The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in Math. The lowest is 30% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Wm. R. Cappel Elem.
Wm. R. Cappel Elementary serves students in kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Troy R-III School District in Moscow Mills, Missouri. The school sits within a small, rapidly growing community on the exurban fringe of the St. Louis metro area. Moscow Mills has transformed from a tiny village into a bedroom suburb, with population increasing many times over the past several decades. The city is car-dependent, with limited commercial infrastructure and no traditional downtown; students are bused to schools outside the city limits, including the district’s high school and ninth-grade center in nearby Troy. The housing market in the area reflects that growth, with a tight supply and home values that have moved meaningfully higher year over year.
The school itself is a regular public school serving a large-enrollment elementary population for its grade band. Its student body is predominantly white, with a small share of students identifying as Black or Hispanic and a slightly larger share identifying as two or more races. More than three in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school does not report data on the share of students with individualized education programs or English learner services, so that part of the profile is not available for review.
State assessment results from the MAP test show a mixed picture across grades and subjects. In third grade, proficiency rates in both math and English language arts sit in a moderate range, with about half of students meeting the state’s proficient-or-above threshold. Fourth graders perform stronger, with math proficiency in the upper half of that range and English language arts just behind it. Fifth grade shows a noticeable drop, with math proficiency falling to a lower share and English language arts following a similar pattern. Science results for fifth graders are the weakest subject area, with a modest share reaching proficiency. When viewed as a single proficiency index across all tested grades and subjects, the school’s overall performance ranks in the top quartile relative to other districts in Lincoln County, a set that includes four districts. That position suggests the school is a stronger performer within its immediate county, while the individual grade-level numbers indicate that performance is not uniform.
A parent considering this school should look closely at the fifth-grade results. The drop in both math and reading proficiency in that grade, along with the low science scores, is a pattern that warrants a conversation with the school about instructional continuity, curriculum, and how students are being prepared for middle school. The school’s strengths are most evident in the earlier grades and in the strong fourth-grade performance.
The parent district, Troy R-III, recently reorganized its high school structure. Troy Buchanan High School now serves grades ten through twelve, while ninth graders attend a separate building. This shift is now established and affects how older Cappel Elementary students will eventually transition into the secondary level. No other parent-relevant changes were reported for the district.
Moscow Mills’ rapid growth means the school’s enrollment context is one of a community still expanding. The city adopted a comprehensive plan in 2024, suggesting active planning for more development. For families moving into the area, Cappel Elementary represents a school in a district that sits above the middle of its county on overall proficiency, with a clear pattern of stronger results in early elementary grades and a soft spot at fifth grade that deserves attention.
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