SOUTHWEST MIDDLE

SOUTHWEST MIDDLE is a compact middle school in WASHBURN, Missouri, operated by SOUTHWEST R-V. The school works with 186 students in grades 5 through 8. By comparison, Missouri's public schools average about 461 students each, so SOUTHWEST MIDDLE sits 60% leaner than that benchmark.

Within SOUTHWEST R-V, which oversees 3 schools and 771 students, SOUTHWEST MIDDLE is one campus in the system.

On the student-mix side, SOUTHWEST MIDDLE reports that nearly all students (87%) are White. Beyond that, the school reports 6% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 2% multiracial, 2% Native American.

Looking at school resources, The school employs 15 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 12.4:1. That tracks the state average closely. About 66% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment.

With demographic context factored in, SOUTHWEST MIDDLE tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 50.0% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 45.4%.

In the area at large, ACS estimates for Barry County put median household earnings sit near $58,346, 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 10%. In all, Barry County runs 18 public schools (combined enrollment of about 4,974 students), of which SOUTHWEST MIDDLE is one.

The closest other public school is SOUTHWEST ELEM., roughly 0.0 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 2 other public schools cluster around SOUTHWEST MIDDLE. Among the 8 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), SOUTHWEST MIDDLE ranks 7th on composite proficiency, beneath the local average of 55.4%.

SOUTHWEST MIDDLE operates from a countryside location.

Over the past 7-year window. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at SOUTHWEST MIDDLE has edged down 29%, going from 261 students in 2018 to 186 in 2025. The student-to-teacher ratio narrowed from 14.6:1 in 2018 to 12.4:1 today.

On the community side, members of the SOUTHWEST MIDDLE community share and discuss sports schedules, lunch menu changes, and school spirit week. Contributors range from current parents to recent graduates and teachers.