STAPLETON ELEM.

Located at 101 E 41ST ST, in JOPLIN, Missouri, STAPLETON ELEM. is a reasonably sized elementary campus that teaches 400 students (grades K through 5), overseen by JOPLIN SCHOOLS. That puts it 27% larger than the typical public school in Missouri, which averages around 315 students.

Across the 15 schools in JOPLIN SCHOOLS (7,873 students total), STAPLETON ELEM. accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Demographically, STAPLETON ELEM. reports that White students make up the majority at 65%. Beyond that, the school shows 10% multiracial, 9% Hispanic, 6% Black, 6% Pacific Islander. By comparison, Newton County as a whole is about 81% White, so the school skews noticeably less White than its surroundings.

Looking at the economic backdrop, Staff filings list 31 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 13.0:1 students per teacher. That tracks the state average closely. An estimated 54% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment.

With demographic context factored in, STAPLETON ELEM. tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 50.3% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 44.9%.

In the broader community, Newton County reports that median household income runs about $66,301, about 24% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate sits near 9%. Across Newton County's 25 public schools (combined enrollment of about 9,567 students), STAPLETON ELEM. is one campus in the mix.

SOUTH MIDDLE is the nearest neighboring public school, about 1.0 miles from this campus. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around STAPLETON ELEM.. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts STAPLETON ELEM. at 6th of 7; the average score across the group is 53.2%.

The campus sits in a metropolitan setting.

Five-year trend. STAPLETON ELEM.'s enrollment has shrank 3% since 2018, when it stood at 414 (now 400). White enrollment moved from 82% to 65% across the same window. Class-load math has narrowed: from 14.4:1 in 2018 to 13.0:1 in 2025.

On the community side, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. The community welcomes input from current and former families.