The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in Science. The lowest is 14% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Sunrise Elem.
Sunrise Elementary serves grades two through five in Richmond, Missouri, as a regular public school within the Richmond R-XVI district. The student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of students identifying as two or more races and very small numbers of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that a considerable portion of the school’s families face economic stress. Data on students with individualized education plans and English learners were not available; a parent may want to ask the school directly about how it supports those populations.
State testing results from the Missouri Assessment Program show that across grades three, four, and five, the share of students scoring proficient or advanced in math was well under one in five. English language arts results were stronger but still modest, with about one in four students reaching proficiency in grades three and four, and roughly one in three reaching it in grade five. In science, which is tested at grade five, about one in three students scored proficient or above. When compared to other districts in Ray County, Sunrise’s overall proficiency across subjects and grades lands in the bottom quartile. This is a soft spot that a parent will want to consider carefully, especially if academic performance is a primary factor in school choice.
The school’s grade configuration is unusual: it begins at second grade and runs through fifth grade. That means students enter after the earliest primary years and leave before middle school. For families, this creates a defined transition point at fifth grade graduation, after which students move to a separate middle school setting.
Richmond itself sits in Ray County. Housing values in the area are below the state average and well below the national average, making it a lower-cost market for homebuyers. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate nationally was in the mid-six percent range. The unemployment rate stood at just over four percent, close to the national figure, while real median household income nationally was above eighty-three thousand dollars. These economic context numbers are national benchmarks, not local figures, but they give a sense of the broader affordability climate.
The district brief for Richmond R-XVI turned up no recent major changes such as bond issues, curriculum overhauls, or tax levy adjustments that would be of lasting parent relevance. That absence means families are unlikely to encounter recent disruption from district-level initiatives.
Sunrise Elementary is a mid-sized school for its grade band. It offers no special designations like charter or magnet status, and Title I status was not reported. The absence of a Title I designation, combined with the high share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, is worth a follow-up question to the school about how it allocates resources for students from lower-income households.
For a family considering this school, the central takeaway is that academic proficiency rates are low relative to other schools in the county, especially in math. The school serves a population with notable economic need. The setting is small-town Missouri with below-average housing costs. The school does not serve the earliest elementary grades or the middle school years, so a family with a child entering kindergarten or finishing fifth grade would need to plan for different buildings. The best use of a visit would be to ask about academic support strategies, how the school is working to raise proficiency, and what services are available for students who are struggling or who need additional challenge.
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