Needs Improvement
#2096 of 2,216 schools in MO
Polo Elem.
Elementary School · POLO R-VII
300 W SCHOOL ST, Polo, MO 64671
Enrollment
143
Student-Teacher
9.5:1
Score
3.9
Grades
Pre-K – 4th
Enrollment
143
Student-Teacher
9.5:1
Score
3.9
Grades
Pre-K – 4th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Polo
#3 of 4
public schools
Missouri elementary schools
#1,127 of 1,202
In district
#3 of 3
POLO R-VII
School environment
8.0 / 10
Very strong
About Polo Elem.
POLO ELEM. is a small rural elementary school located in POLO, Missouri, serving Caldwell County. With an enrollment of just 143 students and a student-teacher ratio of 9.5:1, the school offers a personalized learning environment where teachers can give individual attention to each child. The school covers grades PK through 04 and has 15 full-time equivalent teachers dedicated to their students.
Academically, POLO ELEM. is rated at 3.5 out of 10 by MySchoolScout, placing it in the 11th percentile among Missouri schools with a state ranking of #1989 out of 2234. The ELA/Reading proficiency rate stands at 44%, while Math proficiency is slightly lower at 31%. These scores indicate areas where the school can focus on improving student outcomes and supporting each child's development.
Situated in a rural setting, POLO ELEM. benefits from a close-knit community that values education and supports its students.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 143 students, Polo 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.
With a student-teacher ratio of 9.5:1, Polo Elem. 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, Polo 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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Polo Elem. — Students at Polo Elem. score 30% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 40%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
53.1%
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
↓ DecliningAverage 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: 2.1/10.
How Polo Elem. Compares
See how Polo Elem. performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 44.5% (2019) to 24.5% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 54.5% (2019) to 34.5% (2022).
Location
300 W SCHOOL ST, Polo, MO 64671
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Polo Elem. may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. COWGILL ELEM. (rated 9.3/10, 6.5 miles away, in nearby Cowgill), which scores notably higher. Another option is KINGSTON ELEM. (rated 8.9/10, 6.6 miles away, in nearby Kingston), which scores notably higher. Additionally, SOUTHWEST ELEM. (rated 8.0/10, 11.9 miles away, in nearby Lawson), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Polo, see our Polo schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 16.6 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| POLO MIDDLE Polo | 0.0 mi | 9.2 |
| POLO HIGH Polo | 0.0 mi | 5.8 |
| KINGSTON ELEM. Kingston | 6.6 mi | 8.9 |
| MIRABILE ELEM. Polo | 6.8 mi | 3.4 |
| COWGILL ELEM. Cowgill | 6.5 mi | 9.3 |
| NEW YORK ELEM. Hamilton | 11.2 mi | — |
| LAWSON MIDDLE Lawson | 11.1 mi | 4.9 |
| LAWSON HIGH Lawson | 11.1 mi | 7.0 |
| SOUTHWEST ELEM. Lawson | 11.9 mi | 8.0 |
| PENNEY HIGH Hamilton | 14.1 mi | 8.0 |
| HAMILTON MIDDLE Hamilton | 14.1 mi | 6.5 |
| HAMILTON ELEM. Hamilton | 14.2 mi | 7.1 |
| ELKHORN ELEMENTARY Excelsior Springs | 16.2 mi | 6.6 |
| BRAYMER ELEM. Braymer | 13.1 mi | 6.7 |
| BRAYMER HIGH Braymer | 13.1 mi | 6.4 |
| CAMERON HIGH Cameron | 16.3 mi | 5.6 |
| WATKINS MILL PARK CAMP Lawson | 15.6 mi | 7.8 |
| CAMERON VETERANS MIDDLE Cameron | 16.3 mi | 5.9 |
| CAMERON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL Cameron | 16.4 mi | 5.2 |
| PARKVIEW ELEM. Cameron | 16.6 mi | 5.1 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 64671 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$69,891
Median Home Value
$166,800
Median Rent
$495/mo
Population
1,877
College Educated
17.7%
Homeownership
89.2%
Avg Commute
39.9 min
Poverty Rate
10.3%
Median Age
42.5
Community Profile
The community surrounding Polo Elem. has a median household income of $69,891. It is a community where 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $166,800, with a median rent of $495/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.3%. The average commute in the area is 40 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| KIRBYVILLE ELEM. Kirbyville, MO | 3.9 |
| MATTHEWS ELEMENTARY Matthews, MO | 3.9 |
| WILLIAMSBURG ELEM. Williamsburg, MO | 3.9 |
| BELL CITY ELEM. Bell City, MO | 4.0 |
| FROEBEL ELEM. St. Louis, MO | 4.0 |
| NEWBURG ELEM. Newburg, MO | 4.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Polo Elem.
What grades does Polo Elem. serve?
Polo Elem. serves students in grades Pre-K through 4th.
How many students attend Polo Elem.?
Polo Elem. has an enrollment of approximately 143 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Polo Elem.?
The student-teacher ratio at Polo Elem. is 9.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Polo Elem. rank in MO?
Polo Elem. is ranked #2096 out of 2,216 schools in MO.
What is Polo Elem.'s MySchoolScout rating?
Polo Elem. has a composite rating of 3.9 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 Polo Elem.?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Polo Elem. has 31.2% math proficiency and 44.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Polo Elem. a charter school?
No, Polo Elem. is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Polo Elem. a Title I school?
No, Polo Elem. is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Polo Elem.?
53.1% of students at Polo 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
- County Safety
- Average (337/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 4th
- Enrollment
- 143
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 9.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 15
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 53.1%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Caldwell County
- Phone
- (660) 354-2200
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
POLO R-VII- District Enrollment
- 395
- Schools in District
- 3
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,032
- District Rank
- #3 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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