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Needs Improvement

#2114 of 2,221 schools in MO

East Middle

Middle School · Joplin Schools · Joplin, MO

A Joplin Schools middle school serving grades 6th – 8th.

PO BOX 128, Joplin, MO 64802

  • Math 38% vs MO 48% (2025)
  • Reading 36% vs MO 43% (2025)
  • 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress1.9Needs Improvement40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data16
Annual Change-8.9 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics5.7Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency38.3% (2025 MAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency36.4% (2025 MAP)
Math vs. State Avg-10.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-5.5 pts
Overall Proficiency37% (2025 MAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)39% (model expectation from 2025 MAP)
vs. Expected-1.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile40th
Resources & Environment3.4Needs Improvement25%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.3:1
District spending per student$10,792
Chronic Absenteeism21.7%

Students at East Middle score 37% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 MAP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. MO average.

Math Proficiency38%(2025 MAP)
School
State
48%(2025 MAP)
ELA Proficiency36%(2025 MAP)
School
State
43%(2025 MAP)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 6 points since 2021, reaching 37% in 2025.

Show all 16 years
2009
Math
55%
ELA
48%
2010
Math
53%
ELA
50%
2011
Math
43%
ELA
44%
2012
Math
45%
ELA
47%
2013
Math
37%
ELA
44%
2014
Math
17%
ELA
45%
2015
Math
21%
ELA
45%
2016
Math
25%
ELA
44%
2017
Math
24%
ELA
37%
2018
Math
32%
ELA
44%
2019
Math
32%
ELA
44%
2020*
Math
22%
ELA
40%
2021*
Math
22%
ELA
40%
2022
Math
29%
ELA
29%
2024
Math
55%
ELA
37%
2025
Math
38%
ELA
36%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 37% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 41% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)

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

Based on 39 test records from MO state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

64.8%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where East Middle 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 9Car-Dependent
  • Bike 28Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High4,732/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Joplin), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
College Heights Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition5.6privatePK–122.1 mi526Compare →
College View SchoolEnrollment path unverifiedNot ratedK–122.4 mi9Compare →
Thomas Jefferson Independent Day SchoolPrivate · tuition7.8privatePK–122.5 mi275Compare →
South MiddleEnrollment path unverified6.96–83.9 mi575Compare →

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.

Joplin Schools

Schools in district
16
Rank in district
#14 of 15
District spending per student
$10,792NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
17.3%Census SAIPE · 2024

East Middle is listed in JOPLIN SCHOOLS; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About East Middle

East Middle is a public middle school in Joplin, MO, part of Joplin Schools, serving approximately 586 students in grades 6th-8th with a 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 out of 10 and ranks #2,114 of 2,221 schools in MO. State assessment records show 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about East Middle

What grades does East Middle serve?

East Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend East Middle?

East Middle has an enrollment of approximately 586 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at East Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at East Middle 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 East Middle rank in MO?

East Middle ranks #2,114 of 2,221 schools in MO.

What is East Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

East Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 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 East Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, East Middle has 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is East Middle a charter school?

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

Is East Middle a Title I school?

No, East Middle is not currently a Title I school.

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

64.8% of students at East Middle 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
6th – 8th
Enrollment
586
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
41
Type
regular
Setting
Small Suburb
County
Jasper County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
21.7%
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 · 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.
Student progress (growth)
State assessments · 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.
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; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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