The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in Math. The lowest is 27% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Watkins Elem.
Watkins Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Springfield, Missouri, as part of the Springfield R-XII public school district. It is a regular public school located on the north side of the city. The enrollment is small for its grade band, with a student body that is predominantly white, with Black and Hispanic students each making up a meaningful share of the population, and a smaller share of multiracial and Asian students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a high-poverty context.
Springfield is a mid-sized regional hub that functions as the principal city of its metropolitan area, with an economy anchored by healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and distribution. The city hosts several universities and colleges, and is the corporate home of Bass Pro Shops and O’Reilly Auto Parts. Downtown centers on Park Central Square, with historic commercial corridors and a traditional grid. The school sits in a residential part of the city.
On state assessments, Watkins’ test results vary by grade and subject. In math, proficiency was higher at fourth grade, where roughly half of students met the state’s proficient or advanced benchmark, and lower at third and fifth grades. In English language arts, roughly a fifth of third graders were proficient, while fourth graders hit a higher proficiency rate; fifth-grade English results were not reported by the state. Science proficiency at fifth grade was below a third of students. The data presents an uneven picture: some grade-level cohorts show a solidly mid-range result, while others show a clear soft spot. A parent may want to look into this further with the school. When compared to other elementary schools in districts across Greene County, Watkins’ overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile of that set.
The school serves only the elementary grades, so there is no graduation rate. Chronic absenteeism data and special population counts, such as the share of students with individualized education plans or English learner designations, were not available in the data provided. The school’s Title I status was also not available in the data.
The district recently approved a zero-tax-increase bond issue for facility improvements, covering HVAC replacement, roofing, safety upgrades, and classroom renovations at multiple schools. It also implemented a district-wide redesign of its middle school programming beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, changing bell schedules, exploratory and elective offerings, and team structures. These are concrete changes that affect school environments across the district, including the middle schools that Watkins students would eventually feed into.
Housing in the school’s zip code is priced below the state benchmark for home values, and rents have been rising faster than the national average. The local housing market is comparatively affordable for the region. The area’s unemployment rate has been stable near the national average. For a family considering this school, the academic picture is mixed: some grade-level cohorts show a reasonable level of proficiency, while others lag behind. The school sits in a district that has made recent investments in facilities and middle school programming, which may be relevant for families planning ahead. The high poverty rate among the student body is a meaningful part of the school’s context.
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