Dogwood Elementary

About Dogwood Elementary

Dogwood Elementary is where curiosity takes root and every student is taught how to work, learn and succeed! Serving roughly 440 K-5 Bulldogs in the heart of Kearney, our faculty pairs world-class opportunities with the small-school warmth families cherish. Over the past five years, Dogwood has demonstrated steady academic momentum, topping the state average in key subjects, earning perfect scores for continuous improvement from Missouri DESE, and holding a student-teacher ratio that lets every child feel seen and supported.

Our Story

Dogwood opened its doors to Kearney families with one promise: every child deserves deep roots and wide-open branches. Today that promise thrives in classrooms buzzing with inquiry-based science labs, book clubs, and service projects that connect academics to real-world purpose.

Academic Excellence

State accountability confirms the progress you feel when walking our halls. Dogwood earned 71.3% of available performance points in 2023, an 11-point jump from 2022. Even with post-pandemic challenges, our 5th-grade math proficiency hit 51%, eclipsing Missouri’s 38% benchmark, while 4th-grade readers reached 61% proficiency against a 46% state rate.

Whole-Child Focus

Counselors lead daily social-emotional mini-lessons, and every grade schedules “Brain Break” outdoor blocks. Combined with a 14:1 student-teacher ratio, these supports keep attendance high and chronic absenteeism trending down.

Partnership & Pride

From PTO-funded makerspaces to the beloved “Dogwood Dash” fun-run that raised over $20K for classroom tech last year, community partnerships fuel our success. Families, staff, and local businesses rally around the mantra: “Grow together, give together.”