The top reported proficiency rate is 78% in Math. The lowest is 76% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Oakwood Elem.
Oakwood Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in the Hannibal 60 district, and it stands out as a strong performer academically within its community. On the Missouri Assessment Program, the school posted proficiency rates that place well above the midpoint among districts in Marion County. In math, across all tested grades, a large majority of Oakwood students met or exceeded the state standard. The third-grade cohort scored at a rate that is solid, and a clear upward trend appears in the later grades. Fourth-grade students turned in a strong showing, and fifth-grade students produced the highest math proficiency in the building, with a substantial majority reaching the proficient or advanced levels. Results in English language arts follow a similar pattern. Third-grade ELA proficiency, while lower than the math results at that grade level, still lands at a rate that many parents would find acceptable. Fourth-grade ELA jumps markedly, and by fifth grade the proficiency rate reaches a very high level. Fifth-grade science results are also strong, with the large majority of students testing at or above the state benchmark. The overall picture is one of a school where students, as they move through the grades, are performing well on state assessments.
The school is a regular public elementary school in the Hannibal 60 district, located on Market Street in Hannibal, Missouri. The student body is small for an elementary school, with enrollment distributed fairly evenly across the six elementary grades. The racial and ethnic composition is predominantly white, with small shares of Hispanic students, students who identify as two or more races, and very small shares of Asian and Black students. Just under half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a moderate range for economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available, so a parent with a child who may need those services should ask the school directly about the programs and staffing it offers for special education and English language development.
The school serves all of its grades at one site, and because it ends at fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. No information was available on discipline incidents, chronic absenteeism, or course access, so a parent may want to inquire about school climate and student support practices.
The district itself, Hannibal 60, was the subject of a publicly reported investigative audit by the Missouri State Auditor's Office. The audit raised concerns about fiscal management, including a projected budget deficit, a lack of fiscal awareness among key administrators, and questionable use of federal emergency relief funds. A parent should be aware that ongoing financial instability in the district could eventually affect programming, staffing levels, or local tax rates. It is worth asking district officials what steps have been taken since the audit to address these issues.
Hannibal is a small city on the Mississippi River whose economy mixes tourism drawn by Mark Twain heritage, manufacturing, and healthcare. The historic downtown has shops and attractions, and the city has a growing trail system and many parks. The population has been slowly declining, and the housing market sits at a price level that is lower than both the state and national medians. The combination of a mid-sized community with a solid local economy and a strong-performing elementary school makes Oakwood a school that many families in the area would find reassuring on academic grounds, though the district-level financial picture is something to keep an eye on.
See more original research from School Decision →