Joplin School District
Major Cities Served
Recent history
On May 22, 2011, an EF5 tornado caused extensive damage to much of the city. Joplin High School, Franklin Technology Center, East Middle School, the old South Middle School, Irving Elementary, and Emerson Elementary were destroyed; Cecil Floyd Elementary, Duquesne Elementary, Eastmorland Elementary, and Kelsey Norman were damaged.
The district re-opened its Middle and Elementary schools on January 9, 2014; and Joplin High School and Franklin Technology Center re-opened in August 2014. The district had a long appeals process with the Federal Emergency Management Agency about adequate disaster funding years after all schools had reopened.
In March 2020, it was decided to close schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic until April 3. Later, the schools closed for the remainder of the year. On August 24, the schools reopened, with Joplin High School having a split schedule due to the number of students.
In January 2023, a new elementary school named Dover Hill Elementary opened. The school replaced Columbia and West Central elementary, which were closed due to inadequate buildings. The schools operated under a joint administration from 2021-2022 until the opening of the new school.
Schools
High school
- Joplin High School
- Franklin Technology Center
Middle schools
- East Middle School
- North Middle School
- South Middle School
Elementary
- Cecil Floyd
- Dover Hill (formed out of Columbia and West Central)
- Eastmorland
- Irving
- Jefferson
- Kelsey Norman
- McKinley
- Royal Heights
- Soaring Heights
- Stapleton
Former schools
- Columbia (closed and consolidated with West Central due to aging and safety concerns. Demolished during the Summer of 2023)
- Duenweg (closed and consolidated in response to redistricting following the May 2011 tornado)
- Duquesne (closed and consolidated in response to redistricting following the May 2011 tornado)
- Emerson (damaged in May 2011 tornado, razed in December 2016)
- Memorial (currently utilized as the district's administration offices. Formerly housed Joplin High School, Memorial High School, Memorial Middle School)
- Parkwood High School (consolidated into Joplin High School in 1985; building was destroyed in May 2011 tornado)
- Washington Education Center (former elementary school; housed Irving Elementary after the tornado)
- West Central (closed and consolidated with Columbia due to aging and safety concerns)
References
- ^ "Joplin Schools". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
- ^ Kennedy, Mike (October 16, 2017). "Joplin (Mo.) district haggling with FEMA over recovery funds for damage from deadly 2011 tornado". American School & University. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ https://www.koamnewsnow.com/joplin-schools-to-close-in-response-to-covid-19-through-april-3/ [1]
- ^ Joplin Globe: UPDATED: Joplin School Board approves split schedule for JHS
- ^ [joplinglobe.com/news/local_news/joplin-schools-try-to-maintain-a-sense-of-normalcy-as-students-return-today/article_bf23c836-e655-11ea-b178-4327229e0538.html Joplin Globe: Joplin schools try to maintain a sense of normalcy as students return today]
- ^ https://www.fourstateshomepage.com/sports/local-sports/dover-hill-elementary-finally-set-to-open/
- ^ "Joplin School District breaks ground on new Dover Hill Elementary".