The top reported proficiency rate is 68% in English language arts. The lowest is 64% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on David Harrison Elementary
David Harrison Elementary serves preschool through fourth grade in Springfield, Missouri, as part of the Springfield R-XII district. It is a regular public school and not a charter or magnet school. The enrollment is moderate for an elementary serving these grades, and a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a metric often used as a proxy for economic disadvantage. The student body is predominantly white, with a smaller but noticeable mix of Asian, Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. Data on the share of students with individualized education programs or who are English learners was not available in the state reporting for this school.
On the Missouri Assessment Program, David Harrison’s tested grades showed results that placed well above the midpoint among elementary schools in Greene County. In third-grade math and English language arts, as well as fourth-grade math and English language arts, proficiency rates were solidly in the upper range of the county’s schools. The school’s overall proficiency index landed in the top quartile relative to other districts in the county. A parent exploring this school would find a building where most students are meeting state benchmarks in the early grades, a pattern that suggests strong foundational instruction. Since the school only goes through fourth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, nor are there data on chronic absenteeism at this level. State testing data for younger grades, such as kindergarten through second grade, is not administered in Missouri, so those years are not captured by these results.
The Springfield R-XII district has recently made district-wide changes that affect elementary families indirectly. Voters approved a bond issue for facility improvements including HVAC, roofing, and safety upgrades, which David Harrison would be eligible for as part of the district’s capital plan. The district also redesigned middle school programming starting with the 2023-2024 school year, adjusting bell schedules, electives, and team structures. While this does not directly touch an elementary-only building, it will shape the transition students face when they leave Harrison for their next school.
Springfield itself is a mid-sized regional hub with a diverse economy anchored by two large hospital systems, multiple universities, and corporate headquarters for Bass Pro Shops and O’Reilly Auto Parts. The housing market in the area around David Harrison is relatively expensive compared to state benchmarks, with the typical home value exceeding the Missouri average by a notable margin. Rents are similarly above the statewide typical figure. This suggests the immediate neighborhood surrounding the school is a more affluent pocket within the broader Springfield area, which is consistent with the school’s above-average proficiency outcomes. The area’s unemployment rate and median household income are in line with national trends.
A parent considering David Harrison should note that the school serves only early elementary grades, so the full academic picture of a child’s trajectory here will be partial until they move on to a building that serves upper grades. The school’s strongest evidence is its performance on state tests in third and fourth grades, where it stands out from most of its county peers. For families who value a neighborhood school with strong academic indicators in the primary years, and who are already living in or looking to move to the southwest part of Springfield near the school, David Harrison presents a straightforward option. The district’s recent investments in facilities and middle school programming are longer-term signals about the quality of the educational pipeline that begins here. What is not visible in the available data is the school’s arts, music, physical education, or enrichment offerings, or any specific programs for advanced learners or students needing extra support, so a parent with particular interests in those areas would want to ask the school directly.
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