New Madrid County R-I

The New Madrid County R-I school district in Missouri consists of 5 schools, including 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school. The district faces significant challenges, with consistently low academic performance across most schools, high rates of chronic absenteeism, and economic disadvantage among the student population.

Central High School stands out with a relatively high 4-year graduation rate of 92.8% and a lower dropout rate of 2.0% compared to the district and state. However, the school's test scores are significantly lower than the state average, especially in Algebra I. In contrast, Matthews Elementary is a standout, ranking 33rd out of 901 Missouri elementary schools in the 2020-2021 school year and maintaining relatively strong test scores in Mathematics and Science.

Across the district, all schools have a high chronic absenteeism rate of 25.5%, significantly higher than the state average, and 100% of students receive free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage. Spending per student varies, with Central High School spending the most at $17,175 per student. The district's performance issues suggest systemic challenges that need to be addressed, and the exceptional performance of Matthews Elementary in the past warrants further investigation to understand the factors behind its success.