MOBERLY – Missouri ranks as the 29th best state for pre-K-12 education. This U.S. News & World Report ranking uses test scores and graduation rates in its analysis and places Missouri in the bottom half of U.S. states.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the U.S. four-year high school graduation rate from 2019 to 2020 was 87%. That's the average graduation rate for Missouri over the same period, according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. (DESE)), higher than the national average at just over 89%.
Since 2019, Missouri's average graduation rate has remained relatively stable: 91.26% in 2021, 91.18% in 2022, and 91.44% in 2023 for five-year completions.
But over the past few decades, graduation rates in the state have declined. According to the Brookings Institution, Missouri was one of five states whose graduation rate declined between 1998 and 2018.
Early intervention as a solution
For Randolph County Moberly School District employees, maintaining graduation rates requires early intervention and extra support.
At the beginning of the spring semester, the district opened the Alternative Center for Educational Success (ACES).
School Director Linda Lute said the new building will house three programs the district previously established: an elementary and middle school program for special education and behavioral modification, and a high school program for high school students at risk of dropping out. He said there is a credit recovery program.
Superintendent Christina Wright said the building took a year to construct and cost about $8 million.
According to Lute, having all three programs under one roof has been extremely beneficial for students and faculty.
“This gives us access to resources,” Lute said. “Now, middle school students can go and collaborate with their high school teachers for their specific needs and then go back. Previously, he could actually separate, so to speak, between the two programs. It had been done.”
For elementary school teacher Tameka Evans, collaboration isn't the only appeal of the new building. It's her students' playground.
“Ask each of my children, they have a playground, a new and exciting playground,” Evans said. “The advantage, the location is pretty central to the other buildings, close to the central office, brand new building, you just walk through the brand new building.”
She said the school's goal is to provide intervention, not long-term education.
“The goal is for them not to be with me forever,” Evans said. “My goal is to return to my alma mater.”
Evan said students are seeing the benefits of the system and thinks other schools should take note.
“At the elementary level, we feel it should be a national program. We've seen the benefits for children with special needs, but they just need a little more time.” said Mr. Evans. “There's a reason they have an IEP. They have the same goal. It just makes them take a different route, and an individual route to get there.”
Both Lute and Evans said they believe more can be done overall to improve the quality of education for Missouri students.
“There's a big demand,” Lute said. “And yes, special needs children probably need more support than traditional children. But all of Missouri's children deserve better.”