School will be in session using an Alternative Method of Instruction (AMI online) from 8:30 a.m. to noon for grades K-12 and Parker, Pick and Freedom Preschool.
Williams Early Childhood Center AM classes will be online from 8:30 to 10:15 a.m. and Williams PM classes will be online from 10:15 a.m. to noon.
Parents and guardians make check their email for additional details.
There will be no in-person school in the Waynesville R-VI School District Monday, Jan. 26, 2026; however, students will go to school virtually on Monday morning as this is an AMI day. Parents and guardians should check their email for more details.
Waynesville R-VI Schools have been recognized among the 2026 Best Elementary, Middle and High Schools by U.S. News & World Report.
Waynesville High School, Waynesville Middle School, Waynesville Sixth Grade Center, Freedom Elementary, Partridge Elementary, Thayer Elementary, and Wood Elementary all earned U.S. News badges. These rankings are based on state performance data from the 2023–24 school year. While East Elementary narrowly missed the 2026 list, its strong 2024–25 results position it well for inclusion in the 2027 rankings. In addition, rankings do not include career centers and preschool programs.
“Each data point represents an individual student and we are so proud of our students’ achievements and their continued growth each year,” said Superintendent Hilary Bales. “This recognition reflects the shared effort of our students, parents, teachers, staff and community.”
U.S. News rankings are based on data from the U.S. Department of Education, including state assessment results in mathematics and reading/language arts, student backgrounds, academic performance in core subjects, and overall student growth. Student-teacher ratios are also considered to help break ties in scores.
The high school rankings were released earlier this year, followed by the elementary and middle school rankings.
“This data-rich resource helps parents identify schools that are truly making a difference in children’s academic journeys.” said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor for Education at U.S. News.
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During the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education meeting on Jan. 20, 2026, Waynesville R-VI Superintendent Hilary Bales presented certificates to Waynesville High School, Waynesville Middle School, Waynesville Sixth Grade Center, Freedom Elementary, Partridge Elementary, Thayer Elementary and Wood Elementary principals on behalf of their staff and students in recognition of their schools earning a U.S. News badge.
Supporting students with special needs during school transitions
The Waynesville R-VI School District will offer a free special education training session for parents and guardians of students with IEPs and 504 plans from 5:30–6:30 p.m. on Feb. 10, 2026, at the Parker Educational Center. The Parker Educational Center is located at 909 U.S. Route 66 in Waynesville, next to the middle school.
This session, “Navigating Transitions Between Buildings,” is especially recommended for families of students who will be entering one of the following grades or stages during the 2026–27 school year:
· Kindergarten
· 6th grade
· 7th grade
· 9th grade
· Post-secondary transition (after high school)
During the session, families will gain insight into the behind-the-scenes planning that takes place to support students as they move to a new building. Parents and guardians will also receive practical strategies and tips to help their child feel confident and prepared for their next school transition.
This event is the third and final session in the district’s Tiger Pride Series for the 2025–26 school year, which is designed to empower families through information, collaboration and advocacy.
The session will be presented by Dr. Elizabeth Washington, executive director of student services, and Shauna Smith, district special education coordinator.
Students will dismiss early on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, as follows:
Noon students in grades 6-12 will dismiss
12:45 p.m. Full day preschools (Parker, Pick and Freedom) will dismiss
1 p.m. Students in grades K-5 will dismiss
There will be no afternoon sessions for Williams Early Childhood Center
There will be no school in the Waynesville R-VI School District on Dec. 22, 2025 - Jan. 2, 2026.
District offices will be closed Dec. 24, 25, 26, 31 and Jan. 1.
Students will return to the classroom on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.
TONIGHT: The full day PreK programs from Parker, Pick and Freedom will perform at 5:30 this evening, Dec. 11, 2025, in the WHS Auditorium.
UPDATE: Route 47 to be only snow route this afternoon
Waynesville R-VI buses will run their regular routes this afternoon, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, EXCEPT Bus Route 47. Bus Route 47 will also run its snow route this afternoon and in the morning on Thursday, Dec. 4.
While we typically stay on snow routes all day if we use them in the morning, rising temperatures are allowing us to make an exception and return to most regular routes this afternoon.
The afterschool WIN activity buses will run their regular routes as well this evening.
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ADDITIONAL INFO: Because today is late-start Wednesday, please add 30 minutes to the pick-up time for your snow route.
Red: The Waynesville R-VI School District will be in session, but buses will be running snow routes on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. When the district runs snow routes in the morning, it will run snow routes in the afternoon.
Snow routes are available on the Bus Quest Mobile App. In some cases, the snow route may be the regular route.
More information about downloading the Bus Quest Mobile App is at https://www.waynesville.k12.mo.us/o/wrv/page/bus-quest.
