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Information provided by the Dexter Chamber of Commerce.
Accreditation
The Dexter R-XI Schools have a tradition of outstanding educational
programs. The schools are fully accredited under the Missouri
School Improvement Program by the State Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education, which is a result of an annual evaluation
of all areas of the school district's operations. In addition,
the Senior High School is accredited by the North Central Association
of Colleges and Schools.
Enrollment
The school district enrolls approximately 2,300 students
in four attendance centers: Southwest Elementary, pre-kindergarten
through grade 2; Central Elementary, grades 3-5; T.S. Hill Middle
School, grades 6-8; and Senior High, grades 9-12.
Test Scores
Students of Dexter Public Schools perform well on national
tests. The average ACT score for Dexter students was 21.7 in
1995-96, while the national average was 20.9 and the Missouri
average was 21.4. Approximately 63 percent of the graduates attend
either a two-year or a four-year college.
Curriculum
The district offers a wide curriculum with extensive services
for students with special needs. There is also an early childhood
program for four-year-olds who qualify, and a Parents As Teachers
program for students birth to school age. Dexter Senior
High participates in the Area Vocational School in Sikeston and
the district participates in the Special Education Cooperative
at Malden. There are also Adult Basic Education classes
and college classes offered by Southwest Baptist University.
Special interest classes are offered by Dexter schools, including
courses in computers, photography, cooking and calligraphy. In
1994-95, more than 300 people were enrolled in these continuing
education classes.
Facilities
The voters of the district approved a $5.3 million bond issue
in April 1989 to construct a new elementary building and additions
to Southwest Elementary and Senior High. This will enable the
Dexter Public Schools to exist on one main campus. A new administration
building was constructed in 1996 using existing funds. This building
houses the offices of the superintendent, assistant superintendent,
administrative assistant, secretaries and bookkeepers. A maintenance,
transportation and warehousing facility has been constructed
on 3 acres behind Central Elementary School and includes 23 bus
ports and an administrative building built in 1995. |
