Sun, Jul 05 2009
|
|
Published June 13, 2008 03:02 pm - Royal Heights Elementary in Joplin is one the best elementary schools in Missouri, while McDonald County’s Rocky Comfort Elementary ranks among the worst in academic performance, according to the Show-Me Institute. Study ranks Missouri's public schools, districts w/ links to Missouri school & school-district rankings By Joe Hadsall and Melissa Dunson
news@joplinglobe.com Royal Heights Elementary in Joplin is one the best elementary schools in Missouri, while McDonald County’s Rocky Comfort Elementary ranks among the worst in academic performance, according to the Show-Me Institute. The ranking of 540 school districts and 2,105 schools in Missouri is aimed at giving people a more accurate view of how their schools and districts compare, said Justin Hauke, policy analyst with the St. Louis-based think tank. “We didn’t feel like there was a tool available for parents where they can get a cut-and-dry comparison between school districts,” Hauke said. “In one school year, more than 15,000 observations for test scores are made. There is a lot of information.” The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education isn’t rewarding the list’s top performers or punishing underachievers. Jim Morris, public information director, said the department won’t be using or even recognizing the list. “The list was created by the institute for their purposes,” Morris said. “We don’t rank schools in lists, because a ranked list is a crude tool for measuring improvement.” Schools in Southwest Missouri showed up at both ends of the spectrum. Royal Heights ranked 30th among 2,105 schools. Seven other Joplin elementary schools, three Webb City elementary schools and Webb City Middle School also earned spots in the top 25 percent. They are joined by Monett Middle School, Carthage’s Pleasant Valley and Mark Twain elementary schools, and Carl Junction Primary 2-3. The bottom 25 percent includes East Newton, Sarcoxie, Miller, Lamar and McDonald County high schools. They are joined by Joplin’s Emerson Elementary, and Noel and Rocky Comfort schools in McDonald County. Monett had the best high school in the area, at No. 804 on the list, followed by Joplin at No. 1,012. In the overall ranking of 540 school districts, Webb City finished at the top among Southwest Missouri’s schools, at No. 96. Joplin came in at No. 160. Method The “Show Me: The Grades” project is based on 2007 Missouri Assessment Program index scores. The index is a formula based on the percentage of students scoring at each of the four levels on the MAP tests. Hauke said that is the best option available. 
![comment on this story](http://community.cnhi.com/eve/ubb.x?a=dl&f=55410432
&x_id=local_story_165150229.html&x_subject=<img+src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/extra.gif"+border=0>Study+ranks+Missouri's+public+schools,+districts<font+color="#ff0000">+w/+links+to+Missouri+school+&+school-district+rankings+</font>+&x_link=http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_165150229.html)
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Local News section
Discontent brews at 'tea party' Area communities celebrate holiday with food, music and fireworks |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
 |
 |
    : Special Offer For New Subscribers :   
|
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
 |
|
|
Published by Newspaper Holding, Inc. 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. 
|
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
![Add a comment on this story](http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/zope/add_comment.php?section_id=local&story_id=local_story_165150229.html&headline=<img src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/extra.gif" border=0>Study ranks Missouri's public schools, districts<font color="#ff0000"> w/ links to Missouri school & school-district rankings </font> &portal_url=http://www.joplinglobe.com&portal=joplinglobe){kind=link}