The top reported proficiency rate is 40% in English language arts. The lowest is 23% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Gerald Elem.
Gerald Elementary is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in the small, rural town of Gerald, Missouri. It sits in the western part of Franklin County and is part of the Gasconade County R-II School District. The school’s enrollment is modest for its grade band, and the student body is predominantly white, with small shares of Hispanic and multiracial students. About half of the students come from households that qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
On state assessments, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades placed it in the bottom quarter relative to districts in Franklin County. Results varied by subject and grade level. In English language arts, third graders had the strongest showing, with around half scoring proficient or above; fourth and fifth graders were below that. Math proficiency was lower: third graders scored about the same share as in third-grade ELA, but fifth-grade math was far weaker, with roughly one in eight students at the proficient level. Fifth-grade science results fell in a similar range to the weaker math performance. Fourth-grade math results were not reported, so a complete picture is unavailable. A parent may want to speak with the school about how it supports math and science learning, especially as students move into the upper elementary grades.
Because Gerald Elementary only teaches through fifth grade, it has no graduation rate, and measures like chronic absenteeism were not available in the data reviewed. Civil rights data, including discipline and staffing information, was also absent from the available records, so parents looking into those areas would need to ask the school directly.
The school environment reflects its rural setting. Gerald itself is a low-density town with a small downtown corridor along U.S. Route 50. Street life is minimal; most errands require a car. The Rock Island Trail State Park runs through town, providing a recreational path, and community life centers on places like the Gerald Area Library, Legion Park, and the Gerald Saddle Club, which hosts seasonal rodeo events. Housing is more affordable than the national average, with home values modest and rents still climbing in recent months. The town has seen slow population growth and some increase in home values and household income, but no major new housing or commercial developments were identified in publicly available sources.
The Gasconade County R-II district showed no major recent changes that would affect families day to day, based on the information found. The district itself operates several schools, and Gerald Elementary is one of its elementary campuses; the old Gerald School building, now on the National Register of Historic Places, hints at the town’s longer history with education.
For a family considering this school, the draw is a small, rural elementary with a close-knit feel and a community that values local traditions. The peer group is largely White and economically mixed, with a notable share of students qualifying for income-based support. Academically, the school faces challenges, particularly in math and science at the upper grades, and its overall performance is below that of most other Franklin County districts. Families who place a high priority on test outcomes may want to explore what interventions or enrichment the school offers. Those who are comfortable with the numbers and value a small-town environment with modest housing costs will find a straightforward, traditional elementary program.
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