The top reported proficiency rate is 63% in Math. The lowest is 62% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Blair Oaks Intermediate
Blair Oaks Intermediate serves third through fifth graders in the Blair Oaks R‑II district, a regular public school located within Jefferson City’s city limits but operating under its own district administration. As an intermediate school that covers only three grade levels, it does not have a graduation rate or high‑school‑level offerings; state testing data is available for the grades it does serve, and those results paint a picture of a school that consistently performs well above the typical school in its region.
On the Missouri Assessment Program, Blair Oaks Intermediate’s proficiency rates rise year over year within the building. Math performance starts at a level where roughly half of third graders meet the proficient or advanced threshold, climbs to about three‑quarters of fourth graders, and stays strong in fifth grade. English language arts follows a similar upward trajectory from third to fourth grade; fifth‑grade ELA results were suppressed, so a direct read for that grade is not available. Fifth‑grade science, the only tested science grade in the building, shows a solid majority of students scoring proficient or above. Taken together across all subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index lands in the top quartile among the seven Cole County districts that reported data. That is a clear strength: families looking for a school where most students are meeting or exceeding state standards will see this as a reliable signal.
The student body is small and remarkably homogeneous. Nearly all students are white, with tiny numbers of Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students enrolled. The share of students who qualify for free or reduced‑price meals is modest, indicating a low‑poverty population. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not reported, so those dimensions of the school’s support system cannot be assessed from the available information. The school’s setting is within a district that has drawn attention for a recent dip in its state‑authored growth measure, as publicly reported in the district’s annual report. Families tracking academic trajectory may want to follow up on that trend with the district to understand whether it reflects a broader shift or a one‑year anomaly.
Jefferson City itself is a state‑capital economy anchored by government, healthcare, manufacturing, and Lincoln University. Home values in the area run close to the statewide benchmark, and rents have been rising. The city’s population has seen modest decline in recent years, and it was hit by a destructive tornado that reshaped parts of the southwest side. For families considering this school, the housing market offers affordability relative to national averages, and the community provides the civic and cultural anchors of a capital city without the fast‑growth pressures of a booming suburb.
Blair Oaks Intermediate is a good fit for families who want a small, academically strong elementary school in a stable, low‑diversity community and are comfortable living in or commuting to the Jefferson City area. The lack of program offerings or staffing data in the profile means families with specific interests in arts, enrichment, or special education support will need to ask the school directly. The district’s growth measure dip is worth a conversation, but the school’s own test results place it among the top performers in the county.
See more original research from School Decision →