Schools
What started as a one-room school building back in 1887 has become a school system known for it's academic excellence. Accredited as recently as 2006, Carl Junction is recognized as one of the outstanding school districts in the growing southwest Missouri area. Beginning in 1961 small schools consolidated and the district centralized its campus near the heart of Carl Junction. Today it serves a 129 square mile area and educates about 2,948 students on a daily basis. As the largest employer in town, the school has 375 staff including 204 certified teachers. Its annual budget of $20 million supports per pupil spending of $5,950 per year which is raised through local taxes (49%), state revenues (42%) and federal dollars (9%).
Carl Junction's community has continuously supported the schools through numerous building projects to reduce class sizes and add more teachers and classroom space as needed. Recently it constructed a new performing arts center in 1998, a new high school in 2000, added classrooms and a media center onto the junior high in 2004, and will begin construction of a new junior high school in 2007. As building are vacated, classes are reconfigured to use the space to best meet student needs. Today the campus includes a pre-kindergarten to first grade building, a 2-3 building, an intermediate school for grades 4-6, a junior high for grades 7-8, and a four year high school. The district also supports an alternative high school in downtown Carl Junction to provide a non-traditional learning environment and a satellite school, in partnership with the Ozark Center, located in southern Jasper County.
Carl Junction schools have continued to be on the cutting edge of innovation curriculum to improve student achievement. Through their partnership with the Southwest Center for Academic Excellence they are initiating new math, technology and science education through inquiry-based learning to better prepare their students for a future after high school.
Even though it's known for its small-town atmosphere, Carl Junction's students have competed on the national level in such activities as science fair, National History Day, Destination Imagination, and Future Farmers of America. Students are encouraged to participate in 100+ extracurricular activities offered for all ages. These activities range from family library nights, athletic teams in thirteen sports, Community Problem Solvers, Talespinners, student council, A+ tutoring, band, choir, thespians, building trades, and many more.
Carl Junction R-1 Schools are a mirror of the community and continually work to build leaders of the future. The school district works closely with community members to carry out an ongoing school improvement plan. This partnership will assure that Carl Junction schools continue to be what everyone has come to expect, one of the top school districts in the region.
Current plans for the new Jr. High include 32 classrooms (including a band and choir room), a full gym with a seating capacity of approximately 500, four locker rooms, a media center, a student commons area and a full kitchen.
Carl Junction High School offers its students opportunities to participate in 13 different sports for both boys and girls. Most sports have three levels of competition including freshman, junior varsity and varsity. Over 250 students compete in athletics each year with many participating in more than one sports. Since moving into the new high school in 2000, the athletic facilities are some of the finest in the area. The basketball field house has seating for 2400 fans and includes a wrestling practice facility and a state of the art weight room. The football stadium was completed in 2003 and includes seating for 2000 fans and has an eight lane track.
Carl Junction High School sports teams have experienced much success since moving in to the new high school. Every sport has won either a conference or district championship since 2000. In the school year 2005-06, the boys' basketball team won its third consecutive conference championship and the girls' team won the district basketball championship. Both the boys' and girls' track teams won conference championships in the 2006 season. Beginning the 2006-07 school year, the girl's golf and cross country teams won district championships with the golf team placing fourth at the state competition. In 2006, Carl Junction High School won the conference "All-Sports" award for the second year in a row. Many outstanding individuals have participated at Carl Junction High School, with five overall state champions in cross country and wrestling since 2000.
Carl Junction R-1 District School Websites
Home Page
Carl Junction High School
Carl Junction Junior High School
Carl Junction Intermediate School
Carl Junction Primary 2/3 School
Carl Junction Primary K-1 School
Carl Junction Early Education Center
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