Thomas W. Kelly High

Summary:

Thomas W. Kelly High is a public high school located in Benton, Missouri, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 319 students. The school is part of the Scott County R-IV school district, which is ranked 314 out of 386 districts in Missouri and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Thomas W. Kelly High has consistently underperformed compared to the state and district averages on standardized tests, such as the MAP assessments. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 2.8% of students were proficient or better in Algebra I, compared to the state average of 41.5% and the district average of 8.3%. The school's performance on Biology I and Algebra II tests has been slightly better, but still lags behind the state and district averages. Nearby schools, such as Sikeston Senior High School and Scott City High, have generally outperformed Thomas W. Kelly High on academic measures.

Thomas W. Kelly High has a significant population of low-socioeconomic status students, with 46.71% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in the 2022-2023 school year. The school's performance on academic measures for this subgroup has been lower than the overall school performance, ranking 238 out of 274 Missouri high schools in 2023-2024. Additionally, the school has struggled with high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 18.6% to 25.2% in recent years, which is significantly higher than the state average. Nearby schools, such as Chaffee Junior-Senior High and Charleston High, have also reported high chronic absenteeism rates.

Detail:

Public 9-12

4035 State Hwy 77
Benton, MO 63736-9162

(573) 545-3541

District: Scott County R-IV

SchoolDigger Rank:
287^th of 378 Missouri High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,350

Feeder schools for Thomas W. Kelly High:

Elementary:	Scott County Elementary
Middle:	Scott County Middle

Student/teacher ratio: 13.2

Number of students: 315

Racial breakdown:

White:

95.6%

Hispanic:

1.6%

Two or more races:

1.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 46%

See top rated Missouri high schools

Compare Thomas W. Kelly High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Thomas W. Kelly High ranks worse than 75.9% of high schools in Missouri. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 24.31. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Thomas W. Kelly High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (95.6%), Hispanic (1.6%), two or more races (1.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 46% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Thomas W. Kelly High is 13.2. (See more...)

Compare Thomas W. Kelly High employs 23.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Thomas W. Kelly High is $9,350.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Thomas W. Kelly High:

SchoolDigger ranks Thomas W. Kelly High 287^th of 378 Missouri public high schools. (See Thomas W. Kelly High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

White students:

Scott County R-IV:

SchoolDigger ranks Scott County R-IV 314^th of 386 Missouri school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Thomas W. Kelly High

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Rank History for all students at Thomas W. Kelly High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MO State Percentile
2006	62.97	155^th	534	71.0%
2007	42.54	355^th	538	34.0%
2008	57.69	220^th	539	59.2%
2009	35.27	366^th	507	27.8%
2010	33.50	400^th	516	22.5%
2011	40.33	350^th	528	33.7%
2012	43.27	331^st	522	36.6%
2013	44.39	305^th	523	41.7%
2014	30.21	423^rd	521	18.8%
2015	49.21	247^th	504	51.0%
2016	59.43	130^th	401	67.6%
2017	42.73	251^st	404	37.9%
2018	47.46	213^th	468	54.5%
2019	36.69	299^th	460	35.0%
2021	52.25	137^th	358	61.7%
2022	52.92	133^rd	361	63.2%
2023	38.26	207^th	352	41.2%
2024	24.31	287^th	378	24.1%

See the entire list of Missouri High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Thomas W. Kelly High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MO State Percentile
2018	75.87	29^th	382	92.4%
2019	43.25	205^th	368	44.3%
2023	50.41	105^th	268	60.8%
2024	19.60	238^th	274	13.1%

See the entire list of Best Missouri High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Thomas W. Kelly High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	12.26	96^th	103	6.8%

See the entire list of Best Missouri High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for White students at Thomas W. Kelly High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MO State Percentile
2018	41.02	238^th	440	45.9%
2019	32.46	300^th	430	30.2%
2021	45.13	141^st	309	54.4%
2022	46.00	124^th	310	60.0%
2023	30.85	201^st	302	33.4%
2024	20.14	265^th	321	17.4%

See the entire list of Best Missouri High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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Enrollment information for Thomas W. Kelly High

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1991	0	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	314	314
1992	303	1	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	305
1993	439	2	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	441
1994	444	4	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	448
1995	481	3	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	484
1996	481	3	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	484
1997	519	3	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	522
1998	530	6	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	536
1999	344	2	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	346
2000	350	2	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	352
2001	336	3	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	341
2002	330	2	1	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	336
2003	330	2	1	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	336
2004	336	1	1	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	341
2005	345	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	347
2006	341	0	1	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	344
2007	347	0	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	350
2008	342	1	0	4	1	n/a	n/a	0	348
2009	309	1	1	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	315
2010	294	0	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	298
2011	284	1	1	4	1	0	0	0	291
2012	269	2	0	3	0	0	0	0	274
2013	302	3	0	5	0	0	0	0	310
2014	295	4	0	7	0	0	0	0	306
2015	307	5	0	11	0	0	0	0	323
2016	317	3	0	12	0	0	0	0	332
2017	289	4	0	11	1	0	0	0	305
2018	293	2	0	10	0	0	0	0	305
2019	289	3	0	7	0	0	0	0	299
2020	314	2	1	11	0	0	0	0	328
2021	347	5	0	8	0	0	0	0	360
2022	322	6	0	7	0	0	0	0	335
2023	307	3	0	8	0	0	1	0	319
2024	301	3	0	5	1	0	5	0	315