School will be in session using an Alternative Method of Instruction (AMI online) from 8:30 a.m. to noon for grades K-12 and Parker, Pick and Freedom Preschool.
Williams Early Childhood Center AM classes will be online from 8:30 to 10:15 a.m. and Williams PM classes will be online from 10:15 a.m. to noon.
Instructions for logging into your child’s Chromebook: https://5il.co/3siy4
Additional instructions for PreK-6th graders are at https://5il.co/342dn
Additional instructions for 7th-8th graders are at https://www.waynesville.k12.mo.us/o/wms/page/ami-days
Additional instructions for 9-12th graders are at https://5il.co/342j7
The Waynesville R-VI School District will host the following upcoming Pre-K and elementary holiday music programs.
Program Schedule
• 5:30 p.m., Dec. 1 – All full-day preschools (Parker, Pick, and Freedom) Holiday Program at WHS Auditorium
• 5:30 p.m., Dec. 3 – Thayer 5th Grade Concert at Thayer Elementary
• 5:30 p.m., Dec. 8 – Elementary VOICES Concert at WHS Auditorium
• 5:15 p.m., Dec. 9 – Wood 4th & 5th Grade Holiday Music Program at Wood Elementary
• 5:30 p.m., Dec. 9 – Freedom 4th & 5th Grade Music Program at Freedom Elementary
West House: 5:30 p.m.
East House: 6 p.m.
South House: 6:30 p.m.
• 6 p.m., Dec. 11 – Partridge 2nd Grade Concert at Partridge Elementary
• 5 p.m., Dec. 16 – Williams Holiday Concert at WHS Auditorium
Morning Classes: 5 p.m.
Afternoon Classes: 5:30 p.m.
Happy Veterans Day
All Waynesville R-VI schools have been or will be honoring Veterans with activities including concerts, breakfasts, assemblies, round table discussions with Veterans and writing heartfelt letters of thanks.
Today (Nov. 11, 2025) our JROTC and Waynesville High School Tigers Pride Marching Band will participate in the Veterans Day Parade in St. Robert. The parade follows the 11 a.m. Veterans ceremony that is hosted by the Waynesville-St. Robert Chamber of Commerce.
There will be no school and all offices will be closed today (Nov. 11, 2025) in observance of Veterans Day.
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released the statewide Annual Performance Reports (APRs) for the 2024-25 school year on Nov. 6, 2025, and the Waynesville R-VI School District has received 90 percent of possible points. This is the highest Waynesville R-VI has received since MSIP 6.
“We invite our community to celebrate this accomplishment because every data point represents a student who is learning and growing,” said Waynesville R-VI Superintendent Hilary Bales. “This level of growth and achievement is only possible through the very hard work of our teachers and combined efforts of our students, staff, parents and community.”
APRs demonstrate the progress being made toward meeting the standards and indicators in the sixth iteration of the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP 6). The report measures multiple areas including academic achievement, continuous improvement, attendance and readiness for success beyond high school.
Bales noted that data plays an essential role in the district’s continuous improvement efforts. “We use data as a tool for reflection and action,” she said. “Our teams analyze assessment results, attendance patterns and growth measures to evaluate our strengths and identify areas for growth. This allows us to make informed decisions that strengthen instruction, enhance student support and ensure continued progress.”
Each year, the district reviews its performance from the previous year and identifies actionable steps to make meaningful improvements. “Our work is never done,” Bales said, “but we do want to celebrate with our community the success from this past year — because it truly takes all of us.”
MSIP is Missouri’s accountability system for evaluating and classifying public schools. It sets expectations for instructional practices and student outcomes, aiming to ensure every graduate is prepared for success in college, career, and life.
Session 1: 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 13
Session 2: 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 13
Cost: $20 per individual
Purchase tickets: https://www.myschoolbucks.com/
Additional details:
Tickets are available on MySchool Bucks at https://www.myschoolbucks.com/. Please register for a specific time – either session 1 or session 2. The cost is $20 per ticket. All attendees, both adults and students, must purchase a ticket to attend. Girls from Pre-K through 6th grade are invited to the dance and may be escorted by dad, grandpa, uncle or any other adult.
Registration closes on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. This event is a fundraiser for SkillsUSA.
For more information, please see the flyer or contact Shane Strubbe at sstrubbe@waynesville.k12.mo.us.
Waynesville High School’s Student Government Association will host a Trunk or Treat event today (Monday, Oct. 27, 2025) from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the WHS parking lot. #wayschools
The Waynesville R-VI School District has opened its ANNUAL PARENT SURVEY now through Oct. 26. The online survey link has been sent to parents via email. We value your thoughts and opinions about your child’s school and educational experiences. We encourage you to please take a moment to complete the parent survey.
