Summary:
The 63829 zip code area is home to two underperforming schools - Southland Elementary and Southland High, both part of the Southland C-9 school district. These schools consistently perform below state averages across key metrics, including test scores, attendance rates, and graduation rates, despite serving a high-poverty student population.
Southland Elementary is ranked 829 out of 900 Missouri elementary schools and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger, while Southland High is ranked 304 out of 460 Missouri high schools with a 2-star rating. Both schools have significantly lower proficiency rates in Math, English Language Arts, and Science compared to state averages. For example, Southland Elementary's 3rd grade Math proficiency rate was just 20.9% in 2024-2025, compared to the state average of 41.4%. Additionally, both schools have high chronic absenteeism rates of 24.3%, and Southland High's 4-year graduation rate of 73.3% is lower than the state average.
Despite the high percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch (100%) and the relatively high spending per student at both schools, these additional resources do not appear to be translating into improved academic outcomes. The data suggests that these schools may require more targeted interventions and support to address the underlying factors contributing to their low performance, such as improving instructional practices, addressing attendance and engagement issues, and providing additional resources and support for students and teachers.
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