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Very Good

#440 of 2,216 schools in MO

Top 20% in state

Northwestern High

High School · NORTHWESTERN R-I

PO BOX 43, Mendon, MO 64660

Enrollment

64

Student-Teacher

5.8:1

Score

7.6

Grades

7th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Mendon

#2 of 2

public schools

Missouri high schools

#101 of 532

In district

#2 of 2

NORTHWESTERN R-I

School environment

9.4 / 10

Exceptional

About Northwestern High

Northwestern High, located in Mendon, Missouri, is a rural high school serving students from seventh through twelfth grade. With an enrollment of 64 students and a student-teacher ratio of 5.8:1, the school offers personalized attention to each student. Northwestern High has eleven full-time equivalent teachers who work diligently to support their pupils in a remote setting.

The MySchoolScout rating for Northwestern High is 5.5 out of 10, placing it at the 53rd percentile among Missouri schools. The academic score is 4.2/10, with 44% of students proficient or above in ELA and reading, and 25% proficient or above in math. While these scores indicate areas for improvement, the school remains committed to fostering student development.

Northwestern High is situated in a remote rural area, offering its students unique opportunities within their close-knit community.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 64 students, Northwestern High 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 5.8:1, Northwestern High 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.

Located in a rural area, Northwestern High 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 · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.3Exceptional25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+1.87 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendImproving
Academics5.0Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency24.5%
Reading/ELA Proficiency44.5%
Overall Proficiency35%
Expected (poverty-adj.)42%
vs. Expected-7.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile32th
College Readiness7.2Very Good30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.4Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio5.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,740

Northwestern High — Students at Northwestern High score 34% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

46.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MO EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 24.7%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 44.5%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from MO state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

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

2019
Math
15%
ELA
44.5%
2021*
Math
34.5%
ELA
44.5%
2022
Math
24.5%
ELA
44.5%

* 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: 9.3/10.

How Northwestern High Compares

See how Northwestern High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.6/10
80th percentile in MO
Academic
5.0/10
5.0/10
Growth
9.3/10
Above average
Environment
9.4/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
47%
Teaching Staff
6:1 student-teacher ratio
11 teachers

Location

PO BOX 43, Mendon, MO 64660

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Northwestern High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. BRUNSWICK HIGH (rated 8.6/10, 11.3 miles away, in nearby Brunswick), which scores slightly higher. Another option is MEADVILLE HIGH (rated 8.5/10, 16.6 miles away, in nearby Meadville), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, MARCELINE HIGH (rated 7.8/10, 13.2 miles away, in nearby Marceline), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Mendon, see our Mendon schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 19.4 mi
School Distance Rating
NORTHWESTERN ELEM. Mendon 0.0 mi 8.0
BRUNSWICK ELEM. Brunswick 11.3 mi 8.9
BRUNSWICK HIGH Brunswick 11.3 mi 8.6
BROOKFIELD ELEM. Brookfield 13.5 mi 6.9
BROOKFIELD MIDDLE Brookfield 13.6 mi 9.1
BROOKFIELD HIGH Brookfield 13.6 mi 5.6
HALE ELEM. Hale 11.4 mi 5.4
HALE HIGH Hale 11.4 mi 6.3
MC CARTAN MEMORIAL SCHOOL Marceline 12.8 mi 5.9
MARCELINE HIGH Marceline 13.2 mi 7.8
WALT DISNEY ELEM. Marceline 13.2 mi 7.2
BOSWORTH ELEM. Bosworth 13.5 mi 4.2
BOSWORTH HIGH Bosworth 13.5 mi
KEYTESVILLE ELEM. Keytesville 14.5 mi 9.5
KEYTESVILLE HIGH Keytesville 14.5 mi 6.2
MEADVILLE ELEM. Meadville 16.6 mi 2.3
MEADVILLE HIGH Meadville 16.6 mi 8.5
LOCUST CREEK SCHOOL Linneus 20.2 mi
MIAMI ELEM. Miami 20.9 mi 8.6
BUCKLIN ELEM. Bucklin 19.4 mi 5.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 64660 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$77,031

Median Home Value

$206,600

Median Rent

$588/mo

Population

435

College Educated

22.5%

Homeownership

94%

Poverty Rate

5.1%

Median Age

51.5

Community Profile

The community surrounding Northwestern High has a median household income of $77,031. It is a community where 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $206,600, with a median rent of $588/month. The local poverty rate of 5.1% is relatively low. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
BEVIER HIGH Bevier, MO 7.6
MCAULEY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Joplin, MO 7.6
BARAT ACADEMY Chesterfield, MO 7.5
MOUND CITY HIGH Mound City, MO 7.7
UNION STAR HIGH Union Star, MO 7.7
7933 MAIN ST. Kansas City, MO 7.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Northwestern High

What grades does Northwestern High serve?

Northwestern High serves students in grades 7th through 12th.

How many students attend Northwestern High?

Northwestern High has an enrollment of approximately 64 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Northwestern High?

The student-teacher ratio at Northwestern High is 5.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Northwestern High rank in MO?

Northwestern High is ranked #440 out of 2,216 schools in MO.

What is Northwestern High's MySchoolScout rating?

Northwestern High has a composite rating of 7.6 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 Northwestern High?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Northwestern High has 24.7% math proficiency and 44.5% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Northwestern High a charter school?

No, Northwestern High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Northwestern High a Title I school?

No, Northwestern High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Northwestern High?

46.9% of students at Northwestern High 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
17 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
25 Somewhat Bikeable
County Safety
Average (554/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
7th – 12th
Enrollment
64
Student-Teacher Ratio
5.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
11
Free/Reduced Lunch
46.9%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Chariton County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

NORTHWESTERN R-I
District Enrollment
164
Schools in District
2
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,649
District Rank
#2 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 methodology

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