The top reported proficiency rate is 42% in Science. The lowest is 33% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Clinton Middle
Clinton Middle sits in the county seat of Henry County, a small town that anchors itself around a historic downtown square said to be the largest in Missouri. The school serves students in grades six through eight as a regular public school within the Clinton School District. The student body is several hundred strong, with roughly half of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, a reflection of the economic mix in the community. The population is predominantly white, with small shares of Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. Special education and English learner counts were not reported in the available data, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
On state assessments, the Missouri MAP tests, results show that less than half of students scored proficient across all tested subjects and grade levels. In math, proficiency rates ranged from roughly a quarter of sixth graders up to just under half of eighth graders. In English language arts, the pattern was similar, with about three in ten sixth graders meeting the bar, rising to just over a third by eighth grade. In eighth-grade science, just over two-fifths of students reached proficiency. The upward trend as students move through the grades is a positive sign, but overall attainment is modest. Compared to other districts in Henry County, Clinton Middle's overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint, meaning it performs in the middle-to-upper tier among its county peers. That context is useful, though the county contains a small number of districts, so the range is narrow.
The school itself does not serve high school grades, so graduation rate and college-preparation metrics do not apply. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, and staffing were not available, leaving some gaps for families to investigate. The district brief turned up no recent major changes or initiatives that would alter the school's character.
Clinton, the city, is described by local sources as a regional hub for retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and agriculture. Major employers include Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare and Compass Health Network. The community offers a small-town feel with proximity to Kansas City and Springfield, and it draws on tourism from Truman Lake and the Katy Trail, whose western terminus lies in Clinton. The housing market is described as active, with a variety of options from starter homes to lakefront properties. Home values and rents are lower than national benchmarks, making the area comparatively affordable. The city's population has been stable in recent years, suggesting slow to flat growth.
For a family considering Clinton Middle, the picture is of a mid-sized middle school in a stable, small-town setting where academic performance is in the middle range relative to the county but below statewide averages. The school serves a largely homogenous student body economically and racially. The modest proficiency rates, especially in math and ELA, are areas a parent may want to discuss with the school to understand what interventions or supports are in place. The community offers a traditional downtown, outdoor recreation, and affordable housing, which may appeal to those seeking a quieter, lower-cost alternative to larger metro areas. The school's role as a feeder into Clinton High School means that the middle grades are a step in a single district pathway rather than a standalone choice.
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