Sparta R-III

The Sparta R-III school district in Missouri operates 4 schools, including 2 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school, serving students from preschool through 12th grade. The district's schools exhibit a mix of high-performing and average-performing outcomes, with Sparta Middle School standing out as a consistent top performer in the state.

Sparta Middle School has been a standout, ranking in the top 15% of Missouri middle schools for the past 3 years and earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's strong test scores, with 62.7% of 8th graders proficient or better in Math and 52.6% in Science, contribute to its high performance. In contrast, Sparta Elementary School, while historically a high-performing school, has seen a decline in its state-wide ranking from the top 10% to the top 40% of Missouri elementary schools, despite maintaining a 4-star rating.

The Sparta R-III school district also exhibits varying levels of economic diversity, as indicated by the free and reduced lunch rates across its schools. Sparta Elementary School has the highest free and reduced lunch rate at 55.08%, suggesting a higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students, which may present unique challenges for the school. The differences in spending per student across the schools, ranging from $8,916 at Sparta Elementary School to $10,187 at Sparta High School, may also be an area for further analysis to understand how resource allocation impacts student outcomes.