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Central Junior High

Q: Is Central Junior High a good school?

Central Junior High ranks 323 rd of 438 Missouri middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades 7-8

323^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 438 Missouri Middle Schools

Better than 26% of Missouri middle schools

Summary

Central Junior High is a public middle school located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, serving grades 7-8 with a total enrollment of 598 students. The school is part of the Cape Girardeau 63 school district, which is ranked 197 out of 367 districts in Missouri and is rated 2 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Academically, Central Junior High has consistently underperformed compared to the state average in standardized test scores across various subjects and grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the percentage of students proficient or better in MAP/Mathematics for 7th grade was 32.6% at Central Junior High, compared to the state average of 43.2%. The school's performance in English Language Arts has also been below the state average. However, the school has performed relatively better in Algebra I, with 91.4% of students proficient or better in the 2023-2024 school year, compared to the district and state averages of 36.8% and 41.5%, respectively.

Central Junior High has experienced high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 17.7% to 25.2% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state average. The school has a relatively high per-student spending, ranging from $9,657 to $11,193 per student over the past few years, which is higher than the state average, and a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 11.9 to 12.3 students per teacher, which is lower than the state average. Compared to nearby schools, such as Russell Hawkins Junior High and Jackson Middle, which are part of the higher-performing Jackson R-II school district, Central Junior High's performance is generally lower. However, the school performs better than some other nearby schools, such as Scott County Middle, which is part of the lower-performing Scott County R-IV district.

633

Students ?

11.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,158

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1910 Whitener St.
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701-5135

(573) 334-2923

District: Cape Girardeau 63

Students who attend Central Junior High usually attend:

High:

Central High

Feeder schools for Central Junior High:

Elementary:	Alma Schrader Elementary
	Blanchard Elementary
	Clippard Elementary
	Franklin Elementary
	More...
	Jefferson Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

42.3%

African American:

33.6%

Two or more races:

15.3%

See top rated Missouri middle schools

Compare Central Junior High to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 23rd percentile in 2015 → 26th in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Missouri average (28% vs 40% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!English Language Arts scores 14 pts below the Missouri average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school28%

District avg28%

Missouri avg40%

323^rd of 438

Missouri public middle schools ?

Bottom 26%▲ up 3 pts since 2015

From bottom 23% (2015) to bottom 26% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Missouri Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

197^th of 367Cape Girardeau 63 among Missouri districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	29.6	323 of 438	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.6	309 of 451	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.1	301 of 459	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	53.6	208 of 459	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.3	184 of 454	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.9	346 of 587	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.7	344 of 552	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2017	25.7	464 of 568	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	27.9	348 of 435	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	30.9	449 of 585	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	29.9	518 of 633	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	38.3	482 of 649	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	33.0	508 of 623	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	29.5	525 of 625	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	31.5	518 of 614	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	28.5	510 of 601	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	27.0	549 of 624	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	36.3	471 of 624	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	36.0	489 of 619	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	35.4	96 of 143	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	24.9	119 of 144	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.6	117 of 153	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	38.0	93 of 148	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.8	74 of 135	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	28.9	113 of 149	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.2	111 of 129	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2022	32.6	129 of 187	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	51.2	72 of 195	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	51.9	94 of 204	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	47.6	82 of 162	49.4%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	56.8	23 of 81	71.6%	★★★★☆
2024	67.6	14 of 72	80.6%	★★★★☆
2023	41.3	36 of 68	47.1%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2024	58.4	20 of 45	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.2	16 of 48	66.7%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	37.7	59 of 90	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.1	41 of 74	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.0	54 of 74	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	63.4	16 of 67	76.1%	★★★★☆
2019	39.0	84 of 130	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.0	66 of 96	31.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	54.8	151 of 369	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.1	119 of 378	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.7	85 of 382	77.7%	★★★★☆
2022	85.0	18 of 365	95.1%	★★★★★
2021	88.9	13 of 371	96.5%	★★★★★
2019	67.9	97 of 482	79.9%	★★★★☆
2018	32.5	322 of 422	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	43.6	15 of 48	68.8%	★★★★☆
2024	49.6	19 of 51	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.2	13 of 44	70.5%	★★★★☆
2022	49.3	12 of 45	73.3%	★★★★☆
2019	23.7	83 of 98	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.1	65 of 79	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	10.1	194 of 196	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	21.3	175 of 194	9.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.9	141 of 192	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	42.0	201 of 358	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.1	160 of 379	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.7	137 of 385	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	75.7	69 of 381	81.9%	★★★★☆
2021	81.9	43 of 376	88.6%	★★★★☆
2019	65.1	126 of 527	76.1%	★★★★☆
2018	61.9	138 of 479	71.2%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