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Thomas W. Kelly High

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1991	314	19.8	15.8	n/a
1992	305	17.4	17.5	n/a
1993	441	25.1	17.6	n/a
1994	448	26.1	17.2	0
1995	484	27.4	17.7	n/a
1996	484	27.4	17.7	n/a
1997	522	29.5	17.7	27
1998	536	31.7	16.9	21.8
1999	346	22.9	15.1	28.9
2000	352	24.8	14.2	23.6
2001	341	24.7	13.8	26.4
2002	336	23.8	14.1	19.6
2003	336	23.8	14.1	19.6
2004	341	22.7	15.0	25.2
2005	347	22.7	15.3	27.1
2006	344	24.4	14.1	30.2
2007	350	23.4	15.0	34.6
2008	348	23.5	14.8	34.5
2009	315	21.0	15.0	40
2010	298	21.5	13.8	43
2011	291	19.4	14.9	46.4
2012	274	19.6	13.9	45.6
2013	310	20.0	15.4	44.5
2014	306	19.8	15.4	40.5
2015	323	20.0	16.1	48
2016	332	21.0	15.8	44.3
2017	305	21.8	13.9	48.5
2018	305	21.0	14.5	49.5
2019	299	22.0	13.5	50.8
2020	328	21.8	15.0	48.8
2021	360	22.1	16.2	42.5
2022	335	23.0	14.5	32.2
2023	319	24.2	13.1	46.7
2024	315	23.7	13.2	46

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Thomas W. Kelly High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1991	314	19.8	15.8	n/a
1992	305	17.4	17.5	n/a
1993	441	25.1	17.6	n/a
1994	448	26.1	17.2	0
1995	484	27.4	17.7	n/a
1996	484	27.4	17.7	n/a
1997	522	29.5	17.7	27
1998	536	31.7	16.9	21.8
1999	346	22.9	15.1	28.9
2000	352	24.8	14.2	23.6
2001	341	24.7	13.8	26.4
2002	336	23.8	14.1	19.6
2003	336	23.8	14.1	19.6
2004	341	22.7	15.0	25.2
2005	347	22.7	15.3	27.1
2006	344	24.4	14.1	30.2
2007	350	23.4	15.0	34.6
2008	348	23.5	14.8	34.5
2009	315	21.0	15.0	40
2010	298	21.5	13.8	43
2011	291	19.4	14.9	46.4
2012	274	19.6	13.9	45.6
2013	310	20.0	15.4	44.5
2014	306	19.8	15.4	40.5
2015	323	20.0	16.1	48
2016	332	21.0	15.8	44.3
2017	305	21.8	13.9	48.5
2018	305	21.0	14.5	49.5
2019	299	22.0	13.5	50.8
2020	328	21.8	15.0	48.8
2021	360	22.1	16.2	42.5
2022	335	23.0	14.5	32.2
2023	319	24.2	13.1	46.7
2024	315	23.7	13.2	46

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Thomas W. Kelly High

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$02 (0.0%)	$8,390 (100.0%)	$8,392
2020	$03 (0.0%)	$8,045 (100.0%)	$8,048
2021	$1,167 (14.3%)	$7,014 (85.7%)	$8,181
2022	$478 (5.1%)	$8,872 (94.9%)	$9,350

Data source: Missouri Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Thomas W. Kelly High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 299^th of 460 High schools	Ranks 207^th of 352 High schools	6.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Algebra I (Thomas W. Kelly High)	31.5	4.8	26.7%
End of Course Algebra I (Scott County R-IV)	31.5	8.9	22.6%
End of Course Algebra I (Missouri)	45.3	41.5	3.8%
End of Course Biology I (Thomas W. Kelly High)	47.4	38.8	8.6%
End of Course Biology I (Scott County R-IV)	47.4	38.8	8.6%
End of Course Biology I (Missouri)	39.2	38.5	0.7%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	299	319	6.7%
African American	3	3
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	7	8	14.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	289	307	6.2%
Two or More Races	0	1
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	50.8%	46.7%	4.1%

