Summary:
The Poplar Bluff school district in Missouri serves 11 schools, including 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 3 high schools, and 1 alternative school. The district faces significant socioeconomic challenges, with most schools having very high rates of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.
Despite these challenges, a few standout schools emerge. Lake Road Elementary ranks among the top 84 elementary schools in Missouri and earns a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger, with strong test scores in math and English Language Arts. O'Neal Elementary also has a history of high performance, ranking in the top 198-279 elementary schools in the state. At the middle school level, Poplar Bluff Junior High stands out for its high Algebra I proficiency rate, significantly above the district and state averages.
However, the district also faces significant challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates across most schools, ranging from 26% to 50.7%. The alternative schools, such as W.E. Sears Youth Center and Sierra-Osage Treatment Center, have lower graduation rates, but also lower chronic absenteeism, suggesting they serve a unique and specialized student population. Addressing the root causes of absenteeism and implementing targeted interventions to improve academic performance across the district should be priorities for the Poplar Bluff R-I school district.
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