The top reported proficiency rate is 56% in Science. The lowest is 44% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on South Elem.
South Elem. is a regular public school in Jackson, Missouri, serving kindergarten through fourth grade. It is one of several elementary schools in the Jackson R-II district, a district that has been growing and investing in facilities in recent years. The school sits in a community that describes itself as the fastest growing in southeast Missouri, with a historic uptown anchored by a courthouse square and a mix of older homes and newer subdivisions.
On state assessments, South Elem. posts results that place it in the top quartile for overall proficiency when compared to other schools across Cape Girardeau County districts. In third-grade math, roughly half of students met or exceeded the state standard. Fourth-grade math results were stronger, with a majority of students reaching proficiency. On the English language arts side, third grade lagged somewhat, with fewer than half of students proficient. Fourth-grade ELA performed better, approaching half proficient. These results show a pattern of improvement between third and fourth grade, though a parent may want to ask the school about its approach to early literacy support given the third-grade reading figures. Science results are not available for the current grades served, as the school only goes through fourth grade and science testing typically occurs in fifth.
The student body is predominantly white, with small shares of Hispanic, Black, Asian, and multiracial students. A moderate share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a mixed-income population. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported, so families with children who have special education or language needs should contact the school directly to learn about available supports.
Jackson itself offers a small-town setting with a walkable historic downtown, a branch of the Riverside Regional Library, and several city parks with recreational trails. The city provides its own utilities and has seen population growth, and the district has kept pace by passing a bond measure that funded a new elementary school, which opened for the 2024-2025 school year. That same bond also paid for safety upgrades and renovations across the district. A new Innovation Center at the high school added STEM labs. The district approved a five-year strategic plan in 2025 focused on academics, social-emotional learning, and workforce development. Property tax rates have remained stable.
Housing in the area is moderately priced relative to national benchmarks, and the broader metropolitan area includes two regional hospitals, a university in nearby Cape Girardeau, and interstate access.
For a family considering this school, South Elem. is a straightforward neighborhood elementary school in a growing district that has recently invested in its facilities and programs. The academic picture shows a school that performs above the county median, with a noticeable gap between math and reading in third grade that narrows by fourth. The environment is small-town and residential, with the kind of community amenities that appeal to families looking for a slower pace and a strong sense of place. Because the school only goes through fourth grade, students will transition to a district intermediate or middle school afterward, and the overall trajectory within the Jackson R-II system includes newer buildings and expanded high school offerings.
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