Summary:
The city of Charleston, Missouri is home to three public schools - one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school - all part of the Charleston R-I school district. While the schools serve a population with significant economic challenges, with nearly all students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, the academic performance across the district is consistently below the state average on key metrics like proficiency rates, graduation rates, and chronic absenteeism.
Charleston High School has a 4-year graduation rate of 87.2%, slightly below the state average, and a dropout rate of 2.2%, which is higher than the state norm. Proficiency rates on state assessments are low across all grade levels and subject areas, with 7th grade math proficiency at just 13.2% compared to the state average of 40.6%. Similarly, Warren E. Hearnes Elementary and Charleston Middle School struggle with academic performance well below state benchmarks.
The data suggests the Charleston school district faces significant challenges in supporting student success, with high rates of chronic absenteeism and economic disadvantage potentially contributing to the low academic outcomes. Addressing these issues will likely require targeted interventions and support to improve instructional quality, attendance, and access to resources for the most vulnerable students and families in the community.
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