Middle Schools in Joplin Schools

The Joplin Schools district in Missouri operates three middle schools: East Middle, South Middle, and North Middle, serving students in grades 6-8.

Among the three middle schools, South Middle stands out as the top performer. It has consistently ranked higher than the other two schools, placing in the top 185-192 middle schools in Missouri over the past three years. South Middle also outperforms the district and state averages in most subject areas, particularly in Mathematics and English Language Arts, with an exceptionally high percentage of students proficient or better in Algebra I. In contrast, North Middle appears to be the weakest performer, with lower test scores and a lower statewide ranking compared to the other two schools.

While the data reveals significant gaps between the schools' performance and the state averages, particularly in Mathematics and Science, it also highlights areas where the schools can focus their efforts to improve, such as increasing proficiency in these subjects, addressing chronic absenteeism, and exploring strategies to support more equitable outcomes across the district. The high rates of free and reduced-price lunch recipients at East Middle and North Middle suggest potential socioeconomic challenges that may be impacting student performance, and the district as a whole faces the challenge of achieving consistent, high-quality educational outcomes for all students.