The top reported proficiency rate is 40% in English language arts. The lowest is 32% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on William Matthew Middle School
William Matthew Middle School serves students in grades six through eight in Kirksville, Missouri, a micropolitan city that functions as the regional hub for commerce, health care, education, and light manufacturing in northeast Missouri’s Adair County. The presence of Truman State University, A.T. Still University, and Moberly Area Community College gives the town a strong college-town character, while employers such as Kraft Heinz, a major food manufacturing plant, and healthcare institutions provide a mix of professional and working-class employment. The middle school is part of the Kirksville R-III district, which places its schools on a shared campus on the city’s south side, away from the historic downtown square and the university areas.
The student body is predominantly white, with a smaller share of Black, Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial students. A substantial portion of students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, which reflects the economic diversity of a community where the poverty rate is elevated relative to national averages and the rental market is influenced by a large student population. Housing in Kirksville remains relatively affordable compared to state and national benchmarks; owner-occupied housing values and rents are below the norms for Missouri, and the city has experienced modest population growth in recent years.
State assessment results from the Missouri MAP tests show a mixed academic picture. In English language arts, proficiency rates are fairly consistent across grades six, seven, and eight, with roughly two out of every five students meeting the state’s proficient or advanced benchmark. Math performance is notably uneven: sixth-grade math proficiency is in a similar range as ELA, but it drops in seventh grade and falls further in eighth grade, where only a modest share of students scores proficient. Science, tested only in eighth grade, lands between the two. Overall, when all tested subjects and grades are combined into a single proficiency index, William Matthew Middle School places above the midpoint relative to other districts in Adair County. The decline in math by eighth grade is a pattern a parent may want to discuss with the school to understand what interventions or supports are available.
No information on staffing ratios, class sizes, chronic absenteeism, or disciplinary incidents was available in the data reviewed, and the school does not appear to report participation in specific programs such as gifted education, music, or career exploration. For a middle school serving grades six through eight, these are relevant details that a family may wish to inquire about directly with the school.
The Kirksville R-III district has been exploring a possible transition to a four-day school week, citing teacher recruitment and retention as motivations. As of late 2024, no decision had been made, but the topic has been presented to the school board. Separately, the district placed a bond issue on the April 2025 ballot to fund campus-wide facility improvements including security upgrades, HVAC replacements, and classroom additions; the measure would not increase the tax levy because older bonds are rolling off. These developments signal that the district is actively responding to both facility needs and staffing pressures.
For families considering William Matthew Middle School, the academic environment offers stronger performance in reading and writing than in math, particularly by the time students reach eighth grade. The school serves a predominantly white student population with significant economic diversity, set in a small city anchored by colleges and manufacturing. Parents who value a traditional middle school experience in a community with a moderate cost of living and a regional hub feel may find this school a reasonable fit, though those with concerns about middle-grade math outcomes or who want detailed information on enrichment offerings should ask the school directly.
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