Summary:
In zip code 72675, there is a single school, St. Joe Elementary, a small, rural school serving Kindergarten through 6th grade with 89 students in the Ozark Mountain School District.
St. Joe Elementary is a standout for its remarkable academic performance despite serving a community where nearly 97% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch. In the 2025-2026 school year, the school outperformed both the district and state averages in every subject, with proficiency rates of 50% in English Language Arts, 52.1% in Reading, 52.2% in Mathematics, and 50% in Science. This is a significant achievement compared to the state averages of 39.4%, 40.4%, 44.1%, and 44% respectively. The school has also shown impressive year-over-year growth, with proficiency gains of over 16 percentage points in most subjects from the previous year. Its state ranking has improved from the 50th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 67th percentile in 2025-2026, earning a consistent 3-star rating.
With a low student-teacher ratio of 10.9, the school is well-positioned to provide individualized attention, which likely contributes to its success. However, grade-level performance varies; for example, 6th graders excelled in Reading (60% proficient) but struggled more in Science (40% proficient), while 4th grade appears to be a relative weak point across subjects. Overall, St. Joe Elementary demonstrates that a small, focused school environment can overcome significant socioeconomic challenges to deliver strong academic results.
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