The reported proficiency rate for Math is 20%.
Original Research by School Decision on Gasconade Elem.
Gasconade Elem. is a small, regular public school serving prekindergarten through eighth grade in the Gasconade C‑4 district. The school sits in Falcon, an unincorporated crossroads in eastern Laclede County that consists of little more than a post office and a handful of houses along a two‑lane highway. There is no commercial district, no sidewalk grid, and no town center; residents travel to Lebanon, the county seat, for most shopping, services, and school district administration. The surrounding area is rural, within the Mark Twain National Forest near the Gasconade River, and the community shows no signs of growth or new development. Population estimates remain tiny, and the local economy is limited to a struggling store and whatever employment residents find in nearby towns.
Enrollment is small, typical for a one‑school rural district. The student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of students from Hispanic or multiracial backgrounds. A substantial proportion of students qualify for free or reduced‑price lunch, an indicator of the area’s economic conditions. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available in the source materials.
State testing results are sparse because the number of students tested in most grades is very small, causing the state to suppress those proficiency rates to protect student privacy. For the only grade and subject with a reported result, fifth‑grade math, the share of students scoring proficient or advanced was low. When compared with other districts in Laclede County, the school’s overall proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades placed it below the midpoint of the four comparable districts. A parent considering this school may want to speak directly with the principal or district office about classroom performance, especially in the suppressed subjects and grades, since the available numbers give only a partial picture. Because the school does not serve high school grades, no graduation rate is reported, and chronic absenteeism data were also absent from the records available.
No information was found on disciplinary incidents, staffing ratios, course access, or special programs such as gifted education or career‑technical pathways. The district brief turned up no recent changes that would be relevant to families, such as boundary adjustments, facility projects, or leadership turnover. The school does not appear to be a charter or magnet institution, and Title I status was not listed.
Housing in the Falcon area is modestly priced relative to national figures, reflecting the remote rural setting. The community offers few amenities beyond a post office and the recreational access of the national forest and the nearby river. A family moving here should expect a quiet, isolated environment with limited commercial or cultural options within walking distance. The school itself is the only public institution in the immediate area, and its small enrollment means that students receive instruction in multi‑grade classrooms. For families who value a very small school in a deeply rural setting and are comfortable engaging directly with the school to understand its academic climate, Gasconade Elem. represents that option. Those seeking extensive academic data, a broad range of elective offerings, or a lively town setting would find little here to match those priorities.
See more original research from School Decision →