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Richards Elementary

Q: Is Richards Elementary a good school?

Richards Elementary ranks 390 th of 900 Missouri elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-8

390^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 900 Missouri Elementary Schools

Better than 57% of Missouri elementary schools

Summary

Richards Elementary is a public school in West Plains, Missouri, serving 385 students in grades PK-8. The school is part of the Richards R-V school district, which is ranked 138 out of 367 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Richards Elementary has shown mixed academic performance on state assessments (MAP tests), with some grade levels and subjects outperforming the state average, while others lag behind. For example, in 2024-2025, 4th-grade students at Richards Elementary outperformed the state average in math, but 3rd-grade students underperformed in both math and English Language Arts. The school's performance has fluctuated over the years, with some grades and subjects improving while others decline. Interestingly, despite having a relatively high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds (63.9% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch), the school's low-income students perform better than the state average for this subgroup.

Compared to nearby schools, Richards Elementary's performance is mixed. While it outperforms some schools, such as Koshkonong Elementary, in certain grade levels and subjects, it lags behind higher-performing schools like Howell Valley Elementary and Fairview Elementary. Additionally, Richards Elementary has experienced significant fluctuations in chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 11.6% in 2023-2024 to 23.5% in 2022-2023, which may be impacting student learning and achievement.

389

Students ?

14.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,411

Per pupil spending ?

63%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3461 County Rd 1710
West Plains, MO 65775-5333

(417) 256-5239

District: Richards R-V

Racial breakdown:

White:

95.4%

Two or more races:

2.3%

Hispanic:

1.5%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 46th percentile in 2015 → 57th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Missouri average (49% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 11 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Missouri median (57th percentile)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school49%

District avg49%

Missouri avg43%

390^th of 900

Missouri public elementary schools ?

Top 43%▲ up 11 pts since 2015

From bottom 46% (2015) to top 43% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Missouri Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

138^th of 367Richards R-V 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	56.8	390 of 900	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.4	364 of 906	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	34.0	621 of 898	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.2	639 of 908	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	60.7	349 of 901	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.8	494 of 1052	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	41.1	637 of 1045	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	48.0	559 of 1032	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	47.5	492 of 865	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2015	49.0	576 of 1058	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2014	69.9	273 of 1089	74.9%	★★★★☆
2013	64.5	360 of 1108	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2012	56.7	499 of 1085	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	66.6	339 of 1088	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	61.1	389 of 1066	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	47.7	603 of 1053	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	39.0	765 of 1084	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	51.2	555 of 1080	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2006	57.5	422 of 1074	60.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	63.4	181 of 638	71.6%	★★★★☆
2024	58.4	204 of 625	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	42.0	347 of 611	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.8	257 of 532	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.6	332 of 907	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.4	503 of 887	43.3%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	47.6	360 of 666	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.7	344 of 668	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	20.4	570 of 673	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.7	602 of 675	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	41.0	548 of 917	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	26.5	712 of 898	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2023	59.6	170 of 459	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.9	127 of 459	72.3%	★★★★☆
2021	62.5	152 of 454	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.2	202 of 587	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	41.4	332 of 552	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	60.5	198 of 568	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2016	69.8	110 of 435	74.7%	★★★★☆
2015	63.2	180 of 585	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	72.1	126 of 633	80.1%	★★★★☆
2013	63.3	207 of 649	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2012	53.7	310 of 623	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	63.1	219 of 625	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	64.2	200 of 614	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2009	60.8	222 of 601	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	54.6	275 of 624	55.9%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2022	61.5	109 of 365	70.1%	★★★★☆
2019	72.4	68 of 482	85.9%	★★★★☆
2018	50.0	190 of 422	55.0%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2023	50.0	184 of 385	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.7	151 of 381	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.2	136 of 376	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.7	212 of 527	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	30.7	355 of 479	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)72nd percentile+15 vs school

White (2025)46th percentile-11 vs school

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2022)70th percentile~ school

White (2023)52nd percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs Missouri (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics54%+11 vs state

English Language Arts40%-3 vs state

★

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Schools Near Richards Elementary

