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Average

#1555 of 2,216 schools in MO

Discovery Middle School

Middle School · LIBERTY 53

800 MIDJAY DRIVE, Liberty, MO 64068

Enrollment

663

Student-Teacher

13.5:1

Score

5.5

Grades

6th – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Liberty

#12 of 14

public schools

Missouri middle schools

#293 of 390

In district

#13 of 17

LIBERTY 53

Academic performance

7.5 / 10

Very strong

About Discovery Middle School

Discovery Middle School is a public middle school located in Liberty, Missouri, in Clay County. With an enrollment of 663 students and a student-teacher ratio of 13.5:1, the school offers a supportive learning environment with 49 full-time equivalent teachers. Discovery Middle School serves sixth through eighth graders, providing them with a solid foundation as they transition into higher education.

The academic performance at Discovery Middle School reflects a focus on student development, with 59% of students proficient or above in ELA/reading and 53% proficient or above in math. The MySchoolScout rating for the school is 6.1 out of 10, placing it in the 66th percentile among Missouri schools. Discovery Middle School is situated in a large suburban area that offers a variety of community resources and activities for students to engage with outside of school hours.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.2Fair40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-4.57 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics7.5Very Good35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency47%
Reading/ELA Proficiency54%
Overall Proficiency51%
Expected (poverty-adj.)53%
vs. Expected-2.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile63th
Resources & Environment6.4Above Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,222

Discovery Middle School — Students at Discovery Middle School score 50% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 53%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

18.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MO EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 52.7%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 59.3%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from MO state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
64%
ELA
64%
2021*
Math
47%
ELA
60%
2022
Math
47%
ELA
54%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 3.2/10.

How Discovery Middle School Compares

See how Discovery Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.5/10
30th percentile in MO
Academic
7.5/10
7.5/10
Growth
3.2/10
Below average
Environment
6.4/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
18%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
49 teachers

Location

800 MIDJAY DRIVE, Liberty, MO 64068

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Discovery Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. HERITAGE MIDDLE SCHOOL (rated 6.7/10, 2.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is MAPLE PARK MIDDLE (rated 6.5/10, 3.3 miles away, in nearby Kansas City), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, SOUTH VALLEY MIDDLE (rated 5.5/10, 0.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Liberty, see our Liberty schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.5 mi
School Distance Rating
SOUTH VALLEY MIDDLE Liberty 0.2 mi 5.5
EARLY CHILD. EDUCATION CTR. Kansas City 0.7 mi
ALEXANDER DONIPHAN ELEM. Liberty 0.5 mi 7.1
EPIC ELEMENTARY Liberty 1.0 mi 8.9
LIBERTY OAKS ELEM. Kansas City 1.2 mi 4.8
LIBERTY HIGH Liberty 1.3 mi 7.6
LIBERTY MIDDLE SCHOOL Liberty 1.3 mi 5.3
SHOAL CREEK ELEM. Kansas City 2.1 mi 6.8
RIDGEVIEW ELEM. Liberty 1.9 mi 4.1
MANOR HILL ELEM. Liberty 2.1 mi 5.8
HERITAGE MIDDLE SCHOOL Liberty 2.3 mi 6.7
LEWIS AND CLARK ELEM. Liberty 2.8 mi 8.2
GRACEMOR ELEMENTARY Kansas City 2.9 mi 7.2
FRANKLIN ELEM. Liberty 2.5 mi 6.9
WARREN HILLS ELEM. Liberty 3.4 mi 6.0
MAPLE PARK MIDDLE Kansas City 3.3 mi 6.5
MAPLEWOOD ELEMENTARY Kansas City 3.4 mi 7.7
LILLIAN SCHUMACHER ELEM. Liberty 3.3 mi 6.3
NORTHWEST REG. YOUTH CTR. Kansas City 3.4 mi
RAVENWOOD ELEMENTARY Kansas City 3.5 mi 5.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 64068 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$95,425

Median Home Value

$268,200

Median Rent

$1,172/mo

Population

37,466

College Educated

39%

Homeownership

72.9%

Avg Commute

23 min

Poverty Rate

6.7%

Median Age

38.1

Community Profile

The community surrounding Discovery Middle School has a median household income of $95,425. It is an area where 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $268,200, with a median rent of $1,172/month. The local poverty rate of 6.7% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
BRANSON JR. HIGH Branson, MO 5.5
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS MIDDLE Excelsior Springs, MO 5.5
MARGARET BUERKLE MIDDLE St. Louis, MO 5.5
OAK GROVE MIDDLE Oak Grove, MO 5.5
RIDGEWOOD MIDDLE Arnold, MO 5.5
RITENOUR MIDDLE St. Louis, MO 5.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Discovery Middle School

What grades does Discovery Middle School serve?

Discovery Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Discovery Middle School?

Discovery Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 663 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Discovery Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at Discovery Middle School is 13.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Discovery Middle School rank in MO?

Discovery Middle School is ranked #1555 out of 2,216 schools in MO.

What is Discovery Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Discovery Middle School has a composite rating of 5.5 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Discovery Middle School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Discovery Middle School has 52.7% math proficiency and 59.3% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Discovery Middle School a charter school?

No, Discovery Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Discovery Middle School a Title I school?

No, Discovery Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Discovery Middle School?

18.4% of students at Discovery Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (1,785/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Liberty). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
663
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
49
Free/Reduced Lunch
18.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Clay County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

LIBERTY 53
District Enrollment
12,154
Schools in District
20
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,179
District Rank
#13 of 17

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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