What makes an amazing school? That answer is subjective based on a variety of factors and opinions, but Niche used qualitative data coupled with quantitative data to create rankings of schools across the nation.
It rated Ozark No. 1 among schools in the Springfield metropolitan area.
On Sept. 20, Niche released its rankings for 2022, and Ozark School District was at the top No. 1 rankings in several categories:
-Best School District in the Springfield Area
-Best Place to Teach in the Springfield Area
-Best School District in Christian County
-District with the Best Teachers in Christian County
-Best School District for Athletes in Christian County
“Ozark is a strong school district — first, because of the hard work of our students and second, because of the hard work and dedication of our staff,” said Dr. Chris Bauman, superintendent of the Ozark School District.
Ozark t received an overall A-rating, and was evaluated on categories including academics, teachers, clubs and activities, administration, food, diversity, college preparation, health and safety, sports, and resources and facilities.
According to its website, Niche.com is “the leading platform connecting students and families with colleges and schools.”
“While traditional rankings rely almost exclusively on metrics like test scores and academic performance, Niche’s rankings provide a more personal view of a school,” a Niche press release says. “They combine user input — ratings from current students, alumni, and parents — with quantitative data from sources like the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate teachers, resources and facilities, extracurricular activity opportunities and more.”
“This holistic score from Niche places value on some of our current initiatives which are aligned to the school board’s mission and vision for each child,” said Dr. Craig Carson, Ozark Assistant Superintendent of Learning. “We are working to strengthen teaching the traditional fundamental disciplines, providing students with opportunities for industry-recognized credentials, dual credit and advanced classes, as well as providing more intramural and after-school clubs.”
In addition to the localized rankings, Ozark School District ranked No. 19 in "Best School Districts in Missouri," which includes 454 school districts, and No. 894 in "Best School Districts in the Nation," which includes 10,772 school districts.
To see Ozark School District’s full profile, visit: https://www.niche.com/k12/d/ozark-r-vi-school-district-mo/.
