Willard Central Elementary

Q: Is Willard Central Elementary a good school?

Willard Central Elementary ranks 204 th of 898 Missouri elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Willard Central Elementary is a public elementary school serving 414 students in grades PK-4 in the Willard R-II school district in Springfield, Missouri. The school consistently ranks in the top 25% of Missouri elementary schools and outperforms state and district averages on standardized tests, particularly in mathematics.

Willard Central Elementary's academic performance is a standout, with 66.7% of 3rd graders proficient or better in Math compared to 49.7% for the district and 41.1% statewide. The school's 4th grade students also outperformed the district and state in both Math and English Language Arts. This strong academic performance is notable given the school's relatively homogeneous student population and lower percentage of economically disadvantaged students compared to nearby Watkins Elementary, York Elementary, and other Springfield R-Xii district schools.

While Willard Central Elementary excels academically, the surrounding Willard R-II schools and Springfield R-Xii district schools serve more diverse student populations and have higher percentages of economically disadvantaged students. This raises questions about equity in resource allocation and educational opportunities across the district, as the higher-performing schools may be attracting more resources and attention. Nonetheless, Willard Central Elementary's consistent high performance and efficient resource allocation make it a standout elementary school in the region.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-4

2625 N Farm Rd 101
Springfield, MO 65802-6457

(417) 831-4440

District: Willard R-II

SchoolDigger Rank:
204^th of 898 Missouri Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,810

Students who attend Willard Central Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Willard Intermediate North
	Willard Middle
High:	Willard High

Student/teacher ratio: 12.2

Number of students: 414

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.8%

Hispanic:

3.4%

African American:

1.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 39.6%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Willard Central Elementary ranks better than 77.3% of elementary schools in Missouri. It also ranks 3^rd among 5 ranked elementary schools in the Willard R-II School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 73.39. (See more...)

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 (91.8%), Hispanic (3.4%), Asian (1.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 39.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Willard Central Elementary is 12.2. 3 elementary schools in the Willard R-II School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Willard Central Elementary employs 33.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Willard Central Elementary is $10,810. 2 elementary schools in the Willard R-II School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Willard Central Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Willard Central Elementary 204^th of 898 Missouri public elementary schools. (See Willard Central Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

White students:

Willard R-II:

SchoolDigger ranks Willard R-II 59^th of 376 Missouri school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Willard Central Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Willard Central Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MO State Percentile
2006	58.97	397^th	1074	63.0%
2007	75.85	167^th	1080	84.5%
2008	70.29	242^nd	1084	77.7%
2009	66.47	295^th	1053	72.0%
2010	95.14	9^th	1066	99.2%
2011	74.02	223^rd	1088	79.5%
2012	71.59	264^th	1085	75.7%
2013	83.45	108^th	1108	90.3%
2014	84.45	113^th	1089	89.6%
2015	82.29	149^th	1058	85.9%
2016	81.17	138^th	865	84.0%
2017	88.15	70^th	1032	93.2%
2018	73.69	238^th	1045	77.2%
2019	71.42	245^th	1052	76.7%
2021	72.75	212^th	901	76.5%
2022	71.29	229^th	908	74.8%
2023	73.39	204^th	898	77.3%

See the entire list of Missouri Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Willard Central Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	58.44	31^st	107	71.0%

See the entire list of Best Missouri Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Willard Central Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	77.36	106^th	887	88.0%
2019	61.08	282^nd	907	68.9%

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

Rank History for Disabled students at Willard Central Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	70.10	65^th	251	74.1%

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

Rank History for White students at Willard Central Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MO State Percentile
2018	65.82	282^nd	898	68.6%
2019	65.54	268^th	917	70.8%
2021	72.18	168^th	691	75.7%
2022	56.32	278^th	675	58.8%
2023	60.60	247^th	673	63.3%

See the entire list of Best Missouri Elementary 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 Willard Central Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1997	331	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	331
1998	304	0	0	0	3	n/a	n/a	307
1999	418	0	0	3	3	n/a	n/a	424
2000	417	5	0	4	2	n/a	n/a	428
2001	362	7	1	12	3	n/a	n/a	385
2002	424	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	424
2003	424	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	424
2004	414	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	414
2005	385	6	3	7	10	n/a	n/a	411
2006	418	10	2	6	2	n/a	n/a	438
2007	361	8	2	5	1	n/a	n/a	377
2008	363	12	2	10	3	n/a	n/a	390
2009	375	14	3	20	2	n/a	n/a	414
2010	275	1	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	279
2011	321	2	4	9	1	0	4	341
2012	334	1	3	12	3	0	6	359
2013	330	1	3	8	4	0	2	348
2014	331	0	3	11	3	0	2	350
2015	333	1	3	9	1	0	3	350
2016	325	1	1	10	1	0	5	343
2017	325	0	1	14	0	0	5	345
2018	346	3	0	14	1	0	12	376
2019	338	3	0	15	0	0	10	366
2020	339	6	1	20	0	0	9	375
2021	359	6	4	17	0	0	9	395
2022	372	8	3	16	0	0	9	408
2023	380	7	7	14	0	0	6	414

