When you sit down with Will Perkins, Superintendent of Keytesville R-III School District, it’s immediately clear that he is an educator at heart—deeply invested in the success of his students and the well-being of the community. Over his 18-month tenure, Mr. Perkins has worked to build on the district’s strengths, ensuring students receive a high-quality education tailored to their individual needs.
One of the biggest challenges small districts face is how their performance is measured at the state level. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) publishes assessment scores each year, but for rural schools like Keytesville R-III, these statistics don’t always tell the full story. Because of low student enrollment—with only six students per teacher—a single student’s performance can have a dramatic effect on reported percentages. For instance, in a class of five students, if just one struggles in a subject, the data may indicate that 20% of students are underperforming, even though that only represents one individual.
Despite how these numbers may appear on paper, Keytesville R-III continues to exceed state benchmarks in multiple areas. In the district’s 2024 Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP 6) Annual Performance Report, Keytesville R-III achieved:
- 100% four-year graduation ...
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