The top reported proficiency rate is 35% in English language arts. The lowest is 18% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on John Boise Middle School
John Boise Middle School serves grades six through eight in Warsaw, Missouri, as part of the Warsaw R-IX School District. It is a regular public school that is not a charter or magnet. The enrollment is modest for a middle school, drawing from this small county seat and the surrounding rural area. The student body is overwhelmingly white, with very small numbers of students who identify as Hispanic, two or more races, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Black. The school qualifies as a high-poverty school, with every student eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
Warsaw is a town shaped by its position on the Osage River and its proximity to two large reservoirs, Lake of the Ozarks and Truman Reservoir. Lake-season tourism and a growing retirement community give the town its economic texture, and the town’s modest population has seen slight growth in recent years. The district includes multiple elementary schools, this middle school, and a high school spread across separate campuses. In 2023, voters approved a bond issue for facility improvements across district buildings, including safety upgrades and HVAC work, without increasing the property-tax rate.
On state assessments, John Boise Middle School’s results are mixed and show a pattern that a parent would want to examine closely. In English language arts, performance varies by grade: sixth-grade results are on the lower side, while seventh-grade results are close to the state average. Eighth-grade ELA results were suppressed in the reporting, so a clear picture is not available for that grade. In mathematics, the trajectory is a concern. The share of students scoring proficient or above declines across grade levels, and by eighth grade the rate is very low. In eighth-grade science, the proportion of students meeting the proficient bar is also low. When compared with other districts in Benton County, the school’s overall proficiency index sits in the bottom quartile. The district operates alongside a small number of other public school districts in the county, and within that local set, this school’s academic performance is on the weaker end. A parent considering this school would want to ask the school directly about its approach to math instruction, particularly for the upper grades, and how it supports students who are not yet at grade level.
The school offers a middle-school-only environment, and because it does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report. Data on student discipline, chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, and course access were not available in the reviewed information. Similarly, information on special education and English learner populations was missing, so the share of students receiving those services is not clear. These gaps may reflect how the school reports its data, but a parent may want to ask about them directly.
The housing market in Warsaw is more affordable than the state and national medians, which aligns with the area’s rural character. Homes are priced well below the Missouri average, and the estimated monthly mortgage payment is low relative to national benchmarks, which may make the area accessible for families looking for a lower cost of living. The town’s growth has been modest, and no major new developments or transit systems were found in available sources. The community’s civic anchors include a public library and the Harry S. Truman Regional Visitor Center, which serves the reservoir area.
For a family, John Boise Middle School offers a small, rural setting where nearly all students share a similar economic background. The school’s academic results, particularly in mathematics and science, are below local averages, and the declining performance from sixth to eighth grade in math is something to investigate. The district has made recent facility investments without a tax increase, which may be a practical plus. The school fits a parent who values a small-town environment and a close-knit school community, but who will want to take an active role in understanding and supporting the academic progress their child makes here.
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