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Very Good

#38 of 399 private schools in MO

Top 9% of private schools

Great Circle of St. James

School

13160 COUNTY ROAD 3610, Saint James, MO 65559

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on MO statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

63

Student-Teacher

5.7:1

Score

7.9

Grades

2nd – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

Missouri schools

#17 of 90

About Great Circle of St. James

Great Circle of St. James serves 63 students in grades 2 through 12 in Saint James, Missouri, offering an exceptionally intimate learning environment with a remarkable 5.7:1 student-teacher ratio. With 11 full-time equivalent teachers, this small regular public school provides personalized attention that's difficult to find in larger institutions.

The school has earned a solid 7.3 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating and ranks #93 out of 399 schools statewide, placing it in the 77th percentile among Missouri schools. This strong performance reflects the benefits of the school's small size and individualized approach to education. Great Circle of St.

James operates as a K-12 institution starting from second grade, creating opportunities for students to build lasting relationships with teachers and peers across multiple grade levels. The compact enrollment allows for flexible programming and ensures that each student's needs can be closely monitored and addressed. The surrounding Saint James community in Phelps County reflects typical rural Missouri demographics, with a median household income of $57,323 and median home values around $175,200.

About 26% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while the poverty rate stands at 13.2%. The school sits in a rural setting near town, providing students with both the tranquility of countryside learning and access to community resources.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 63 students, Great Circle of St. James is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 5.7:1, Great Circle of St. James offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Great Circle of St. James operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in MO.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 9.4 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 5.7:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A 8.7 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7.5 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,297.5
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A- 7.9 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 33%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C+ 4.3 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 63
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in MO

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 79.4%
Black 14.3%
Two or More 3.2%
Hispanic 1.6%
Native American 1.6%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

13160 COUNTY ROAD 3610, Saint James, MO 65559

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Great Circle of St. James may also want to explore other schools in the area. LUCY WORTHAM JAMES ELEM. (rated 8.7/10, 2.0 miles away, in nearby St. James), which scores slightly higher. Another option is CUBA ELEM. (rated 8.5/10, 10.3 miles away, in nearby Cuba), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, ST. JAMES MIDDLE (rated 8.1/10, 3.0 miles away, in nearby St. James), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Saint James, see our Saint James schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 19.6 mi
School Distance Rating
LUCY WORTHAM JAMES ELEM. St. James 2.0 mi 8.7
ST. JAMES HIGH St. James 2.1 mi 6.9
ST. JAMES MIDDLE St. James 3.0 mi 8.1
CUBA HIGH Cuba 10.1 mi 6.2
CUBA MIDDLE Cuba 10.2 mi 7.0
HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC SCHOOL Cuba 10.3 mi
CUBA ELEM. Cuba 10.3 mi 8.5
ROLLA JR. HIGH Rolla 10.2 mi 3.9
ROLLA SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST SCHOOL Rolla 10.4 mi
ROLLA MIDDLE Rolla 10.3 mi 5.4
MARK TWAIN ELEM. Rolla 10.6 mi 6.7
HARRY S. TRUMAN ELEM. Rolla 10.5 mi 6.0
ROLLA SR. HIGH Rolla 10.9 mi 3.8
ST PATRICK CATHOLIC SCHOOL Rolla 11.2 mi 7.2
B W ROBINSON SCHOOL Rolla 11.7 mi 7.5
COL. JOHN B. WYMAN ELEM. Rolla 11.8 mi 4.6
STEELVILLE MIDDLE Steelville 11.6 mi 6.4
STEELVILLE ELEM. Steelville 11.6 mi 6.6
STEELVILLE HIGH Steelville 14.0 mi 6.5
DENT-PHELPS ELEM. Salem 19.6 mi 7.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 65559 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$58,641

Median Home Value

$194,600

Median Rent

$834/mo

Population

9,390

College Educated

23.5%

Homeownership

74.4%

Avg Commute

29.1 min

Poverty Rate

13%

Median Age

42.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding Great Circle of St. James has a median household income of $58,641. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $194,600, with a median rent of $834/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.0%. The average commute for residents is 29 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
RIVERVIEW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Forsyth, MO 8.0
SHERWOOD CENTER FOR THE EXCEPTINOAL CHILD Kansas City, MO 8.1
GREENE VALLEY SCHOOL Springfield, MO 7.7
GRANDVIEW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Grandview, MO 8.2
TWIN CITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Festus, MO 7.6
TRAINING CENTER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Garden City, MO 7.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Great Circle of St. James

What grades does Great Circle of St. James serve?

Great Circle of St. James serves students in grades 2nd through 12th.

How many students attend Great Circle of St. James?

Great Circle of St. James has an enrollment of approximately 63 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Great Circle of St. James?

The student-teacher ratio at Great Circle of St. James is 5.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Great Circle of St. James rank in MO?

Great Circle of St. James is ranked #38 out of 399 private schools in MO.

What is Great Circle of St. James's MySchoolScout rating?

Great Circle of St. James has a composite rating of 7.9 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.

Is Great Circle of St. James a private school?

Yes, Great Circle of St. James is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Great Circle of St. James a religious school?

No, Great Circle of St. James is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
0 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
1 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR. County-level only.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
2nd – 12th
Enrollment
63
Gender Split
33% M / 67% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
5.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
11
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7.5 hours
Days Per Year
173 days
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
PHELPS
Data Year
2022–2023

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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