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What's something PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE does better than most schools?
Community prompt from u/allk12. Replies below.
Enrollment
731
Middle
DISTRICT 777 · STATE 461
SCHOOL COMMUNITY·INDEPENDENCE 30·NCES 291548002807
PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE
1656 S SPECK RD, INDEPENDENCE, MO 64057 · (816) 521-5385 · Jackson County
GRADES 07–08MIDDLE21-SUBURBTITLE IREGULAR SCHOOL731 STUDENTS
B
allk12 Grade
Scored higher than 55% of Missouri public middle schools
- C+Test scores Share of students meeting the state standard in reading, math, and other tested subjects, 2023-24 and 2024-25.
- BBeats expectations How far test scores land above or below what the share of low-income students predicts for a school in this state.
- AThree-year trend Change in reading and math proficiency over the last three test years.
Grades compare a school only with schools in the same state, because every state gives its own test. How grades work · Top-graded Missouri public middle schools
Student : Teacher
14.3:1
51 FTE teachers
DISTRICT 15.3:1 · STATE 13.0:1
Free / Reduced Lunch
64%
471 students
DISTRICT 75% · STATE 54%
Community
1
0 members
Enrollment and student:teacher ratio compared against other middle schools. Free/Reduced Lunch and demographics compared against all schools.
Enrollment by grade, 2024-25
| Grade | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 7 | 338 | 46% |
| Grade 8 | 393 | 54% |
Student demographics
66%Diversity index
The chance that two students picked at random belong to different racial or ethnic groups.
DISTRICT 69% · STATE 52% · US 70%
Student head counts by race/ethnicity from federal NCES enrollment data. District, state, and US figures are each group's share of all public school students in that area (US excludes territories). Very small groups may be suppressed in the source, so categories do not always sum exactly to total enrollment.
Gender split
Test scores
MAP 2024-25 . % Proficient + AdvancedEnglish Language Arts
40.8%
MO avg 44.9% . +7.8pp since 2021
Math
34.5%
MO avg 43.8% . +9.7pp since 2021
What this means: On the MAP, Missouri's statewide test, about 41 of every 100 students at this school read and write at grade level and about 35 of 100 do math at grade level. Across all Missouri schools, those numbers are about 45 and 44. Reading and writing scores are up about 8 points since 2021, while math scores are up about 10 points.
Performance levels, 2024-25
| Subject | Advanced | Proficient | Basic | Below Basic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language Arts | 16.5% | 24.3% | 42.2% | 16.8% |
| Math | 17.7% | 16.8% | 32.6% | 32.6% |
Share of tested students at each MAP level. Each student counts in one level, so a row adds to about 100%.
MAP results by year
| School year | English Language Arts | Math |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 40.8% | 34.5% |
| 2023-24 | 38.1% | 32.2% |
| 2022-23 | 30.6% | 26.0% |
| 2021-22 | 33.0% | 24.8% |
% Proficient + Advanced, all students and all tested grades.
Source: MAP. All students, all grades. See all years and grades →
BeatsExpectations
Demographically-adjusted score · methodologyTier
AS EXPECTED
Performing as predicted given the school's student profile
Actual proficiency
37.8%
composite math + reading, all grades
Predicted
35.8%
based on MO schools with similar FRL share
Beats by
+2.1pp
above demographic expectation
What this means: About 38% of students here test proficient in math and reading, compared with the roughly 36% typical for Missouri schools with a similar share of low-income students. BeatsExpectations measures results against demographically similar schools rather than by raw scores, and this school falls within the typical range, neither among Missouri's top nor bottom 10%.
BeatsExpectations runs a per-state regression of proficiency on free/reduced-lunch share, then scores each school by residual. How this is calculated →
Schools most like PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE
PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE's state test result (37.8% proficient) is higher than 4 of the 5 schools below with a result.
| School | Students | Low-income | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE this school | 731 | 64.4% | 37.8% |
| MAPLE PARK MIDDLE KANSAS CITY | 585 | 63.4% | 31.7% |
| BRIDGER MIDDLE INDEPENDENCE | 744 | 72.3% | 43.0% |
| MIDDLE SCH. NEOSHO | 702 | 65.4% | 31.7% |
| MILL CREEK UPPER ELEM. BELTON | 435 | 61.8% | 36.1% |
| BELTON MIDDLE SCHOOL BELTON | 641 | 53.5% | 31.8% |
Matched among Missouri middle schools on enrollment, the share of students from low-income families (eligible for free or reduced-price lunch), and racial and ethnic makeup. Proficient is the average share of students meeting the state standard across all of the school's state tests in 2023-24 and 2024-25, the same combined score our test-score rankings use. Online schools and schools serving specialized populations are not matched.
Where PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE ranks
Among middle schools| Measure | This school | In Missouri | In Jackson County |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 37.8% | #228 of 379 | #16 of 36 |
| Math proficiency ranked highest first | 34.5% | #274 of 380 no change | #18 of 36 ▼ 1 |
| Reading proficiency ranked highest first | 40.8% | #185 of 380 ▲ 24 | #14 of 36 ▲ 4 |
| 3-year test score change ranked biggest gain first | +8.8pp | #51 of 364 | #4 of 32 |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 731 | #66 of 397 | #11 of 38 |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.3:1 | #231 of 321 | #20 of 33 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 65.9% | #23 of 321 | #7 of 33 |
| Free and reduced lunch ranked highest share first | 64.4% | #99 of 379 | #20 of 36 |
| Enrollment change since 2017-18 ranked steepest decline first | -5.1% | #174 of 224 | #18 of 22 |
Ranked against other public middle schools. Online schools are left out of every list, and test-score lists leave out schools that serve specialized populations. Each rank links to the full list. Arrows under a test-score rank show places moved since the prior test year, among schools tested both years.