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 Willard Central Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1997	331	25.3	13.1	11.2
1998	307	22.8	13.5	13.4
1999	424	30.8	13.8	27.6
2000	428	32.0	13.4	23.4
2001	385	30.6	12.6	36.4
2002	424	31.0	13.7	34.4
2003	424	31.0	13.7	34.4
2004	414	33.8	12.2	36.5
2005	411	30.5	13.5	42.3
2006	438	34.5	12.7	33.1
2007	377	33.5	11.3	31.6
2008	390	32.0	12.2	42.3
2009	414	34.0	12.2	48.6
2010	279	24.6	11.3	43
2011	341	22.6	15.0	51.9
2012	359	26.8	13.3	53.2
2013	348	28.3	12.2	53.2
2014	350	26.8	13.0	49.7
2015	350	26.0	13.4	47.4
2016	343	27.0	12.7	51.3
2017	345	26.5	12.9	47
2018	376	28.2	13.2	47.6
2019	366	30.0	12.1	44.5
2020	375	29.4	12.7	45.6
2021	395	33.6	11.7	45.6
2022	408	35.4	11.5	40.9
2023	414	33.8	12.2	39.6

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 Willard Central Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1997	331	25.3	13.1	11.2
1998	307	22.8	13.5	13.4
1999	424	30.8	13.8	27.6
2000	428	32.0	13.4	23.4
2001	385	30.6	12.6	36.4
2002	424	31.0	13.7	34.4
2003	424	31.0	13.7	34.4
2004	414	33.8	12.2	36.5
2005	411	30.5	13.5	42.3
2006	438	34.5	12.7	33.1
2007	377	33.5	11.3	31.6
2008	390	32.0	12.2	42.3
2009	414	34.0	12.2	48.6
2010	279	24.6	11.3	43
2011	341	22.6	15.0	51.9
2012	359	26.8	13.3	53.2
2013	348	28.3	12.2	53.2
2014	350	26.8	13.0	49.7
2015	350	26.0	13.4	47.4
2016	343	27.0	12.7	51.3
2017	345	26.5	12.9	47
2018	376	28.2	13.2	47.6
2019	366	30.0	12.1	44.5
2020	375	29.4	12.7	45.6
2021	395	33.6	11.7	45.6
2022	408	35.4	11.5	40.9
2023	414	33.8	12.2	39.6

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 Willard Central Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$204 (2.2%)	$8,932 (97.8%)	$9,136
2020	$236 (2.5%)	$9,212 (97.5%)	$9,448
2021	$617 (6.5%)	$8,821 (93.5%)	$9,437
2022	$1,348 (12.5%)	$9,462 (87.5%)	$10,810

Data source: Missouri Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Willard Central Elementary

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 245^th of 1052 Elementary schools	Ranks 204^th of 898 Elementary schools	0.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Willard Central Elementary)	66.2	66.7	0.5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Willard R-II)	55.1	49.7	5.4%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Missouri)	46	41.1	4.9%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Willard Central Elementary)	70.8	61.7	9.1%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Willard R-II)	57.4	52.6	4.8%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Missouri)	48.7	42.4	6.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Willard Central Elementary)	48.7	42.1	6.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Willard R-II)	50.8	45.3	5.5%
4th Grade Mathematics (Missouri)	46.8	43.8	3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Willard Central Elementary)	51.3	50	1.3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Willard R-II)	56.5	48.7	7.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Missouri)	49.3	45.9	3.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	366	414	13.1%
African American	3	7	133.3%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	7
Hispanic	15	14	6.7%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	338	380	12.4%
Two or More Races	10	6	40%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	44.5%	39.6%	4.9%

