Summary:
The West Plains R-Vii district in Missouri is home to two elementary schools: West Plains Elementary and South Fork Elementary. These schools serve students from pre-kindergarten through 6th grade in the West Plains area.
Based on the available data, South Fork Elementary appears to be the standout school in the district. It consistently outperforms the district and state averages on standardized test scores, particularly in mathematics and science. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 68.3% of 6th graders at South Fork were proficient or better in math, compared to just 51.5% for the district and 44.4% statewide. South Fork's 4th grade math proficiency rate of 61.8% in 2024-2025 is also significantly higher than the district (36.8%) and state (43.8%) averages. Additionally, South Fork has a higher school ranking (344 out of 906 elementary schools) compared to West Plains Elementary (630 out of 906).
In contrast, West Plains Elementary appears to lag behind, with lower test scores and a lower school ranking. The district-wide chronic absenteeism rate of around 24% in 2023-2024 is also a concern, as it likely impacts student learning and achievement. While West Plains Elementary has a higher spending per student ($12,996) compared to South Fork Elementary ($11,403), this does not seem to be translating into stronger academic outcomes, suggesting the need for the district to examine how resources are being allocated and utilized at each school.
Thank you for your feedback!