4-year change
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25Enrollment
731
-92 (-11%) vs 2020
-18% since 2000-01, when it was 887
Student : Teacher
14.3:1
was 18.3:1
Source: NCES Common Core of Data
Enrollment and staffing by year
| School year | Students | Teachers (FTE) | Students per teacher | Free and reduced lunch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 731 | 51.3 | 14.3:1 | 64% (471) |
| 2023-24 | 817 | 49.8 | 16.4:1 | 64% (520) |
| 2022-23 | 806 | 47.6 | 16.9:1 | 61% (492) |
| 2020-21 | 823 | 45 | 18.3:1 | 59% (488) |
| 2017-18 | 770 | 45.8 | 16.8:1 | 55% (427) |
| 2015-16 | 829 | 45 | 18.4:1 | 57% (471) |
| 2010-11 | 835 | 47 | 17.8:1 | 57% (474) |
| 2000-01 | 887 | 56 | 15.8:1 | 41% (361) |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data. Rows are the federal collections on file for PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE.
Since 2017-18: students down 5% (770 to 731); teachers up 12% (45.8 to 51.3).
About PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE
PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE is a large middle-grades school that serves part of INDEPENDENCE, Missouri. Enrollment is 731 students in 2024-25, and the school serves grades 7 through 8. The average for middle schools in Missouri is about 461 students, so this school is 59% larger than average.
INDEPENDENCE 30 has 14,272 students spread across 29 schools.
White students make up a majority at PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE, at 51%. The remaining shares are 20% Hispanic, 16% Black, and 12% multiracial. Census estimates put the White share of Jackson County's population at about 62%. Pick two students at random and there is a 66% chance they belong to different racial or ethnic groups; that figure is the school's diversity index.
PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE operates with 51.3 full-time-equivalent teachers, a ratio of about 14.3:1. On average, middle schools in Missouri have 13.0:1, compared with 14.3:1 here. PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE reports 64% of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE is graded B by allk12, scoring above 55% of Missouri public middle schools once test results, poverty-adjusted performance, and the recent trend are combined.
Based on student poverty, the model expects 35.8% at PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE; the school's average proficiency rate on state tests is 37.8%.
Census Bureau estimates for Jackson County show that the median household income is $68,577, the share of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher is 34%, and roughly 10% of residents are in poverty. PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE is one of 244 public schools in the county.
Nearby, BINGHAM MIDDLE is about 0.2 miles away. There are at least 8 more public schools inside five miles. Local comparison: PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE ranks 6th of 8 nearby schools, at 37.8% versus a 46.1% average.
For locale, NCES codes PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE as Suburb: Large.
Enrollment declined 11% from its 2020-21 level of 823. The student-to-teacher ratio went down from 18.3:1 to 14.3:1.
Families, students, and staff can use this page to discuss school safety, transportation, and start times at PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE. Alumni can share how the school prepared them.
Jackson County at a glance
View full county profilePopulation
719,976
Census ACS
Median income
$68,577
Household, ACS
Bachelor's+
34%
Adults 25+
Poverty rate
10%
Below federal line
Schools in county
244
105,714 students
Quick facts
Related schools
Other schools in INDEPENDENCE 30
- TRUMAN HIGHHigh · 1,720 students
- WILLIAM CHRISMAN HIGHHigh · 1,417 students
- VAN HORN HIGHHigh · 1,067 students
- CLIFFORD H. NOWLIN MIDDLEMiddle · 902 students
- BRIDGER MIDDLEMiddle · 744 students
- BINGHAM MIDDLEMiddle · 730 students
Other schools in INDEPENDENCE
- TRUMAN HIGHHigh · 1,720 students
- FORT OSAGE HIGHHigh · 1,545 students
- WILLIAM CHRISMAN HIGHHigh · 1,417 students
- CLIFFORD H. NOWLIN MIDDLEMiddle · 902 students
- BRIDGER MIDDLEMiddle · 744 students
- BINGHAM MIDDLEMiddle · 730 students
Other Pioneer Ridge Middle schools
2 other US public schools in 3 states are named Pioneer Ridge Middle. PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE is the largest of the 3.
- Pioneer Ridge Middle SchoolGardner, KS · 548 students
- PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOLCHASKA, MN · 418 students
Nearby schools
- BINGHAM MIDDLE0.2 mi · 730
- BRIDGER MIDDLE0.5 mi · 744
- BLACKBURN ELEM.1.0 mi · 363
- LITTLE BLUE ELEMENTARY1.3 mi · 263
- SUNSHINE CENTER1.4 mi · 106
- SPRING BRANCH ELEM.1.4 mi · 278
Frequently asked questions
About PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLEWhat is the total enrollment at PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE?
PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE enrolls approximately 731 students in grades 07-08.
What grades does PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE serve?
PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE serves grades 07-08.
How many students per teacher at PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE?
Approximately 14.3:1 students per teacher at PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE.
How diverse is PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE?
PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE reports a student body of 51% White, 20% Hispanic, 16% Black, 0% Asian, 12% Two or more.
Is PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE public or private?
PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE is a public K-12 school, overseen by INDEPENDENCE 30.
Data sourceSchool profile facts are sourced from the NCES. Community content is posted by allk12 members.