Average
#1145 of 2,216 schools in MO
Willard Central Elem.
Elementary School · WILLARD R-II
2625 N FARM RD 101, Springfield, MO 65802
Enrollment
402
Student-Teacher
13:1
Score
6.3
Grades
Pre-K – 4th
Enrollment
402
Student-Teacher
13:1
Score
6.3
Grades
Pre-K – 4th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Springfield
#36 of 56
public schools
Missouri elementary schools
#606 of 1,202
In district
#7 of 9
WILLARD R-II
Academic performance
8.6 / 10
Exceptional
About Willard Central Elem.
Willard Central Elementary serves 402 students in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade in Springfield, Missouri, earning strong recognition as the #416 ranked elementary school out of 2,234 schools statewide. This places the school in the 81st percentile, reflecting solid academic achievement with a MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 out of 10. The school maintains a favorable learning environment with 31 full-time equivalent teachers providing a 13:1 student-teacher ratio, allowing for more individualized attention.
Academically, students demonstrate solid performance in English Language Arts with 57% achieving proficiency or above across grade levels, while mathematics shows room for continued growth with 47% of students reaching proficiency standards. Willard Central Elementary operates as a regular public school serving families in the 65802 area, where the median household income is $48,304 and median home values average $144,900. The surrounding community has a college graduation rate of 24%, with a poverty rate of 16.1% among the ZIP code's 46,532 residents.
Located in a rural area near town on North Farm Road, the school provides an accessible educational option for families seeking a smaller school environment with strong state rankings while maintaining the benefits of proximity to Springfield's broader community resources.
What Parents Should Know
Located in a rural area, Willard Central 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
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Willard Central Elem. — Students at Willard Central Elem. score 52% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 44%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
41.8%
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: 5.3/10.
How Willard Central Elem. Compares
See how Willard Central Elem. performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 57% (2019) to 47% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 62% (2019) to 57% (2022).
Location
2625 N FARM RD 101, Springfield, MO 65802
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Willard Central Elem. may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. YORK ELEM. (rated 7.5/10, 5.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is WILLARD SOUTH ELEM. (rated 6.6/10, 3.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, WILLARD NORTH ELEM. (rated 6.5/10, 3.9 miles away, in nearby Willard), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Springfield, see our Springfield schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 6.8 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| WILLARD HIGH Willard | 3.9 mi | 6.1 |
| WILLARD NORTH ELEM. Willard | 3.9 mi | 6.5 |
| WILLARD SOUTH ELEM. Springfield | 3.2 mi | 6.6 |
| WILLARD INTERMEDIATE NORTH Willard | 4.0 mi | 7.0 |
| WILLARD MIDDLE Willard | 4.1 mi | 7.0 |
| WILLARD EAST ELEM. Willard | 4.2 mi | 5.4 |
| WILLARD INTERMEDIATE-SOUTH Springfield | 3.8 mi | 6.5 |
| WILLARD ORCHARD HILLS ELEM Springfield | 4.1 mi | 6.4 |
| BISSETT ELEM. Springfield | 4.8 mi | 3.9 |
| WESTPORT MIDDLE SCHOOL Springfield | 5.1 mi | 6.0 |
| WESTPORT ELEM. Springfield | 5.1 mi | 4.8 |
| COMMUNITY LEARNING CTR. Springfield | 5.6 mi | — |
| BOIS D'ARC ELEM. Bois D'Arc | 4.9 mi | 6.5 |
| WILSON CREEK GROUP HOME Springfield | 5.6 mi | — |
| WILLIAMS ELEM. Springfield | 5.4 mi | 5.0 |
| Arthur Mallory Early Childhood Springfield | 5.6 mi | — |
| YORK ELEM. Springfield | 5.8 mi | 7.5 |
| ADAH FULBRIGHT EARLY CHILDHOOD Springfield | 6.9 mi | 5.9 |
| CARVER MIDDLE Springfield | 6.9 mi | 7.1 |
| SHERWOOD ELEM. Springfield | 6.8 mi | 4.0 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 65802 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$51,080
Median Home Value
$162,400
Median Rent
$900/mo
Population
46,005
College Educated
25.6%
Homeownership
56.9%
Avg Commute
18.9 min
Poverty Rate
16.7%
Median Age
32.1
Community Profile
The community surrounding Willard Central Elem. has a median household income of $51,080. It is an area where 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $162,400, with a median rent of $900/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.7%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 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 |
|---|---|
| BUDER ELEM. St. Ann, MO | 6.3 |
| CANTON ELEM. Canton, MO | 6.3 |
| COLEMAN ELEM. St. Joseph, MO | 6.3 |
| FAIRVIEW ELEM. West Plains, MO | 6.3 |
| HARRY S. TRUMAN ELEM. Webb City, MO | 6.3 |
| LEE A. TOLBERT COM. ACADEMY Kansas City, MO | 6.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Willard Central Elem.
What grades does Willard Central Elem. serve?
Willard Central Elem. serves students in grades Pre-K through 4th.
How many students attend Willard Central Elem.?
Willard Central Elem. has an enrollment of approximately 402 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Willard Central Elem.?
The student-teacher ratio at Willard Central Elem. is 13:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Willard Central Elem. rank in MO?
Willard Central Elem. is ranked #1145 out of 2,216 schools in MO.
What is Willard Central Elem.'s MySchoolScout rating?
Willard Central Elem. has a composite rating of 6.3 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 Willard Central Elem.?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Willard Central Elem. has 52.0% math proficiency and 58.7% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Willard Central Elem. a charter school?
No, Willard Central Elem. is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Willard Central Elem. a Title I school?
No, Willard Central Elem. is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Willard Central Elem.?
41.8% of students at Willard Central 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
- City Safety
- High (5,380/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Springfield). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 4th
- Enrollment
- 402
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 31
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 41.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Greene County
- Phone
- (417) 831-4440
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
WILLARD R-II- District Enrollment
- 4,648
- Schools in District
- 9
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $10,953
- District Rank
- #7 of 9
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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