Middle Schools in Kirksville R-III

The Kirksville R-III school district has a single middle school, William Matthew Middle School, which serves students in grades 6-8. The school's performance has fluctuated in recent years, with its statewide ranking improving from 237 out of 459 Missouri middle schools in 2021-2022 to 195 out of 451 in 2023-2024. However, the school's academic performance has been uneven, with strong results in 6th and 7th grade math and 8th grade science, but significantly below-average 8th grade math scores.

One notable bright spot is the school's exceptional performance on the Algebra I end-of-course exam, with 96.8% of students scoring proficient or better, far exceeding the district and state averages. This suggests the school may have strong math instruction and support for advanced students. On the other hand, the school's high chronic absenteeism rate of 21.9% is a concern that could be impacting overall academic achievement. Additionally, with a relatively high proportion of economically disadvantaged students, the school may face additional challenges in supporting student learning and success.

Overall, William Matthew Middle School has shown both strengths and areas for improvement in its academic performance. While the school's Algebra I results are impressive, addressing the uneven performance across grade levels and subject areas, as well as the high chronic absenteeism rate, could be priorities for the school and Kirksville R-III district to enhance student outcomes.