The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in English language arts. The lowest is 46% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Willard Orchard Hills Elem
Willard Orchard Hills Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade in the Willard R-II school district, located in Springfield, Missouri. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and the data does not indicate Title I status. The school sits within Springfield, a mid-sized regional city that functions as a commercial and medical hub for southwest Missouri, home to major employers like CoxHealth, Mercy, Bass Pro Shops, and O’Reilly Auto Parts. The city has seen modest population growth in recent years.
Because this is a primary school only, there is no graduation rate to report. The state testing results come from Missouri’s MAP assessments in math and English language arts for third and fourth grade. In third-grade math, about half of students scored at the proficient or advanced level. In fourth-grade math, the share was somewhat lower. In English language arts, third-grade proficiency was around the mid-range, while fourth-grade ELA was notably higher, with a majority of students meeting the proficiency bar. When combining all tested subjects and grades into a single proficiency index, the school lands below the midpoint among the eight districts in Greene County. That means other elementary schools in the county tended to show a higher overall rate of proficiency, though the range is not wide. Families may want to ask the school about how its curriculum and support strategies differ by grade and subject.
Enrollment is moderate for a school serving these early grades, with about the same number of students across each grade from kindergarten through fourth grade, plus a pre-kindergarten program. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Black and Hispanic students and very small numbers of Asian, American Indian, and multiracial students. Roughly two in five students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a substantial share that indicates a mix of economic backgrounds. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source material, so a parent may wish to ask the school directly about its special education and language support services.
Springfield itself offers a wide range of civic and cultural anchors, including downtown Park Central Square, several universities, and outdoor recreation at nearby lakes and rivers. The school’s location on Farm Road 140 places it on the northwest side of the city, likely in a more suburban or semi-rural setting within Springfield’s city limits. Home values in the school’s ZIP code are around the national median, and rents are moderate, making this a broadly accessible area for families. The district, Willard R-II, has not had any major publicly reported recent changes or strategic initiatives that would reshape the experience at this school.
For a parent considering this school, the picture is one of a solid, mainstream elementary option within a large regional city. Academic performance is mixed: fourth-grade reading stands out as a relative strength, while math proficiency lags a bit compared to county peers. The lack of data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, and course access means those aspects of school climate are not visible from the information available. The school serves only the primary grades, so the next step for families will be transitioning to a Willard R-II middle school. Overall, this is a school that fits families seeking a reasonably priced housing market, a diverse enough student mix without intense economic concentration, and a straightforward elementary pathway in a well-resourced metro area.
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