The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in Math. The lowest is 35% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on West Elem.
West Elementary serves students in third through fifth grade in Park Hills, a small city in St. Francois County that was formed from the merger of several historic lead mining towns. The school is part of the Central R-III School District, which oversees public education in the area. Park Hills retains its mining heritage while hosting Mineral Area College, a community college, and the district itself reported no recent property-tax shifts, referendums, or curriculum changes in publicly available records.
The school enrolls a moderate-sized student body for an upper-elementary building. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic mix of the community. The student population is predominantly white, with a small share of students who identify as Black, Hispanic, multiracial, or other backgrounds. The district did not report counts for students with individualized education plans or English learners in the available data, so families seeking information on special education or language support would need to contact the school directly.
State assessment results from the Missouri MAP exams show that in both math and English language arts, the proportion of students scoring proficient or above varies somewhat by grade level but overall sits below the midpoint among districts in St. Francois County. In math, the share of students reaching the proficient threshold was in the range of the low to low-to-mid forties across the three grades. In English language arts, results were mixed, with one grade showing a share closer to the mid-forties and others in the upper twenties or low-to-mid thirties. Fifth graders also take a science assessment, and the proficient share there was similar to the lower end of the ELA range. No graduation rate is reported because the school does not serve high school grades. Families looking for a school with consistently higher performance may want to examine these results closely and ask the school about the strategies in place to improve achievement, particularly in the grades and subjects where proficiency is lower.
The housing market in Park Hills is moderately priced compared to state and national benchmarks, with the typical home value well below the Missouri median. This makes the area relatively affordable for homebuyers. Rents, as reflected in consumer price index data, have been trending upward, consistent with national patterns. The town itself has a modest downtown with historic architecture along Main Street, and Columbia Park provides a central gathering spot with a walking trail, playgrounds, a disc golf course, a pool, and an outdoor amphitheater. Adjacent St. Joe State Park offers extensive trail systems and off-road vehicle areas. The city’s population saw a slight decline in the most recent census, but local economic development efforts focus on attracting businesses to industrial sites with rail access and full utilities.
The neighbor comparison, which positions West Elementary relative to other districts in St. Francois County, places the school’s overall proficiency index below the midpoint of the five districts. That index combines results across tested subjects and grades into a single figure. It does not capture other dimensions such as student growth, advanced coursework (not applicable at this grade band), or support services, which are not available in the current data. The district website and other public sources did not yield details on the school’s staffing ratios, discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, or specific program offerings such as gifted education or enrichment. A parent considering West Elementary may want to tour the building, speak with the principal about classroom supports, and ask about how the school addresses the proficiency gaps visible in the state results.
The picture that emerges is of an elementary school serving a community with a working-class identity and a modest economic base, where academic outcomes on state tests are lower than many of its county neighbors. The school’s size is manageable, the district is stable without major recent upheavals, and the surrounding town offers affordable housing and some outdoor amenities. For a family that values a small-city environment and is willing to be proactive about understanding and supplementing the academic program, West Elementary is a place worth investigating further.
See more original research from School Decision →