Schools Near Willard Central Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2023)				Ranking (2022)				MAP Mathematics (2023)			MAP Science (2023)	MAP English Language Arts (2023)			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 (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	SchoolDigger Rating (2023)	Average Standard Score (2022)	Statewide Rank (2022)	State Percentile (2022)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MAP Science 5th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Willard Central Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	2625 N Farm Rd 101	Springfield	65802	Greene County	Willard R-II	No	No	No	Yes	(417) 831-4440	414	34	12.2	39.6%	380 (91.8%)	7 (1.7%)	14 (3.4%)	7 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.4%)	73.4	204^th of 898 public elementary schools	77.3%		71.3	229^th of 908 public elementary schools	74.8%	25	66.7	42.1			61.7	50.0		$10,810	$1,348	$9,462
Willard South Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	4151 W Division	Springfield	65802	Greene County	Willard R-II	No	No	No	Yes	(417) 862-6308	391	32	12.0	51.7%	302 (77.2%)	20 (5.1%)	44 (11.3%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	20 (5.1%)	32.5	635^th of 898 public elementary schools	29.3%		51.7	438^th of 908 public elementary schools	51.8%	197	33.3	25.7			36.1			$10,439	$793	$9,646
Willard North Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	409 Farmer Rd	Willard	65781	Greene County	Willard R-II	No	No	No	Yes	(417) 742-2597	332	31	10.5	41.9%	310 (93.4%)	4 (1.2%)	11 (3.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.5%)	85.1	101^st of 898 public elementary schools	88.8%		71.7	226^th of 908 public elementary schools	75.1%	125	62.0	66.7			54.0			$13,238	$896	$12,342
Willard Orchard Hills Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	4595 Farm Road 140	Springfield	65802	Greene County	Willard R-II	No	No	No	Yes	(417) 869-0600	424	37	11.6	41.5%	332 (78.3%)	28 (6.6%)	39 (9.2%)	4 (0.9%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	16 (3.8%)	52.2	430^th of 898 public elementary schools	52.1%		50.5	447^th of 908 public elementary schools	50.8%	17	40.3	34.3			53.3	38.5		$12,178	$1,149	$11,029
Willard East Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	518 Kime	Willard	65781	Greene County	Willard R-II	No	No	No	No	(417) 742-4639	326	26	12.3	32.5%	308 (94.5%)	8 (2.5%)	5 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.5%)	82.6	124^th of 898 public elementary schools	86.2%		76.8	179^th of 908 public elementary schools	80.3%	55	51.0	63.8			60.4	62.1		$10,742	$1,305	$9,437
Bissett Elementary	Public	K-5	3014 W Calhoun	Springfield	65802	Greene County	Springfield R-Xii	No	No	No	Yes	(417) 523-2800	215	17	12.6	85.6%	137 (63.7%)	27 (12.6%)	31 (14.4%)	1 (0.5%)	3 (1.4%)	1 (0.5%)	15 (7.0%)	25.6	700^th of 898 public elementary schools	22.0%		15.3	785^th of 908 public elementary schools	13.5%	85	32.3	24.2	22.0			27.3	30.0	$13,437	$3,016	$10,422
Westport Elementary	Public	K-5	415 S Golden	Springfield	65802	Greene County	Springfield R-Xii	No	No	No	Yes	(417) 523-3100	384	31	12.3	87.8%	237 (61.7%)	43 (11.2%)	60 (15.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.3%)	38 (9.9%)	11.9	805^th of 898 public elementary schools	10.4%		9.9	825^th of 908 public elementary schools	9.1%	20	18.6	22.9	5.3	5.2	24.3	20.0	16.1	$12,145	$3,336	$8,809
Williams Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2205 W Kearney	Springfield	65803	Greene County	Springfield R-Xii	No	No	No	Yes	(417) 523-2000	317	29	10.9	85.2%	218 (68.8%)	43 (13.6%)	31 (9.8%)	2 (0.6%)	3 (0.9%)	3 (0.9%)	17 (5.4%)	24.4	709^th of 898 public elementary schools	21.0%		17.4	765^th of 908 public elementary schools	15.7%	56	20.4	18.9	4.7	21.5	36.7	51.3	19.1	$11,150	$1,575	$9,575
York Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2100 Nichols	Springfield	65802	Greene County	Springfield R-Xii	No	No	No	Yes	(417) 523-3000	204	16	12.7	89.2%	136 (66.7%)	18 (8.8%)	24 (11.8%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	23 (11.3%)	52.2	431^st of 898 public elementary schools	52.0%		40.9	548^th of 908 public elementary schools	39.6%	117			38.7		36.7		45.2	$12,429	$1,808	$10,621
Watkins Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	732 W Talmage	Springfield	65803	Greene County	Springfield R-Xii	No	No	No	Yes	(417) 523-5000	250	18	13.8	81.6%	164 (65.6%)	34 (13.6%)	23 (9.2%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.8%)	3 (1.2%)	23 (9.2%)	24.4	710^th of 898 public elementary schools	20.9%		26.7	678^th of 908 public elementary schools	25.3%	32	30.0	41.9	15.0	19.2	36.7		22.6	$11,292	$2,671	$8,621

Frequently Asked Questions about Willard Central Elementary

What schools do graduates of Willard Central Elementary attend?

Students who attend Willard Central Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Willard Intermediate North
Middle : Willard Middle
High : Willard High

What district is Willard Central Elementary in?

Willard R-II

How many students attend Willard Central Elementary?

In the 2022-23 school year, 414 students attended Willard Central Elementary.

Is Willard Central Elementary a good school?

Willard Central Elementary ranks 204^th of 898 Missouri elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Willard Central Elementary?

Students at Willard Central Elementary are 92% White, 3% Hispanic, 2% African American, 2% Asian, 1% Two or more races.

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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.