Schools Near Thomas W. Kelly High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MAP Mathematics (2024)		MAP Science (2024)	MAP English Language Arts (2024)		MAP Algebra I (2024)	MAP Biology I (2024)	MAP English II (2024)	MAP Algebra II (2024)	MAP Government (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MAP Mathematics 8th Grade	MAP Science 8th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	MAP Algebra I End of Course	MAP Biology I End of Course	MAP English II End of Course	MAP Algebra II End of Course	MAP Government End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Thomas W. Kelly High	Public	9-12	4035 State Hwy 77	Benton	63736	Scott County	Scott County R-IV	No	No	No	No	(573) 545-3541	315	24	13.2	46.0%	301 (95.6%)	3 (1.0%)	5 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.6%)	24.3	287^th of 378 public high schools	24.1%		38.3	207^th of 352 public high schools	41.2%	80						2.8	32.6		18.2		$9,350	$478	$8,872
Scott County Central High	Public	7-12	20794 Us Hwy 61	Sikeston	63801	Scott County	Scott County Central	No	No	No	No	(573) 471-2001	121	14	8.6	100.0%	80 (66.1%)	26 (21.5%)	3 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (9.9%)	15.3	328^th of 378 public high schools	13.2%					(n/a)	38.2					14.3		30.5			$12,779	$1,578	$11,201
Oran High School	Public	7-12	310 Church St	Oran	63771	Scott County	Oran R-III	No	No	No	No	(573) 262-3345	168	13	12.9	43.5%	154 (91.7%)	2 (1.2%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (6.0%)	23.5	292^nd of 378 public high schools	22.8%		58	92^nd of 352 public high schools	73.9%	200						34.3			20.8		$10,363	$220	$10,144
Charleston High	Public	7-12	606 S. Thorn St	Charleston	63834	Mississippi County	Charleston R-I	No	No	No	Yes	(573) 683-3761	331	27	12.3	99.1%	95 (28.7%)	208 (62.8%)	9 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.7%)	11.8	341^st of 378 public high schools	9.8%		19.4	281^st of 352 public high schools	20.2%	60	13.2	4.9	22.1	14.6	33.2	8.1	15.3				$12,348	$1,689	$10,660
Scott City High	Public	9-12	3000 Main St	Scott City	63780	Scott County	Scott City R-I	No	No	No	No	(573) 264-2131	276	22	12.7	43.8%	257 (93.1%)	7 (2.5%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.3%)	41.5	201^st of 378 public high schools	46.8%		50.3	133^rd of 352 public high schools	62.2%	68						44.0	24.3				$11,425	$2,060	$9,365
Southeast Correctional Center	Public	7-12	300 E Pedro Simmons Dr	Charleston	63834	Mississippi County	Department Of Corrections	No	No	No	No	(573) 683-4409	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Sikeston Career Technical Center	Public	9-12	200 Pine St	Sikeston	63801	Scott County	Sikeston R-6	No	No	No	No	(573) 471-5442	0	19	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Sikeston Senior High School	Public	9-12	200 Pine St	Sikeston	63801	Scott County	Sikeston R-6	No	No	No	No	(573) 472-8850	977	64	15.2	100.0%	528 (54.0%)	320 (32.8%)	49 (5.0%)	10 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	70 (7.2%)	35.8	234^th of 378 public high schools	38.1%		35.6	219^th of 352 public high schools	37.8%	15						29.7	29.6	44.3		27.3	$11,834	$2,776	$9,058
Sikeston Hope Center	Public	6-12	230 S Front St	Sikeston	63801	Scott County	Division Of Youth Service	No	No	No	No	(573) 472-6652	14	1	14.0	78.6%	6 (42.9%)	7 (50.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (7.1%)								(n/a)
Chaffee Junior-Senior High	Public	7-12	517 W Yoakum Ave	Chaffee	63740	Scott County	Chaffee R-II	No	No	No	No	(573) 887-3226	290	25	11.5	52.8%	275 (94.8%)	9 (3.1%)	5 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	23.6	290^th of 378 public high schools	23.3%		16.3	298^th of 352 public high schools	15.3%	8	18.9	27.1		23.0	46.2	19.1	22.6				$9,858	$2,821	$7,036

Frequently Asked Questions about Thomas W. Kelly High

What is the racial makeup of Thomas W. Kelly High?

Students at Thomas W. Kelly High are 96% White, 2% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

What district is Thomas W. Kelly High in?

Scott County R-IV

What schools feed into Thomas W. Kelly High?

Thomas W. Kelly High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Scott County Elementary
Middle : Scott County Middle

How many students attend Thomas W. Kelly High?

In the 2023-24 school year, 315 students attended Thomas W. Kelly High.

Is Thomas W. Kelly High a good school?

Thomas W. Kelly High ranks in the bottom 24.1% of Missouri high schools.

Rate Thomas W. Kelly High!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.