Most Missouri public schools improve test scores, attendance
Alison Patton
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released data Thursday crucial to determining how public schools across the state are performing for the 2024-25 school year.
The annual performance report shows that more than 91% of schools meet or exceed state expectations, and 92% of students attend a school that meets or exceeds state expectations, according to a DESE press release.
English Language Arts test scores across the state show slight improvements, and math test scores improved overall, excluding grades four and five, according to the release.
Columbia Public Schools has improved in its three-year composite number. For the 2023-24 school year, CPS scored a 76.8%, according to previous reporting. The new report shows CPS jumped about 8%, with a total score of 83.3%. CPS saw another increase in its overall score for 2025 at 88.7%.
Jefferson City School District has a similar composite score 83.2%.
The APR report shows Missouri schools’ progress toward meeting standards set by the sixth iteration of the Missouri School Improvement Program, according to the release.
According to DESE, the three-year composite score determines how schools are accredited. That’s why many school districts focus in on that number.
Normandy Schools Collaborative in St. Louis County scored the lowest in its three-year composite, sitting at 55.5%.
The highest-scoring school district is Saint Elizabeth R-IV in Miller County with 97.2%.
Moberly School District has a score of 74.1%, and Fulton Public Schools is 69%.
DESE Education Commissioner Karla Esingler said there’s been some improvement overall improvement, but there’s still some work that could be done.
“We’re not seeing 10, 15, 20%. I mean, you’d see me do a cartwheel, frankly,” Esingler said. “But we are seeing improvement; there is improvement in those scores.”
There is at least one exception.
Southern Boone School District has a three-year composite of 84%, but its yearly composite is 95.9%. The district’s yearly score is a 17% jump between the 2024-25 school year and the previous one.
“A score of 95.9% is outstanding, and our students, teachers, instructional staff and administrators should be commended for the incredible amount of work they do every single school day to yield such great results,” said School Superintendent Tim Roth in an email.