The top reported proficiency rate is 26% in English language arts. The lowest is 21% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Leslie Bell Elem.
Leslie Bell Elementary serves children from prekindergarten through fourth grade in Lexington, Missouri, as part of the Lexington R-V school district. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. Because it only serves early elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report and no high school course pathways to consider; a family enrolling here will eventually need to plan for the transition to a middle and high school within the district.
The student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of students who identify as Hispanic or as two or more races. A substantial majority of students come from households with enough economic need that they qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school is a regular neighborhood elementary, not a specialized or alternative program, so the student population reflects the broader community.
State testing results from the Missouri Assessment Program are available for third and fourth graders in both math and English language arts. Across these tested grades, the share of students scoring at or above the proficient level is well below the midpoint among districts in Lafayette County. The school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to its county peers. In third grade math, roughly one in seven students met the proficiency bar, and in third grade English language arts, about one in six did. Fourth grade results were somewhat higher, particularly in English language arts, where about one in three students scored proficient or above. These numbers indicate that a majority of students are not yet demonstrating grade-level mastery, which a parent may want to explore further with the school to understand what academic supports and interventions are in place.
The school does not have publicly reported data on discipline incidents, staffing ratios, or attendance patterns, so those aspects of the school environment cannot be described from the available information. Similarly, the district did not have recent newsworthy changes or initiatives that were captured in a search of public sources, so the broader district context appears stable but uneventful on the surface.
Lexington itself is a small city in Lafayette County, situated in western Missouri. Major employers in the area include the regional health center, which provides a base of healthcare jobs. Housing in the zip code that serves the school is priced below both the state and national median home value, making it more accessible for homebuyers than many parts of Missouri. The local market has seen some upward movement in values, consistent with broader trends, but remains affordable relative to the state as a whole.
For a family considering Leslie Bell, the picture is one of a school that serves a high-need population with modest academic outcomes as measured by state tests. The school is a straightforward neighborhood elementary without special designations or programs that would set it apart. The community is a small, affordable, lower-cost area where the school mirrors the demographic and economic makeup of the town. The lack of available data on discipline, staffing, and attendance is a gap that leaves questions unanswered about daily climate and support. A parent would be well served by visiting, talking to teachers and other families, and asking directly about how the school works with students who are below grade-level benchmarks.
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