Very Good
#386 of 2,216 schools in MO
Top 17% in state
Hardin-central Elem.
Elementary School · HARDIN-CENTRAL C-2
PO BOX 548, Hardin, MO 64035
Enrollment
123
Student-Teacher
10.2:1
Score
7.7
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
123
Student-Teacher
10.2:1
Score
7.7
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Hardin
#1 of 2
public schools
Missouri elementary schools
#237 of 1,202
In district
#1 of 2
HARDIN-CENTRAL C-2
School environment
8.2 / 10
Very strong
About Hardin-central Elem.
Hardin-Central Elem is a small rural elementary school located in Hardin, Missouri. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, the school has an enrollment of 123 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 10.2:1 with 12 full-time equivalent teachers. The academic performance at Hardin-Central Elem reflects room for growth, with 43% of students meeting or exceeding proficiency in ELA/Reading and 40% doing the same in Math.
Despite these statistics, the school continues to focus on student development and is committed to improving educational outcomes. With a MySchoolScout rating of 6.1 out of 10 and ranking at #752 among Missouri schools, Hardin-Central Elem remains dedicated to providing quality education in its rural setting. The surrounding area offers a close-knit community with a strong sense of support for local education efforts.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 123 students, Hardin-central Elem. 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.
Located in a rural area, Hardin-central Elem. may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
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Hardin-central Elem. — Students at Hardin-central Elem. score 44% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 44%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
43.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MO EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 test records from MO state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 7.8/10.
How Hardin-central Elem. Compares
See how Hardin-central Elem. performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 42% (2019) to 44.5% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 47% (2019) to 44.5% (2022).
Location
PO BOX 548, Hardin, MO 64035
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Hardin-central Elem. may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. ORRICK ELEM. (rated 8.2/10, 16.2 miles away, in nearby Orrick), which scores slightly higher. Another option is IMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL (rated 7.2/10, 14.9 miles away, in nearby Higginsville), with a comparable rating. Additionally, DEAR ELEM. (rated 6.8/10, 6.9 miles away, in nearby Richmond), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Hardin, see our Hardin schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 16.2 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| HARDIN-CENTRAL HIGH Hardin | 0.0 mi | 7.0 |
| LESLIE BELL ELEM. Lexington | 6.5 mi | 4.6 |
| LEXINGTON MIDDLE Lexington | 7.0 mi | 5.5 |
| LEXINGTON HIGH Lexington | 7.0 mi | 3.6 |
| SUNRISE ELEM. Richmond | 6.0 mi | 5.0 |
| DEAR ELEM. Richmond | 6.9 mi | 6.8 |
| RICHMOND HIGH Richmond | 7.0 mi | 3.6 |
| RICHMOND MIDDLE Richmond | 7.3 mi | 3.7 |
| NORBORNE ELEM. Norborne | 9.0 mi | 5.3 |
| NORBORNE HIGH Norborne | 9.0 mi | 6.9 |
| WELLINGTON-NAPOLEON ELEM. Wellington | 12.5 mi | 6.5 |
| WELLINGTON-NAPOLEON HIGH Wellington | 12.5 mi | 5.8 |
| IMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL Higginsville | 14.9 mi | 7.2 |
| ROLLING MEADOW SCHOOL Higginsville | 15.3 mi | — |
| MONTESSORI SCHOOLHOUSE Higginsville | 15.3 mi | — |
| LAFAYETTE CO. HIGH Higginsville | 15.5 mi | 6.4 |
| LAFAYETTE CO. MIDDLE Higginsville | 15.5 mi | 6.7 |
| GRANDVIEW ELEM. Higginsville | 15.5 mi | 6.1 |
| ELKHORN ELEMENTARY Excelsior Springs | 15.8 mi | 6.6 |
| ORRICK ELEM. Orrick | 16.2 mi | 8.2 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 64035 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$84,318
Median Home Value
$118,000
Median Rent
$981/mo
Population
1,157
College Educated
17.1%
Homeownership
80%
Avg Commute
30.5 min
Poverty Rate
8.6%
Median Age
36
Community Profile
The community surrounding Hardin-central Elem. has a median household income of $84,318. It is a community where 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $118,000, with a median rent of $981/month. The local poverty rate of 8.6% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 31 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 |
|---|---|
| BRONAUGH ELEM. Bronaugh, MO | 7.7 |
| ST ROCH SCHOOL St. Louis, MO | 7.7 |
| COUCH ELEM. Myrtle, MO | 7.8 |
| LEESVILLE ELEM. Clinton, MO | 7.8 |
| SMITHVILLE MONTESSORI ACADEMY II Smithville, MO | 7.8 |
| TANEYVILLE ELEM. Taneyville, MO | 7.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Hardin-central Elem.
What grades does Hardin-central Elem. serve?
Hardin-central Elem. serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Hardin-central Elem.?
Hardin-central Elem. has an enrollment of approximately 123 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hardin-central Elem.?
The student-teacher ratio at Hardin-central Elem. is 10.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Hardin-central Elem. rank in MO?
Hardin-central Elem. is ranked #386 out of 2,216 schools in MO.
What is Hardin-central Elem.'s MySchoolScout rating?
Hardin-central Elem. has a composite rating of 7.7 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 Hardin-central Elem.?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Hardin-central Elem. has 39.5% math proficiency and 42.8% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Hardin-central Elem. a charter school?
No, Hardin-central Elem. is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Hardin-central Elem. a Title I school?
No, Hardin-central Elem. is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Hardin-central Elem.?
43.1% of students at Hardin-central Elem. qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Hardin). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 123
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 10.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 12
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 43.1%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Ray County
- Phone
- (660) 398-4394
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
HARDIN-CENTRAL C-2- District Enrollment
- 224
- Schools in District
- 2
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,821
- District Rank
- #1 of 2
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated reading
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