Needs Improvement
#2074 of 2,221 schools in MO
Benton High
High School · St. Joseph · St. Joseph, MO
A St. Joseph high school where students score 25 points below what's typical for similar communities.
5655 S FOURTH, St. Joseph, MO 64504
- Math 16% vs MO 48% (2025)
- Reading 32% proficient (2022)
- 77.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Benton High score 24% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 49%).
2025 MAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MO average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 16 points since 2020, to 16% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 28% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 51% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from MO state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
36.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Benton High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 35Car-Dependent
- Bike 32Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,597/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (St. Joseph), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$55,300
Median home value
$115,100
Median rent
$918/mo
College educated
13.3%
Homeownership
70.6%
Poverty rate
22.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 64504; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Park Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.8private | PK–12 | 1.4 mi | 39 | Compare → |
| Helen M Davis SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.5 | K–12 | 2.9 mi | 42 | Compare → |
| Central HighEnrollment path unverified | 5.7 | 9–12 | 3.7 mi | 1,720 | Compare → |
| Lafayette HighEnrollment path unverified | 5.1 | 9–12 | 4.7 mi | 680 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
St. Joseph
- Schools in district
- 25
- Rank in district
- #18 of 20
- District spending per student
- $12,067NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 16.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Benton High is listed in ST. JOSEPH; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Benton High
Benton High is a public high school in St. Joseph, MO, part of St. Joseph, serving approximately 702 students in grades 9th-12th with a 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio.
It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 out of 10 and ranks #2,074 of 2,221 schools in MO. State assessment records show 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Benton High
What grades does Benton High serve?
Benton High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Benton High?
Benton High has an enrollment of approximately 702 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Benton High?
The student-teacher ratio at Benton High is 14.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Benton High rank in MO?
Benton High ranks #2,074 of 2,221 schools in MO.
What is Benton High's MySchoolScout rating?
Benton High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Benton High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Benton High has 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Benton High a charter school?
No, Benton High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Benton High a Title I school?
No, Benton High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Benton High?
36.9% of students at Benton High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 702
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 49
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Buchanan County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 27.9%
- Phone
- (816) 671-4030
- 4-Year Graduation
- 77.0%
- Area population (ZIP 64504)
- 10,286
- Area average commute
- 17.4 min
- Area median age
- 41.7
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MAP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 64504; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025, multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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