The top reported proficiency rate is 40% in Science. The lowest is 34% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Carthage Jr. High
Carthage Jr. High serves seventh and eighth graders in the Carthage R-IX School District, a regular public school located in the county seat of Jasper County. The school sits in a community shaped by a historic courthouse square, Victorian-era homes, and an economy that blends manufacturing, food processing, and agriculture. The town has a notable Hispanic and Latino population, and the student body at the junior high reflects that: roughly half the students are White and close to half are Hispanic, with small shares of other racial and ethnic groups. About two-thirds of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a marker of the economic circumstances many families in the area face.
The school is a two-grade building with an enrollment that is large for that span, meaning each grade contains a substantial number of students. That size can affect everything from class sections to the range of elective offerings, though specific course access data was not available for this profile.
On state assessments, results are mixed and, taken together, place the school in the bottom quarter of districts within Jasper County. In seventh-grade math, a little over two in five students scored proficient or above. In eighth-grade math, that figure was closer to one in three. English language arts results varied more by grade: about a quarter of seventh graders met the proficiency bar, while eighth graders came in at roughly two in five. Eighth-grade science proficiency landed around two in five as well. These are raw proficiency rates on the Missouri Assessment Program. They suggest that a majority of students are not yet reaching the state-defined proficient level, particularly in seventh-grade ELA and in eighth-grade math. A parent considering the school would want to investigate what academic supports and intervention programs are in place for students who are below that mark, as well as what enrichment is available for those who are above.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, and staffing was not included in the available information, which leaves gaps in understanding the day-to-day environment. Families may wish to ask the school directly about attendance patterns, safety, and teacher experience.
Carthage itself offers a mix of small-town amenities and industrial employment. Major employers include Leggett & Platt, H.E. Williams, Schreiber Foods, and Dyno Nobel. The downtown courthouse square remains a community anchor. The district recently completed a renovation at the high school that added a secure entrance and expanded commons space, funded without a tax increase. That project signals attention to facility upgrades, though the junior high building’s condition is not detailed in the data.
For a family evaluating this school, the central considerations are the proficiency levels, which trail many other districts in the county, and the economic need present among the student population. The school’s size and demographic diversity are straightforward characteristics. Without more information on programs, supports, and school climate, a parent would benefit from visiting, talking to staff, and understanding how the school works with students at various skill levels.
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