The top reported proficiency rate is 70% in English language arts. The lowest is 29% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on John Glenn Elem.
John Glenn Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Savannah R-III district. The school is located just outside St. Joseph in rural Andrew County, an area where housing values fall below state and national benchmarks. The zip code covering the area has seen a modest annual increase in home values, and the national 30-year mortgage rate has hovered in the mid-six percent range, giving a general picture of affordability relative to larger markets. The school building itself sits on a county road, not inside the St. Joseph city limits, so families considering the school should be comfortable with a drive to the city for services, shopping, or employment.
Enrollment is on the smaller side for an elementary school. The student body is predominantly white, with small shares of Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students. There is no data available for students receiving special education services or English learner support, so a parent wanting to understand those programs would need to ask the school directly.
On state assessments, the picture is mixed. In third-grade math, a majority of students met the state’s proficiency benchmark, a solid result. Fourth-grade math dropped notably, with fewer than half of students reaching that level. Fifth-grade math results were suppressed in the data, so no comparison can be drawn there. English language arts scores tell a slightly stronger story: fourth-grade reading showed a clear majority of students proficient. Third- and fifth-grade reading results were suppressed, leaving a gap in the full picture. Science scores in fifth grade were low, with a modest share of students meeting the proficiency bar. Overall, the school’s combined proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades places it below the midpoint relative to the other districts in Andrew County, which gives a sense of the academic context but does not by itself tell you how individual classrooms or supports function.
The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and it serves its attendance area within the Savannah R-III district. The district did not report any recent major changes in programs, boundaries, or leadership that a parent would need to track. The school’s own website was listed as a resource, though no specific programs like art, music, or before- and after-care were noted in the data. Families looking for enrichment offerings, specialized academic supports, or the nature of the parent community would need to contact the school directly.
St. Joseph is a mid-sized Missouri River city with a strong industrial economy in food processing, animal health, and manufacturing. It is home to a university, a historic downtown, and a range of parks and trails. Its population has been gradually declining, but the local economy remains active, anchored by hospitals, school districts, meatpacking plants, and the Air National Guard. The school sits outside this city core in a more rural setting, which shapes the commuting pattern for most families.
This is a school that will likely suit a family looking for a smaller elementary setting in a rural context with access to a nearby mid-sized city. The academic results are uneven by grade and subject, with some bright spots in early math and fourth-grade reading, and a soft spot in science. A parent should expect to engage with the school around academic support, especially as students move into upper elementary grades. The data does not provide information on class sizes, teacher experience, or the condition of facilities, all of which would be reasonable to ask about during a visit.
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