Excellent
#86 of 2,216 schools in MO
Top 4% in state
Lucy Wortham James Elem.
Elementary School · ST. JAMES R-I
314 S JEFFERSON, St. James, MO 65559
Enrollment
705
Student-Teacher
12.4:1
Score
8.7
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
705
Student-Teacher
12.4:1
Score
8.7
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In St. James
#1 of 3
public schools
Missouri elementary schools
#62 of 1,202
In district
#1 of 3
ST. JAMES R-I
Academic growth
8.8 / 10
Exceptional
About Lucy Wortham James Elem.
Lucy Wortham James Elem. is a public elementary school in St. James, MO, part of the ST. JAMES R-I.
The school serves approximately 705 students in grades Pre-K – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 12.4:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7/10, placing it in the 96.2th percentile among MO schools — an above average rating overall. Students demonstrate 53% proficiency in math and 49% in reading/language arts.
The school scores particularly well in student growth (8.8/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $58,641, where 24% 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, Lucy Wortham James 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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Lucy Wortham James Elem. — Students at Lucy Wortham James Elem. score 51% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
56.6%
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: 8.8/10.
How Lucy Wortham James Elem. Compares
See how Lucy Wortham James Elem. performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 52% (2019) to 54% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 46% (2019) to 48% (2022).
Location
314 S JEFFERSON, St. James, MO 65559
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Lucy Wortham James Elem. may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. CUBA ELEM. (rated 8.5/10, 12.1 miles away, in nearby Cuba), with a very similar rating. Another option is ST PATRICK CATHOLIC SCHOOL (rated 7.2/10, 9.2 miles away, in nearby Rolla), a more accessible option. Additionally, DENT-PHELPS ELEM. (rated 7.2/10, 19.3 miles away, in nearby Salem), a more accessible option. For more schools in St. James, see our St. James schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 16.0 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| ST. JAMES HIGH St. James | 0.1 mi | 6.9 |
| ST. JAMES MIDDLE St. James | 1.1 mi | 8.1 |
| GREAT CIRCLE OF ST. JAMES Saint James | 2.0 mi | 7.9 |
| ROLLA JR. HIGH Rolla | 8.3 mi | 3.9 |
| ROLLA MIDDLE Rolla | 8.4 mi | 5.4 |
| ROLLA SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST SCHOOL Rolla | 8.7 mi | — |
| HARRY S. TRUMAN ELEM. Rolla | 8.5 mi | 6.0 |
| MARK TWAIN ELEM. Rolla | 8.7 mi | 6.7 |
| ROLLA SR. HIGH Rolla | 9.0 mi | 3.8 |
| ST PATRICK CATHOLIC SCHOOL Rolla | 9.2 mi | 7.2 |
| B W ROBINSON SCHOOL Rolla | 9.8 mi | 7.5 |
| COL. JOHN B. WYMAN ELEM. Rolla | 9.9 mi | 4.6 |
| CUBA HIGH Cuba | 11.9 mi | 6.2 |
| HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC SCHOOL Cuba | 12.1 mi | — |
| CUBA MIDDLE Cuba | 12.0 mi | 7.0 |
| CUBA ELEM. Cuba | 12.1 mi | 8.5 |
| STEELVILLE MIDDLE Steelville | 13.6 mi | 6.4 |
| STEELVILLE ELEM. Steelville | 13.6 mi | 6.6 |
| DENT-PHELPS ELEM. Salem | 19.3 mi | 7.2 |
| STEELVILLE HIGH Steelville | 16.0 mi | 6.5 |
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 Lucy Wortham James Elem. 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 |
|---|---|
| MID RIVERS ELEM. St. Peters, MO | 8.7 |
| HAWTHORN ELEM. Kansas City, MO | 8.6 |
| MCCULLOCH ELEMENTARY Republic, MO | 8.6 |
| MOUNT HOPE ELEM. O'Fallon, MO | 8.6 |
| WRIGHT CITY WEST ELEM. Wright City, MO | 8.6 |
| ENGLISH LANDING ELEM. Kansas City, MO | 8.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Lucy Wortham James Elem.
What grades does Lucy Wortham James Elem. serve?
Lucy Wortham James Elem. serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Lucy Wortham James Elem.?
Lucy Wortham James Elem. has an enrollment of approximately 705 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lucy Wortham James Elem.?
The student-teacher ratio at Lucy Wortham James Elem. is 12.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Lucy Wortham James Elem. rank in MO?
Lucy Wortham James Elem. is ranked #86 out of 2,216 schools in MO.
What is Lucy Wortham James Elem.'s MySchoolScout rating?
Lucy Wortham James Elem. has a composite rating of 8.7 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 Lucy Wortham James Elem.?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Lucy Wortham James Elem. has 53.3% math proficiency and 48.7% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Lucy Wortham James Elem. a charter school?
No, Lucy Wortham James Elem. is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Lucy Wortham James Elem. a Title I school?
No, Lucy Wortham James Elem. is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Lucy Wortham James Elem.?
56.6% of students at Lucy Wortham James 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 (St. James). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 705
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 57
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 56.6%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Phelps County
- Phone
- (573) 265-2300
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
ST. JAMES R-I- District Enrollment
- 1,584
- Schools in District
- 3
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,575
- District Rank
- #1 of 3
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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