The top reported proficiency rate is 38% in Math. The lowest is 36% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Benton Elem.
Benton Elementary serves students from prekindergarten through fourth grade in the Neosho School District, a regular public school located in the county seat of Newton County. Neosho is a city that blends historic downtown storefronts around the Newton County Courthouse with light manufacturing and agricultural roots. The economy relies on employers such as BASF and La-Z-Boy, and the city has invested in downtown revitalization including new sidewalks and streetlights. The school sits on a parkway named for a local figure, part of a community that has seen steady population growth over the past two decades and continues to develop its industrial park and public spaces.
The student body reflects a diverse composition. White students make up roughly half of enrollment, with a substantial share of Hispanic students and a notable presence of students who identify as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. Smaller groups of students who are two or more races, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Black round out the enrollment. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a population with significant economic need. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not available, leaving a gap in understanding the full range of support services in place.
Academically, the school participates in Missouri’s standardized testing program, the MAP, in grades three and four. In third grade math, about one-third of students scored at the proficient level or above. In fourth grade math, the share rose to just under half. In English language arts, about one-third of third graders reached proficiency, and in fourth grade the figure was close to two-fifths. These results place Benton Elementary’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades above the midpoint when compared to other districts in Newton County. Because the school serves only early elementary grades, there is no graduation rate, and chronic absenteeism data was not reported. Parents looking for a fuller picture of academic growth may want to ask the school how it tracks student progress year over year, especially since the school does not serve the grades where state accountability testing is more comprehensive.
The comparison to other districts in the county shows that Benton’s proficiency index is higher than the median for its peer group, though the range among county districts is fairly narrow. This suggests that while the school performs respectably within its local context, the overall academic landscape in Newton County does not feature wide gaps between high and low performers. For a family evaluating this school, the data points to a typical early-elementary setting where most students come from lower-income households and where test scores hover in a moderate range relative to state expectations.
The Neosho School District did not have any recent parent-relevant changes documented in public records, so no major shifts in programming, leadership, or facilities were identified. The school itself is a regular public school that is not a charter or magnet. Information about course access, staffing ratios, and discipline was not available, so a family considering Benton should reach out directly to learn about class sizes, enrichment offerings, and behavioral support systems.
For a family, this is a neighborhood elementary school in a small city with a mix of historic character and industrial employment. The student body is economically diverse, and the academic results are in line with the middle of the county’s range. A parent may want to ask about how the school supports students who are behind grade level, given that proficiency rates hover around one-third to just under half in the tested subjects. The absence of data on special education and English learner populations is a notable gap that the school could clarify. Overall, Benton Elementary serves its community as a standard early-grades public school in a district that appears stable but without recent publicized changes.
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