The reported proficiency rate for English language arts is 51%.
Original Research by School Decision on Fairview Primary
Fairview Primary is a regular public school in Jennings, Missouri, serving children from pre-kindergarten through third grade. Because it covers only the earliest elementary years, most of the typical measures for older schools do not apply here: there is no graduation rate, no college readiness data, and no chronic absenteeism information available. The school sits within the Jennings School District, which operates in an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis in St. Louis County.
The student body numbers a few hundred. Nearly all students are Black, with very small shares identifying as Hispanic, white, or two or more races. Every enrolled student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting an economically disadvantaged population. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the source files, so those figures are simply absent from the picture.
State testing in Missouri is administered starting in third grade, and Fairview Primary’s third graders took the MAP assessments in math and English language arts. Results for math were suppressed, which typically happens when a tested group is small enough that individual results could be inferred; a parent may want to ask the school directly how their child’s math performance compares. In English language arts, just over half of students scored at or above the proficient level. Participation rates for the tests were also suppressed, so it is not clear from the available data how many of the eligible students actually took the exams.
When measured against other school districts within St. Louis County, Fairview Primary’s overall proficiency across its reported grade and subjects sits above the midpoint. That means, among the county’s many districts, this school’s early literacy results are on the stronger side relative to peers. Because the data covers only a single grade and one fully reported subject, the comparison is narrow but still informative for families looking at the academic starting point for their children.
Jennings itself is a compact, densely populated city. The area has seen a long-term population decline over the past decade and a half, though recent estimates show a slight uptick. The housing stock is modest in value compared with national and state benchmarks, and the rental market is noticeably more affordable than the typical mortgage payment for a home in the same area. Most residents commute to jobs elsewhere; the city lacks large employers within its borders. Commercial activity is limited, and the former regional mall was demolished, underscoring a pattern of retail contraction. The community is majority Black and the median household income is well below national averages.
Because Fairview Primary is an early-elementary school, the typical offerings that older families look for—such as advanced coursework, career pathways, or high school graduation rates—are not part of its profile. The focus here is foundational: building literacy and numeracy in the primary grades. The school’s single reported result, in grade three English, suggests that a solid share of students are meeting state expectations, though the suppressed math data and participation rates mean the full academic picture is incomplete. A parent considering this school would likely want to visit, talk to staff about early math instruction, and understand how the school supports students who arrive below grade level, especially given that the entire student body comes from low-income households.
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