The top reported proficiency rate is 23% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Lakeland High
Lakeland High serves roughly 180 students in grades seven through twelve in the small, agricultural town of Deepwater, Missouri. The school is the sole secondary campus of the Lakeland R-III district and draws from a community that has seen sustained population decline over the past two decades, with the town’s census counts dropping across the last several enumerations. The building sits on Lakeland School Drive, and the surrounding area is primarily residential farmland, with Truman Lake nearby as a recreational draw. There is no downtown to speak of, and no walkable street life; families here rely on cars for errands and school trips alike.
The student body is predominantly white, with a modest Hispanic share and very small numbers of Black, Native American, and multiracial students. More than six in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker that suggests a substantial share of households face economic strain. The district did not report counts of students with disabilities or English learners, so those dimensions of student support are not visible from the available data.
On state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, Lakeland High’s results are limited and uneven. Math scores for seventh grade were suppressed, meaning the tested group was too small to report publicly, and eighth-grade math results were also suppressed. English language arts results are only available for eighth graders, where slightly more than one in five students scored at the proficient level or above. Eighth-grade science results mirror that figure, with a similar share reaching proficiency. The available scores place the school’s overall proficiency index below the midpoint when compared with other districts in St. Clair County, where four districts make up the comparison set. A parent examining these numbers should recognize that the reported figures come from a small testing pool—roughly a couple dozen students per grade—so year-to-year swings can be large and a single cohort’s performance may not fully represent the school’s overall academic picture. The school’s grading configuration means it covers the middle and high school years under one roof, which can be an advantage for continuity but also means that students who struggle early may carry those gaps forward without a separate middle school transition.
No graduation rate was reported, and the data does not explain why. Because the school serves twelfth grade, a rate would normally be expected; its absence may stem from the same small-cohort suppression rules that affected some of the test results. A parent should ask the district directly for the most recent graduation and postsecondary continuation figures.
The school environment section carries no information on discipline, staffing ratios, course offerings, or chronic absenteeism. Without that data, it is not possible to speak to class sizes, Advanced Placement or dual-credit access, or how the school handles behavioral issues. The district brief indicates no major recent changes or initiatives were found in public sources, but that may simply reflect the limited public profile of a small rural district.
Housing in the area is relatively affordable by national standards, with home values below the Missouri state benchmark, and mortgage rates in mid-2026 are in line with broader national trends. For a family considering a move, Deepwater offers low-cost entry to homeownership but little in the way of employment centers, shopping, or civic infrastructure beyond a volunteer fire department; the nearest larger towns for work and services likely require a drive.
Lakeland High is a small, rural school serving a community that has been shrinking slowly. Its test scores are below the midpoint of nearby districts, and the available data leaves several important questions unanswered. A family considering this school would want to visit, talk to the principal about what courses are actually offered for college-bound and career-bound students, and ask about the school’s track record for graduating students and sending them on to further training or work.
See more original research from School Decision →