Best Public Schools in Zip Code 66076

Zip code 66076 has three public schools serving prekindergarten through grade 12: Appanoose Elementary School (PK–5), West Franklin Middle School (6–8), and West Franklin High School (9–12). Their 2025–26 results show a mixed area picture: the three-school average was 40% in science, about 2 percentage points above the state, but 37% in English language arts (ELA) and 30% in math, 9 and 11 points below state averages. The clearest overall concern is that ELA and math averages are below state rates, despite the area’s slight science advantage.

Appanoose Elementary School stands out in ELA and math: its all-grades results were 55% and 36%, respectively. ELA was 9 points above the state rate, while math was 5 points below. West Franklin Middle School led in science, at 51%, or 13 points above the state. In contrast, West Franklin High School was lowest in all three subjects, with 26% in ELA, 26% in math, and 24% in science—20, 15, and 14 points below state rates. Grade results add important nuance: Appanoose’s third-grade ELA and math were above state results, but its fifth-grade math was 23% versus 45% statewide. Middle’s eighth-grade science was 51% versus 39% statewide, while its seventh-grade math was 19% versus 38%. Attendance also differs sharply: chronic absenteeism was 8% at Appanoose, 38% at Middle, and 29% at High, compared with 18% statewide.

Recent trends diverged by subject and school. From 2024–25 to 2025–26, the area’s average ELA gap with the state widened from 7 to 9 points, and its math gap widened from 6 to 11 points. Middle’s science result rose by 17 points, from 35% to 51%; Appanoose’s math fell by 13 points, from 49% to 36%. SchoolDigger’s statewide ranking percentiles for High were 63, 19, and 21 over the last three years; Appanoose’s were 44, 60, and 49, and Middle’s were 27, 25, and 33. Enrollment runs from 149 to 200, and student–teacher ratios are similar, from 10.3 to 10.9. Free/reduced-lunch rates range from 45% at Appanoose to 54% at Middle; these are context, not an explanation for school results. High’s reported graduation rate was 95%, above the 90% state rate, offering a different outcome from its low proficiency results.