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Average

#1043 of 2,221 schools in MO

Top 47% in state

Nell Holcomb Elem.

Elementary School · NELL HOLCOMB R-IV

6547 STATE HWY 177, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

Enrollment

241

Student-Teacher

8.3:1

Score

6.5

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Missouri schools

#1,043 of 2,221

In Cape Girardeau

#6 of 9

public schools

School environment

9.4 / 10

Excellent

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Nell Holcomb Elem.

6.5/10

Elementary School in Cape Girardeau · grades Kindergarten – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Blanchard Elem.

6.0/10

4.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Girardot Center for Youth

Nearby

5.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Nell Holcomb Elem.

Nell Holcomb Elem. is a public elementary school in Cape Girardeau, MO, part of NELL HOLCOMB R-IV. Nell Holcomb Elem. serves approximately 241 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-8th, and has a 8.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Nell Holcomb Elem. has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10 and ranks #1,043 of 2,221 schools in MO.

Structured state assessment records for Nell Holcomb Elem. show 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it comparesOn par with MO schools
  • This school 6.5 · Average
  • MO avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

At 8.3:1 students to teachers, Nell Holcomb Elem. sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Nell Holcomb Elem. sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.8Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.29 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics5.7Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency41.8% (2024 MAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency42% (2022 EdFacts)
Math vs. State Avg-6.3 pts
Overall Proficiency42% (2024 MAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)48% (model expectation from 2024 MAP)
vs. Expected-6.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile40th
Resources & Environment9.4Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio8.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,008
Chronic Absenteeism12.4%

Nell Holcomb Elem. — Students at Nell Holcomb Elem. score 42% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

39.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MO MAP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 42.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
48.1% (2024 MAP)
ELA Proficiency 54.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 29 test records from MO state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
57%
ELA
57%
2010
Math
50%
ELA
53%
2011
Math
57%
ELA
57%
2012
Math
57%
ELA
57%
2013
Math
42%
ELA
52%
2014
Math
42%
ELA
62%
2015
Math
42%
ELA
72%
2016
Math
42%
ELA
62%
2017
Math
47%
ELA
57%
2018
Math
32%
ELA
47%
2019
Math
32%
ELA
47%
2020*
Math
32%
ELA
47%
2021*
Math
32%
ELA
47%
2022
Math
32%
ELA
42%
2024
Math
41.8%

* 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: 5.8/10.

How Nell Holcomb Elem. Compares

See how Nell Holcomb Elem. performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.5/10
53th percentile in MO
Academic
5.7/10
Average
Growth
5.8/10
Average
Environment
9.4/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
40%
Teaching Staff
8:1 student-teacher ratio
29 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
12.4%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

6547 STATE HWY 177, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Nell Holcomb Elem. may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. ALMA SCHRADER ELEM. (rated 8.5/10, 6.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is ST MARY CATHEDRAL SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 6.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, FRANKLIN ELEM. (rated 7.8/10, 6.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Cape Girardeau, see our Cape Girardeau schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 9.1 mi
School Distance Rating
BLANCHARD ELEM. Cape Girardeau 4.8 mi 6.0
GIRARDOT CENTER FOR YOUTH Cape Girardeau 5.8 mi
LYNWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Cape Girardeau 5.5 mi 7.5
ALMA SCHRADER ELEM. Cape Girardeau 6.0 mi 8.5
ST VINCENT DE PAUL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Cape Girardeau 6.3 mi 5.9
ST MARY CATHEDRAL SCHOOL Cape Girardeau 6.7 mi 7.9
CENTRAL MIDDLE Cape Girardeau 6.6 mi 7.4
CENTRAL JR. HIGH Cape Girardeau 6.7 mi 3.9
JEFFERSON ELEM. Cape Girardeau 7.1 mi 4.5
Shawnee Elementary School Wolf Lake 7.5 mi 2.8
Shawnee High School Wolf Lake 7.5 mi 6.3
Shawnee Jr High School Wolf Lake 7.5 mi 4.0
FRANKLIN ELEM. Cape Girardeau 6.8 mi 7.8
CLIPPARD ELEM. Cape Girardeau 6.8 mi 7.0
PARKVIEW SCHOOL Cape Girardeau 7.4 mi
LYNWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Cape Girardeau 6.8 mi 7.3
CENTRAL HIGH Cape Girardeau 9.1 mi 6.6
EAGLE RIDGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Cape Girardeau 8.7 mi 6.6
NOTRE DAME REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL Cape Girardeau 9.3 mi 6.6
SAXONY LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL Jackson 9.1 mi 5.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 63701 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$67,904

Median Home Value

$209,600

Median Rent

$863/mo

Population

38,809

College Educated

39.5%

Homeownership

60.2%

Avg Commute

16.8 min

Poverty Rate

16.1%

Median Age

34.4

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
DENT-PHELPS ELEM. Salem, MO 6.5
EARLY CHILDHOOD CTR. Harrisonville, MO 6.5
GREEN FOREST ELEM. Salem, MO 6.5
MCKELVEY PRIMARY St. Louis, MO 6.5
ST CHARLES BORROMEO ACCADMY Kansas City, MO 6.5
ST CLEMENT GRADE SCHOOL Des Peres, MO 6.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Nell Holcomb Elem.

What grades does Nell Holcomb Elem. serve?

Nell Holcomb Elem. serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Nell Holcomb Elem.?

Nell Holcomb Elem. has an enrollment of approximately 241 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Nell Holcomb Elem.?

The student-teacher ratio at Nell Holcomb Elem. is 8.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Nell Holcomb Elem. rank in MO?

Nell Holcomb Elem. ranks #1,043 of 2,221 schools in MO.

What is Nell Holcomb Elem.'s MySchoolScout rating?

Nell Holcomb Elem. has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 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 Nell Holcomb Elem.?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Nell Holcomb Elem. has 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Nell Holcomb Elem. a charter school?

No, Nell Holcomb Elem. is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Nell Holcomb Elem. a Title I school?

No, Nell Holcomb Elem. is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Nell Holcomb Elem.?

39.8% of students at Nell Holcomb 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
3 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
8 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
241
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
29
Free/Reduced Lunch
39.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Cape Girardeau County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
12.4%

District

NELL HOLCOMB R-IV
District Enrollment
241
Schools in District
1
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,008
District Rank
#1 of 1

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