The top reported proficiency rate is 30% in English language arts. The lowest is 20% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Truman Middle
Truman Middle is a regular public school in St. Joseph, Missouri, serving only seventh and eighth grades. It is part of the St. Joseph School District, the city’s public system. The school draws its students from across the community and operates as a typical two-year middle school before students move on to a district high school.
The student body at Truman Middle is predominantly white, with notable shares of Hispanic students, students who identify with two or more races, Black students, and smaller numbers of Pacific Islander, Asian, and American Indian students. A distinctive feature of this school is that every student qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a marker of concentrated economic need across the entire enrollment. The school is not a charter or magnet; its structure is a standard neighborhood-based middle school.
On state assessments, Truman Middle’s performance is a soft spot. In both math and English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above was well below the typical level seen across Buchanan County’s districts. In seventh-grade math, the proportion was roughly a fifth of tested students; in eighth-grade math it was lower still. English language arts results were somewhat higher in eighth grade than seventh, but still below the county median. Science results for eighth graders followed a similar pattern. When the school’s overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades is compared against other districts in Buchanan County, Truman Middle sits below the midpoint. A parent considering this school should look into what academic supports and interventions are in place, as the assessment picture points to a significant number of students who are not meeting grade-level expectations.
The school operates on a single campus in St. Joseph, a mid-sized Missouri River city with a diversified industrial economy. Major employers include food processing, animal health pharmaceuticals, and heavy equipment manufacturing, as well as the local school district and a regional healthcare system. Housing in St. Joseph is relatively affordable; the typical home value is below both the state and national median, making the area accessible for families. The city’s population has been gradually declining, but its industrial base remains active, and it is home to Missouri Western State University, a public university. The city offers a historic downtown, numerous parks and trails, and a public bus system, though daily life is largely auto-oriented.
The St. Joseph School District has recently undergone significant planning. A bond issue and operating levy were passed a few years ago, and a district-wide grade reconfiguration is set to begin in the coming school year. Lafayette High School will become a middle school, and Robidoux Middle School will become an elementary school. These changes may affect attendance boundaries or feeder patterns in the future, though the immediate impact on Truman Middle’s enrollment and grade configuration is not detailed in available information.
The data on programs, discipline, staffing, and course access at Truman Middle was not available, so a full picture of what is offered beyond core academics is incomplete. A family would want to ask the school directly about electives, extracurriculars, and support services for students who are struggling academically. Without that information, the school is best understood as a typical two-year middle school with a high-poverty enrollment and academic outcomes that are lower than the county average—a combination that suggests a parent should engage closely with the school to understand what steps are being taken to improve student learning.
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