English Language Learner (2025)72nd percentile+45 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)69th percentile+42 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)59th percentile+33 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2024)56th percentile+24 vs school

White (2025)44th percentile+18 vs school

Hispanic (2025)34th percentile+8 vs school

African American (2025)33rd percentile+7 vs school

Disabled (2022)31st percentile-24 vs school

Special Education (2025)1st percentile-25 vs school

By subject vs Missouri (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics29%-9 vs state

English Language Arts27%-14 vs state

Science26%-13 vs state

1.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, May 22, 2017

The Principal doesnot make an effort to say students name right even in 2 yrs !!!!!
Students who's parents are influential get recognized and awarded throughout the year. Close Quote

Schools Near Central Junior High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MAP Mathematics (2025)				MAP Science (2025)		MAP English Language Arts (2025)				MAP Algebra I (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MAP Mathematics 6th Grade	MAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MAP Mathematics 8th Grade	MAP Science 5th Grade	MAP Science 8th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	MAP Algebra I End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central Junior High	Public	7-8	1910 Whitener St.	Cape Girardeau	63701	Cape Girardeau County	Cape Girardeau 63	No	No	No	No	(573) 334-2923	633	54	11.6	100.0%	268 (42.3%)	213 (33.6%)	47 (7.4%)	8 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	97 (15.3%)	29.6	323^rd of 438 public middle schools	26.3%		32.6	309^th of 451 public middle schools	31.5%	14			32.6	24.6		25.8			24.9	29.7		$12,158	$1,031	$11,127
Central Middle	Public	5-6	1900 Thilenius	Cape Girardeau	63701	Cape Girardeau County	Cape Girardeau 63	No	No	No	Yes	(573) 334-6281	623	47	13.1	100.0%	238 (38.2%)	228 (36.6%)	64 (10.3%)	8 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	84 (13.5%)								(n/a)	31.3	35.7			28.1		38.6	29.5				$11,448	$943	$10,505
Scott City Middle	Public	5-8	3000 Main St	Scott City	63780	Scott County	Scott City R-I	No	No	No	Yes	(573) 264-2131	223	23	9.7	59.6%	205 (91.9%)	3 (1.3%)	4 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.9%)	77.1	76^th of 438 public middle schools	82.6%		73.9	92^nd of 451 public middle schools	79.6%	16	24.2	49.9		57.3	46.2	48.0				51.7		$11,917	$549	$11,368
Russell Hawkins Junior High	Public	7-8	210 N West Ln	Jackson	63755	Cape Girardeau County	Jackson R-II	No	No	No	No	(573) 243-9533	867	60	14.5	36.1%	771 (88.9%)	24 (2.8%)	29 (3.3%)	13 (1.5%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	26 (3.0%)	74.2	88^th of 438 public middle schools	79.9%		80.8	60^th of 451 public middle schools	86.7%	28			57.0	58.1		50.9			35.1	47.4	93.5	$9,332	$635	$8,697
Jackson Middle	Public	5-6	1651 W Independence St	Jackson	63755	Cape Girardeau County	Jackson R-II	No	No	No	No	(573) 243-9543	850	59	14.5	38.8%	757 (89.1%)	28 (3.3%)	20 (2.4%)	12 (1.4%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (3.6%)								(n/a)	46.2	56.8			45.4		54.1	45.8				$9,501	$559	$8,942
Scott County Middle	Public	6-8	4035 State Hwy 77	Benton	63736	Scott County	Scott County R-IV	No	No	No	Yes	(573) 545-3541	195	17	11.4	53.3%	180 (92.3%)	1 (0.5%)	5 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.1%)	39.2	279^th of 438 public middle schools	36.3%		26.7	339^th of 451 public middle schools	24.8%	60		34.3	40.2	20.6		44.5		16.2	32.7			$12,618	$747	$11,871

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Junior High

How many students attend Central Junior High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 633 students attended Central Junior High.

What high school do graduates of Central Junior High attend?

Students who attend Central Junior High usually go on to attend Central High

What district is Central Junior High in?

Cape Girardeau 63

What is the racial makeup of Central Junior High?

Students at Central Junior High are 42% White, 34% African American, 15% Two or more races, 7% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

Is Central Junior High a good school?

Central Junior High ranks 323^rd of 438 Missouri middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Rate Central Junior High!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.