Wilder Elem., Springfield MO - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Wilder Elem.

Wilder Elementary is a regular public school serving pre-K through fifth grade in Springfield, Missouri, part of the Springfield R-XII district. It draws from a residential area of the city, and its size is moderate for an elementary school of its grade band.

On the Missouri Assessment Program, Wilder’s results present an uneven academic picture. In math, proficiency rates across grades three through five ranged from roughly two-fifths to just over half of students, with the strongest performance in third grade and a declining trajectory through the upper grades. English language arts results were somewhat higher, with fourth grade reading notably stronger than the lower and upper grades. Fifth grade science fell below both math and ELA, with about two-fifths of students reaching proficiency. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint when compared to other school districts in Greene County. The academic trends data show only a single year of reported results, so there is no multi-year trajectory to evaluate.

The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Asian, Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. A substantial share of students—more than a third—qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a moderate level of economic need. No data was reported for students with individualized education programs or English learners, so those dimensions of support are not possible to characterize from the available information. Because Wilder serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report.

Springfield itself is a mid-sized regional hub. The economy is anchored by two large health systems, CoxHealth and Mercy, and by corporate headquarters for Bass Pro Shops and O’Reilly Auto Parts. The city has experienced modest population growth in recent years, and its housing costs are roughly in line with state averages, with home values and rents that are within reach for many working families. The district passed a zero-tax-rate-increase bond issue in 2023, funding facility improvements such as HVAC, roofing, and safety upgrades across the district. Separately, Springfield R-XII implemented a district-wide middle school redesign starting with the 2023–2024 school year, a change that does not directly affect Wilder’s current students but will shape the school pathway they enter later.

Compared to other elementary schools in Greene County, Wilder’s overall proficiency index is below the midpoint. That positioning, combined with the variation across subjects and grades, suggests that a family considering the school may want to inquire directly about how the school addresses gaps in math and science instruction and how it supports students who are not yet reaching proficiency. No disciplinary, attendance, or staffing metrics were available in the data, so the school’s climate and resource levels are not possible to assess here.

For families seeking a neighborhood elementary school in a stable, mid-sized city with a diversified economy, Wilder offers a setting that is broadly representative of the region. The mix of strengths in early literacy and noticeable soft spots in upper-grade math and science makes it a school worth investigating in person, particularly for a parent whose child might need targeted support in those areas.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 353%

School 53% · District 35% · ▲ 18 pts above district

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 15 pts above county median

Grade 448%

School 48% · District 40% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

Grade 542%

School 42% · District 34% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 354%

School 54% · District 39% · ▲ 15 pts above district

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 462%

School 62% · District 46% · ▲ 16 pts above district

▲ 20 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

Grade 552%

School 52% · District 48% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▲ 12 pts above state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Science

Grade 540%

School 40% · District 39% · ▲ 1 pts above district

even with state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

This schoolSPRINGFIELD R-XII, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 4Lower-income33%Higher-income78%45 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 4Lower-income17%Higher-income66%49 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income25%Higher-income51%26 pp gap