Summary
Gratz Brown Elementary in Moberly, MO, serves 398 students in grades 3 through 5 and is the largest elementary school in the area, with over 67% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school faces significant challenges, particularly with chronic absenteeism at 18.2%, which is nearly double the rate of nearby rural schools like Sturgeon Elementary (10.2%) and Renick Elementary (10.2%). This high absenteeism is a key driver of low academic performance, with proficiency rates well below state averages—for example, only 26.4% of 3rd graders are proficient in English Language Arts compared to 41.8% statewide. Despite spending $12,120 per student, higher than the state average, the school ranks in the bottom third of Missouri elementary schools (23rd percentile), while lower-spending schools like Sturgeon ($7,683 per student) achieve better results.
Interestingly, Gratz Brown shows a relative strength in supporting its low socio-economic status (SES) students, who ranked in the 34th percentile in 2024-2025, though this is a decline from the 53rd percentile two years earlier. However, the school struggles profoundly with its special education students, who ranked in the 4th percentile (0 stars), indicating a critical need for intervention. The school also benefits from a favorable student-teacher ratio of 9.8:1, lower than in-district peers like North Park Elementary (12.4:1) and South Park Elementary (11.4:1), but this advantage has not yet translated into improved academic outcomes.
Compared to surrounding rural schools, Gratz Brown’s challenges stand out. Schools like Westran Elementary and Northeast Elementary consistently outperform Gratz Brown despite similar or higher poverty rates, largely due to much lower chronic absenteeism (10-16%). This suggests that the primary issue at Gratz Brown is not just poverty but a combination of poverty and a school culture or community environment that leads to high absenteeism. For parents, the most impactful intervention would likely be a targeted, school-wide initiative to improve attendance and re-engage families, as the school has adequate resources and small class sizes but struggles to overcome this critical barrier to learning.
Thank you for your feedback!