Carl Junction Schools show continued growth in annual report

Carl Junction Schools is proud to announce strong results in the newly released Annual Performance Report (APR) from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). For 2025, Carl Junction earned 90.5% of the points available, showing continued, meaningful progress from 88.2% in 2024 and 80.9% in 2023.

This steady growth reflects the hard work of our students, the dedication of our educators, and the support of our families and community.

The APR is part of Missouri’s statewide school improvement system. It evaluates how well schools are helping students learn and grow each year, using measures such as state testing, student improvement over time, graduation rates, and college and career readiness. The goal is to ensure that every student graduates prepared for success after high school.

Carl Junction showed notable strengths this year, including:

• 100% of available points in both English Language Arts and Science for student performance and growth.
• Significant improvement in Mathematics, showing positive momentum and continued academic gains across grade levels.
• Consistent progress over multiple years demonstrates that improvement is not temporary, but part of a sustained upward trend.

According to reporting from the Missouri Independent, only 22 school districts statewide earned APR scores above 90% this year. With a score of 90.5%, Carl Junction ranks among the top 5% of school districts in Missouri.

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Theresa Wilson shared, “This is something for our entire community to celebrate. These results reflect strong classrooms, supportive families, and a community that values education. We are proud of our staff for their dedication, and of our students for their hard work. While we celebrate this success, we remain committed to continuous improvement and ensuring every student grows and thrives.”

The Missouri Department of Education noted statewide improvement this year and credited strong community support for public education as a key factor. Carl Junction is proud to be part of that positive momentum.

Board of Education President Larry Cowger added, “This achievement is the result of teamwork; teachers, students, support staff, administrators, parents, and community partners all play a role. We are grateful for the trust and involvement of our community and will continue working together for our kids.”