Excellent
#153 of 2,221 schools in MO
Top 7% in state
Richards Elem.
Elementary School · Richards R-v · West Plains, MO
A Richards R-v elementary school where students score 23 points above what's typical for similar communities.
3461 COUNTY RD 1710, West Plains, MO 65775
- Math 70% vs MO 49% (2025)
- Reading 53% vs MO 49% (2025)
- 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Richards Elem. score 62% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 39%).
2025 MAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MO average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 24 points since 2021, reaching 62% in 2025.
Show all 16 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 49% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 51% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 37 test records from MO state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
63.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Richards Elem. sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 10Car-Dependent
- Bike 11Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,183/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (West Plains), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$48,854
Median home value
$177,700
Median rent
$776/mo
College educated
18.7%
Homeownership
66.3%
Poverty rate
21.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 65775; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
2 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozark Horizon SchoolEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | K–12 | 2.0 mi | 20 | Compare → |
| West Plains Elem.Enrollment path unverified | 7.1 | PK–4 | 4.4 mi | 776 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Richards R-v
- Schools in district
- 1
- Rank in district
- #1 of 1
- District spending per student
- $10,562NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 15.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Richards Elem. is listed in RICHARDS R-V; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Richards Elem.
Richards Elem. is a public elementary school in West Plains, MO, part of Richards R-v, serving approximately 385 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10 and ranks #153 of 2,221 schools in MO. State assessment records show 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Richards Elem.
What grades does Richards Elem. serve?
Richards Elem. serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Richards Elem.?
Richards Elem. has an enrollment of approximately 385 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Richards Elem.?
The student-teacher ratio at Richards Elem. is 14.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Richards Elem. rank in MO?
Richards Elem. ranks #153 of 2,221 schools in MO.
What is Richards Elem.'s MySchoolScout rating?
Richards Elem. has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 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 Richards Elem.?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Richards Elem. has 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Richards Elem. a charter school?
No, Richards Elem. is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Richards Elem. a Title I school?
No, Richards Elem. is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Richards Elem.?
63.9% of students at Richards 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 385
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 27
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Town
- County
- Howell County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 17.4%
- Phone
- (417) 256-5239
- Area population (ZIP 65775)
- 24,950
- Area average commute
- 20.1 min
- Area median age
- 39.3
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MAP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MAP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- State assessments · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 65775; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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