Southland C-9

The Southland C-9 school district in Missouri consists of two schools: Southland Elementary and Southland High. Both schools are underperforming compared to state averages, with consistently low test scores, high chronic absenteeism, and poor graduation rates.

Southland Elementary and Southland High have significantly lower proficiency rates in Math and English Language Arts compared to the state averages. For example, in 2023-2024, only 5.3% of 3rd graders at Southland Elementary were proficient in Math, compared to the state average of 40.8%. Both schools also have high chronic absenteeism rates, at 24.3% for the 2023-2024 school year. Southland High's 4-year graduation rate of 73.3% for the 2023-2024 school year is well below the state average.

The data suggests that the Southland C-9 district faces significant socioeconomic challenges, with both schools having extremely high rates of free and reduced-price lunch recipients, around 97-98%. Despite the high spending per student, at $12,940 for Southland Elementary and $14,615 for Southland High in the 2021-2022 school year, the schools are still struggling, indicating that additional resources alone may not be the solution. The district will need to implement targeted interventions and strategies to address the underlying issues contributing to the poor performance of its schools.