The top reported proficiency rate is 35% in English language arts. The lowest is 31% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Korte Elem.
Korte Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Independence, Missouri, as part of the Independence 30 school district. The school is a regular public school within a large suburban district that, as of the data examined, is the largest employer in the city. The district itself recently made a notable structural change, having moved to a four-day instructional week starting in the 2023-2024 school year, while maintaining the same total educational minutes across the week. Additional learning opportunities are offered on selected non-Monday days. This is a lasting alteration to the school calendar that will affect family schedules in areas like childcare and the rhythm of the week. Families considering this school should understand that four-day-week commitment and how it fits their own household.
The student body at Korte is diverse. Enrollment is spread across the elementary grades, with a fair number of pre-kindergarten students. The student population is predominantly Hispanic and white, with Black students the next largest group, followed by a small share of students who identify as two or more races. The school serves a high-need population: a large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate well above what is typical. This context is important because schools serving a high proportion of students in poverty often face distinct challenges in reaching state proficiency targets.
On state assessments, the data from the Missouri Assessment Program show that proficiency rates across tested grades and subjects are generally below the state average. In mathematics, the share of students scoring proficient or above is fairly consistent across third, fourth, and fifth grades, hovering in the low-to-mid thirty percent range. In English language arts, rates are in a similar band, with fourth grade the lone bright spot where proficiency reaches forty percent of students. Science results, tested only in fifth grade, track closely with math and reading. For a parent looking at these numbers, the picture is clear: the school is working from a baseline where fewer than half of students are meeting grade-level expectations. This is a soft spot in performance that a prospective parent may want to discuss further with the school, especially to understand what interventions or support structures are in place. When setting the school against a broader index that averages proficiency across all tested subjects and grades, Korte sits above the midpoint when compared among other regular elementary schools in districts across Jackson County.
The school environment is a standard elementary setting within a large, mixed-use suburban city. Independence spans a wide area, transitioning from denser, more urban western neighborhoods to more rural parts in the east. The school’s location on South Hardy Avenue places it within one of the older residential sections of the city. Housing in the immediate area is moderately priced compared to state and national benchmarks, and rents have seen a notable uptick. The city itself has a historic downtown with museums and civic anchors, and the school district is a central part of the community’s identity.
Korte Elementary provides the standard public elementary pathway for its neighborhood families. It is not a magnet or charter school, and it serves its zoned attendance area. For a family weighing options, the most relevant factors are the four-day district calendar and the reality that the school serves many students from households with significant economic need, a fact that is reflected in the test score outcomes. There are no data available on discipline, course access, or staffing ratios, and a parent may want to ask the school directly about class sizes and the specific academic support programs offered within the school day.
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