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 English 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 3rd Grade	MAP Mathematics 4th Grade	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 3rd Grade	MAP English Language Arts 4th 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 English I End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Richards Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	3461 County Rd 1710	West Plains	65775	Howell County	Richards R-V	No	No	No	Yes	(417) 256-5239	389	26	14.9	63.0%	371 (95.4%)	3 (0.8%)	6 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.3%)	56.8	390^th of 900 public elementary schools	56.7%		58.4	364^th of 906 public elementary schools	59.8%	26	21.5	84.3		55.2					26.3	53.3						$10,411	$1,502	$8,909
West Plains Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	1136 Allen St	West Plains	65775	Howell County	West Plains R-Vii	No	No	No	Yes	(417) 256-6150	767	63	12.0	75.6%	681 (88.8%)	4 (0.5%)	43 (5.6%)	8 (1.0%)	6 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (3.3%)	38.4	585^th of 900 public elementary schools	35.0%		33.4	630^th of 906 public elementary schools	30.5%	45	27.6	32.7							32.4	48.7						$11,737	$1,044	$10,693
Fairview Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	4036 State Rte K	West Plains	65775	Howell County	Fairview R-Xi	No	No	No	Yes	(417) 256-1063	466	31	15.0	50.2%	433 (92.9%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.1%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.9%)	49.9	469^th of 900 public elementary schools	47.9%		45.5	504^th of 906 public elementary schools	44.4%	35	30.1	40.3	35.6	44.4	53.6	63.5	55.3	43.1	17.1	51.9	46.3	35.1	46.2	49.9	88.5	$10,501	$642	$9,859
Junction Hill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	8004 County Rd 3010	West Plains	65775	Howell County	Junction Hill C-12	No	No	No	Yes	(417) 256-4265	186	17	10.8	57.0%	183 (98.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)								(n/a)						46.1										$12,752	$757	$11,995
Howell Valley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	6461 State Rte Zz	West Plains	65775	Howell County	Howell Valley R-I	No	No	No	Yes	(417) 256-2268	201	18	11.3	52.7%	185 (92.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.0%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	5 (2.5%)								(n/a)				73.8	65.4										78.2	$11,457	$548	$10,908
Glenwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	10286 State Rte 17	West Plains	65775	Howell County	Glenwood R-VIII	No	No	No	Yes	(417) 256-4849	252	24	10.3	53.6%	247 (98.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)								(n/a)	64.2		49.9			32.2										$12,577	$356	$12,221
South Fork Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	3209 Us Hwy 160	West Plains	65775	Howell County	West Plains R-Vii	No	No	No	Yes	(417) 256-2836	196	15	12.7	58.7%	189 (96.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.5%)								(n/a)		61.8														$11,079	$924	$10,155
Willow Springs Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	215 W Fourth St	Willow Springs	65793	Howell County	Willow Springs R-IV	No	No	No	Yes	(417) 469-2474	446	44	10.1	71.1%	416 (93.3%)	4 (0.9%)	10 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.7%)	37.8	592^nd of 900 public elementary schools	34.2%		50.4	450^th of 906 public elementary schools	50.3%	142	31.9	37.4							34.6	36.4						$13,561	$1,089	$12,472
Mountain View Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	314 N Elm St	Mountain View	65548	Howell County	Mountain View-Birch Tree R-III	No	No	No	Yes	(417) 934-2550	396	36	11.1	65.7%	371 (93.7%)	1 (0.3%)	13 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	3 (0.8%)	6 (1.5%)	60.7	353^rd of 900 public elementary schools	60.8%		82.7	129^th of 906 public elementary schools	85.8%	224	53.1	44.7	23.3				47.7		63.4	44.7						$10,493	$419	$10,073
Dora Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	613 County Road 379	Dora	65637	Ozark County	Dora R-III	No	No	No	Yes	(417) 261-2337	147	12	12.7	61.9%	138 (93.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.4%)	1 (0.7%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.4%)								(n/a)																$14,483	$1,033	$13,449

Frequently Asked Questions about Richards Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Richards Elementary?

Students at Richards Elementary are 95% White, 2% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.

How many students attend Richards Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 389 students attended Richards Elementary.

What district is Richards Elementary in?

Richards R-V

Is Richards Elementary a good school?

Richards Elementary ranks 390^th of 900 Missouri elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Richards Elementary!

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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.