade, a modest share of students reached proficient or advanced levels in math, and a similarly modest share did so in English language arts. By fourth grade, proficiency rates in both subjects were lower, with roughly one in three students meeting the state proficiency bar in math and about the same share in English language arts. The school’s combined proficiency index, which averages results across all tested grades and subjects, places Clippard in the top quartile among districts within Cape Girardeau County, though the county’s range of performance is broad. A parent reviewing these numbers should look into what instructional supports the school offers for students who need additional help meeting grade-level expectations, as the proficiency rates suggest many students are working below the state standard.
The student body is racially and ethnically diverse. White students make up the largest group, followed by a substantial share of Black students, and smaller but notable populations of Hispanic students, multiracial students, and Asian students. The school serves only elementary grades, so there is no high school graduation rate to report, and no data on chronic absenteeism or discipline was provided. Information on staffing ratios, special education enrollment, and English learner enrollment was also not available for this narrative.
Cape Girardeau itself is a regional hub for healthcare, education, and commerce, anchored by two major hospitals, Southeast Missouri State University, and a manufacturing base. The city’s population has grown modestly in recent years, and it draws commuters from across the region. Housing in the area, measured across the zip code that includes the school, is priced below the typical Missouri home value but is still a meaningful part of a household budget. Rent in the area is also below the state median, which combined with the city’s status as a regional employment center makes it a pragmatic choice for many families. The city is largely auto-oriented for daily errands, though it has a walkable downtown along the Mississippi River floodwall with parks, murals, and a monthly art walk. The district itself reported no recent major changes to curriculum, property tax policy, or school boundaries, so families considering Clippard can expect a stable operational environment.
For families weighing options, Clippard Elementary offers an early elementary education in a diverse, midsized school setting within a regional city that has a reasonable cost of housing and a strong employment base in healthcare and education. The proficiency data indicates that the school is working against significant socioeconomic need, with every student receiving free meals, and the share of students reaching state benchmarks is lower than what many families might expect elsewhere in the county. A parent should ask about the school’s targeted reading and math interventions, how the school supports students who are not yet proficient, and what the school’s approach is to closing those gaps in the primary grades.
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