Summary:
The city of Russellville, Missouri is home to two schools: Cole County R-I Elementary and Russellville High. While Cole County R-I Elementary has consistently performed well, with a statewide ranking of 286 out of 906 elementary schools and a 4-star rating, Russellville High has struggled in recent years, ranking between 252-298 out of 378 high schools and earning a 1-star rating.
Cole County R-I Elementary stands out with its above-average test scores, particularly in mathematics, where 63% of 3rd graders were proficient or better, compared to the state average of 40.8%. The school also boasts a lower chronic absenteeism rate of 13.3% and a student-teacher ratio of 10.7, indicating smaller class sizes and more individualized attention for students. In contrast, Russellville High lags behind the state averages in many subject areas, with only 16.7% of 8th graders proficient or better in mathematics, compared to the state average of 30.6%.
Both schools serve a significant percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, with Cole County R-I Elementary at 30% and Russellville High at 26.47%. The similar per-student spending between the two schools, around $10,000, suggests that funding alone may not be the primary driver of the performance gap. Further investigation into factors such as curriculum alignment, teacher quality, and support systems for students transitioning from elementary to secondary education may be necessary to address the disparities and ensure all students in the Cole County R-I district have access to a high-quality education.
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