The top reported proficiency rate is 34% in English language arts. The lowest is 16% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Skaith Elem.
Skaith Elementary is a regular public school in St. Joseph, Missouri, serving children from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. It belongs to the St. Joseph School District, which has recently passed a bond issue and is undertaking a district-wide grade reconfiguration, including converting a high school into a middle school and a middle school into an elementary school. That context matters for families planning ahead, though specific effects on Skaith are not detailed in the current data.
The school has a moderate enrollment for its grade span. Every student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a sign of high economic need across the school community. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial share of students who identify as two or more races, followed by smaller Hispanic and Black populations, and small numbers of Asian, Native American, and Pacific Islander students. The school is not a charter or magnet, and its Title I status was not reported.
State assessment results from the Missouri Assessment Program give a mixed picture. In third grade, a little less than half of students scored proficient in math and in English language arts. By fourth grade, the share proficient in both subjects declined, and by fifth grade it dropped further, with particularly low proficiency in math and science. Sixth graders showed some recovery in math, but sixth-grade ELA results were suppressed, so a parent may want to ask the school about that directly. Compared with other districts in Buchanan County, Skaith’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits below the midpoint. These patterns suggest that while early elementary performance is adequate for many students, achievement weakens in the upper grades. A parent considering Skaith would want to ask about instructional supports, intervention programs, and what steps the school is taking to raise performance in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades.
Because this is an elementary school, graduation rate and college readiness data do not apply. Information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, and course access was not available in this profile. A parent might wish to follow up with the school or district for those details.
The surrounding community of St. Joseph is a mid-sized Missouri River city with a diversified industrial economy centered on food processing, animal health pharmaceuticals, and heavy equipment manufacturing. Missouri Western State University is located here, and several major employers anchor the local job market. The city’s population has been slowly declining, but its manufacturing base remains the third largest in the state. Housing in the school’s ZIP code appears more affordable than the statewide median, which may be a practical consideration for families. St. Joseph offers a historic downtown, a publicly owned bus system, parks and trails, and cultural institutions such as the Pony Express Museum. Its municipal airport serves general aviation only; the nearest commercial airport is about a 35-mile drive south.
In short, Skaith Elementary serves a high-need population and shows uneven academic performance that tends to weaken in the upper elementary grades. Its proficiency levels are below the average of other Buchanan County districts. The key questions for a parent are how the school addresses declining achievement in grades four and five, what interventions are available, and what effects the district’s upcoming reconfiguration may have. The affordable housing context and the city’s industrial stability are practical positives.
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