The top reported proficiency rate is 18% in English language arts. The lowest is 15% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Eugene Field Elem.
Eugene Field Elementary is a regular public school in Mexico, Missouri, serving students in first through fifth grade as part of the Mexico 59 district. The school sits in a small city that has long been the commercial and civic center of Audrain County, with a historic courthouse square, a mix of residential neighborhoods, and a manufacturing and agriculture-based economy. The city lost its historic fire brick industry decades ago, and the population has been relatively stable but slightly declining. A recently improved four-lane highway connection to Interstate 70 was a targeted investment meant to support future economic development.
State test results for the Missouri Assessment Program are available for grades three through five. Across all tested subjects and grade levels, proficiency rates are low. In third grade math, for example, about one in twelve students scored proficient or above; in fourth grade the share was roughly one in four, and in fifth grade it was below one in ten. English language arts results follow a similar pattern, with third graders at about one in seven proficient, fourth graders at about one in five, and fifth graders at roughly one in six. Fifth grade science proficiency mirrors the ELA rate at about one in six. Compared with other school districts in Audrain County, Eugene Field Elementary’s overall proficiency falls in the bottom quartile. These are soft spots, and a parent may want to look into this further with the school or district to understand what supports are in place.
The student body of roughly four hundred thirty children is predominantly White, with smaller shares of Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students, and a very small number of Asian and American Indian students. Every student at the school qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, which indicates a high level of economic need across the enrollment. Data on special education identification and English learner status were not available, so a parent may wish to ask about those supports directly.
The school itself is a regular public elementary school with no charter or magnet designation. It does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Information on course access, staffing, discipline, and chronic absenteeism was also not available in the data reviewed. A parent interested in class sizes, enrichment offerings, or behavioral climate would need to follow up with the school.
Housing in the Mexico area is well below the state average in value, though home prices have risen at a strong pace over the past year. The local unemployment rate is slightly above the national average, and median household income in the city is lower than the national figure. The combination of affordable housing and a high-poverty school suggests that many families in the community are stretched financially, and the district may face challenges typical of a small city with a limited tax base.
For a family considering this school, the picture is straightforward: Eugene Field Elementary serves a population with significant economic need, and its academic results are low relative to other schools in the county. The community itself is a modest-sized, historically industrial town with a stable population and a downtown core that has seen some investment. A parent might want to learn more about what academic interventions or enrichment programs the school offers, and whether the district has any improvement plans in place, since the district brief turned up no recent bond issues, curriculum changes, or facility updates that would signal a shift in direction.
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