Excellent
#177 of 2,216 schools in MO
Top 8% in state
Kelso Elem.
Elementary School · KELSO C-7
820 STATE HWY A, Benton, MO 63736
Enrollment
210
Student-Teacher
13.1:1
Score
8.3
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
210
Student-Teacher
13.1:1
Score
8.3
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Benton
#1 of 4
public schools
Missouri elementary schools
#119 of 1,202
Academic performance
9.6 / 10
Exceptional
About Kelso Elem.
Kelso Elem. is a public elementary school in Benton, MO, part of the KELSO C-7. The school serves approximately 210 students in grades Pre-K – 8th with a student-teacher ratio of 13.1:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3/10, placing it in the 92.1th percentile among MO schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 59% proficiency in math and 67% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.1/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $62,045, where 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a distant rural setting.
What Parents Should Know
Located in a rural area, Kelso 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
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Data not available for this school
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Kelso Elem. — Students at Kelso Elem. score 67% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 51%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
23.3%
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
↑ ImprovingAverage 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: 9.1/10.
How Kelso Elem. Compares
See how Kelso Elem. performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 57% (2019) to 62% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 67% (2019) to 72% (2022).
Location
820 STATE HWY A, Benton, MO 63736
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Kelso Elem. may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. SCOTT CO. CENTRAL ELEM. (rated 8.4/10, 10.3 miles away, in nearby Sikeston), with a very similar rating. Another option is ST JOSEPH SCHOOL (rated 6.9/10, 7.9 miles away, in nearby Scott City), a more accessible option. Additionally, ORAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 6.8/10, 4.5 miles away, in nearby Oran), a more accessible option. For more schools in Benton, see our Benton schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 11.0 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| ST DENIS SCHOOL Benton | 2.4 mi | 5.6 |
| ST AUGUSTINE SCHOOL Kelso | 4.8 mi | 5.5 |
| GUARDIAN ANGEL SCHOOL Oran | 4.4 mi | 5.9 |
| ORAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Oran | 4.5 mi | 6.8 |
| ORAN HIGH SCHOOL Oran | 4.5 mi | 7.2 |
| CHAFFEE ELEM. Chaffee | 5.5 mi | 4.4 |
| SCOTT CITY ELEM. Scott City | 6.3 mi | 6.7 |
| SCOTT CITY HIGH Scott City | 6.3 mi | 7.1 |
| SCOTT CITY MIDDLE Scott City | 6.3 mi | 7.7 |
| CHAFFEE JR.-SR. HIGH Chaffee | 5.8 mi | 5.4 |
| ST JOSEPH SCHOOL Scott City | 7.9 mi | 6.9 |
| SCOTT CO. ELEM. Benton | 8.4 mi | 4.6 |
| THOMAS W. KELLY HIGH Benton | 8.4 mi | 7.2 |
| SCOTT CO. MIDDLE Benton | 8.4 mi | 6.0 |
| SCOTT CO. CENTRAL ELEM. Sikeston | 10.3 mi | 8.4 |
| SCOTT CO. CENTRAL HIGH Sikeston | 10.3 mi | 7.5 |
| CENTRAL HIGH Cape Girardeau | 10.4 mi | 6.9 |
| DELTA HIGH Delta | 9.7 mi | 7.5 |
| DELTA ELEM. Delta | 9.7 mi | 6.0 |
| ANCHOR ACADEMY Vanduser | 11.0 mi | — |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 63736 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$62,045
Median Home Value
$168,600
Median Rent
$877/mo
Population
3,342
College Educated
25.2%
Homeownership
74.2%
Avg Commute
23.2 min
Poverty Rate
16.8%
Median Age
40.2
Community Profile
The community surrounding Kelso Elem. has a median household income of $62,045. It is an area where 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $168,600, with a median rent of $877/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.8%. 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 |
|---|---|
| GOODMAN ELEM. Goodman, MO | 8.3 |
| NORTH WOOD ELEM. Salem, MO | 8.3 |
| PERSHING ELEM. Springfield, MO | 8.3 |
| WATKINS ELEM. Springfield, MO | 8.3 |
| BELLE ELEM. Belle, MO | 8.4 |
| HORACE MANN ELEM. Sedalia, MO | 8.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Kelso Elem.
What grades does Kelso Elem. serve?
Kelso Elem. serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Kelso Elem.?
Kelso Elem. has an enrollment of approximately 210 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Kelso Elem.?
The student-teacher ratio at Kelso Elem. is 13.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Kelso Elem. rank in MO?
Kelso Elem. is ranked #177 out of 2,216 schools in MO.
What is Kelso Elem.'s MySchoolScout rating?
Kelso Elem. has a composite rating of 8.3 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 Kelso Elem.?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Kelso Elem. has 58.7% math proficiency and 67.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Kelso Elem. a charter school?
No, Kelso Elem. is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Kelso Elem. a Title I school?
No, Kelso Elem. is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Kelso Elem.?
23.3% of students at Kelso 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. County-level only.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 210
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 16
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 23.3%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Scott County
- Phone
- (573) 545-3357
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
KELSO C-7- District Enrollment
- 210
- Schools in District
- 1
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $9,597
- District Rank
- #1 of 1
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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