BELLE — Belle Elementary students made substantial academic gains during the 2025-26 school year, nearly doubling the number of children reading on grade level while also posting significant improvement in mathematics, according to an end-of-year report presented June 30 to the Maries County R-2 Board of Education

The report showed 190 students finished the year reading on grade level, up from 89 students at the beginning of the school year. In math, the number of students performing on grade level increased from 42 students at the beginning of the year to 171 by the final diagnostic assessment.

Overall, 79 percent of Belle Elementary students finished the year reading on grade level, while 62 percent reached grade-level proficiency in mathematics.

The district also reported that 55 percent of students met their typical growth goal in English language arts using the i-Ready assessment.

Broken down by grade level, students meeting their typical reading growth included 39 percent of kindergarten students, 49 percent of first graders, 61 percent of second graders, 63 percent of third graders and 60 percent of fourth graders.

Math growth exceeded reading, with 61% of elementary students meeting their typical annual growth goal. Grade-level results included 39 percent of kindergarten students, 57 percent of first graders, 67 percent of second graders, 64 percent of third graders and 74 percent of fourth graders.

Attendance also remained strong throughout the school year.

Seven students achieved perfect attendance, while 245 students maintained attendance rates of at least 90 percent. Another 29 students finished between 80 percent and 90 percent attendance, and the district reported no students fell below 80 percent attendance during the 2025-26 school year.

District officials also reported stability among elementary staff heading into the upcoming school year.

All Belle Elementary teachers will return for the 2026-27 school year. Two teachers will transition to the district’s early childhood building, allowing the elementary school to add another classroom teacher. Miss Alleigh Woolley will serve as the school’s fourth-grade teacher after completing her student teaching last fall and working in the district’s special education department during the spring semester.

The information was presented as part of the board’s review of end-of-year reports from district administrators.