The Biome

The Biome is the sole elementary public charter school serving grades K-5 in the The Biome District, which is ranked 360 out of 367 districts in Missouri and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger. With a total enrollment of 161 students, The Biome is struggling to provide a quality education, as evidenced by its consistently low academic performance, high chronic absenteeism, and the socioeconomic challenges faced by its student population.

The Biome's test scores are well below the state averages across all grade levels and subject areas, with only 5.5% of 3rd-grade students proficient or better in mathematics, compared to the state average of 41.4%. Additionally, the school has a high chronic absenteeism rate of 47.5%, which is significantly higher than the state average and can contribute to the low academic achievement. Despite spending $17,859 per student, which is higher than the state average, the resources do not appear to be effectively utilized to support student learning and improve outcomes.

The Biome serves a student population with a high percentage (77.64%) of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage. This socioeconomic factor likely plays a significant role in the school's academic challenges and may require targeted support and resources to address. With a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 7.1, The Biome has the potential to provide more individualized attention to its students, but this advantage has not yet translated into improved academic performance.