WILLIAM MATTHEW MIDDLE SCHOOL

WILLIAM MATTHEW MIDDLE SCHOOL is a middle-of-the-pack 6-8 campus in KIRKSVILLE, Missouri, part of KIRKSVILLE R-III. The school instructs 514 students in grades 6 through 8.

Within KIRKSVILLE R-III, which oversees 4 schools and 2,374 students, WILLIAM MATTHEW MIDDLE SCHOOL is one campus in the system.

On the student-mix side, WILLIAM MATTHEW MIDDLE SCHOOL logs that the largest single group is White, at 79% of enrollment. The remainder consists of 10% Black, 5% Hispanic, 3% multiracial. The wider county runs roughly 88% White, putting the school's mix considerably less White than the area baseline.

Looking at the economic backdrop, WILLIAM MATTHEW MIDDLE SCHOOL records 42 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 12.3:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.0:1, putting WILLIAM MATTHEW MIDDLE SCHOOL tighter than the state norm the norm. Around 46% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, WILLIAM MATTHEW MIDDLE SCHOOL performs roughly as the BeatsExpectations model predicts for a school with this FRL share. The predicted value is around 50.4%, the actual is 45.8%, a residual of -4.6 points.

In the broader community, ACS estimates for Adair County put the typical household earns roughly $61,536 per year, roughly 36% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 10%. In all, Adair County runs 9 public schools (combined enrollment of about 2,724 students), of which WILLIAM MATTHEW MIDDLE SCHOOL is one.

Nearest neighbor: KIRKSVILLE SR. HIGH, around 0.1 miles off. 3 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts WILLIAM MATTHEW MIDDLE SCHOOL at 7th of 8; the average score across the group is 50.7%.

The school occupies a town-center site.

Five-year trend. Over the past 7-year window, the student count declined 6%: 547 students in 2018 compared to 514 in 2025. White enrollment moved from 88% to 79% across the same window. The student-to-teacher ratio fell from 14.5:1 in 2018 to 12.3:1 today.

Inside the community feed, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.