CAMDENTON, Mo. — After the Board of Education officially approved a new Early Childhood Center, officials shared which grades will be shifting next year for the Camdenton R-III School District.
Construction on the new center is set to begin this spring. The facility, funded in part by a FEMA grant and designed by SAPP Design Architects, is intended to give the district’s youngest students a dedicated, age-appropriate space to begin their education.
Read more about the new childhood center, here.
"To ensure we are using our buildings as effectively as possible and meeting the unique developmental needs of every age group, we will transition to a new grade-level organization," said Superintendent Brett Thompson. "This structure allows our staff to specialize their resources and environments for the specific ages they serve."
Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, the district's buildings will serve the following grades:
- Osage Beach Elementary: Pre-K through 5th grade
- Hurricane Deck: Pre-K through 5th grade
- Dogwood: Pre-K through 1st grade
- Hawthorn: 2nd and 3rd grades
- Oak Ridge: 4th and 5th grades
- Middle School: 6th through 8th grades
- High School, Horizons, LCTC: 9-12 grades
At Osage Beach Elementary, Principal Erin Kaminski said the reorganization strengthens the school’s community-focused approach.
“We are absolutely thrilled that the new reorganization will allow us to serve our students from Pre-K through 5th grade,” Kaminski said. “Bringing a Pre-K program back to our building is a significant win for our families.”
Kaminski said keeping students in one building for six years helps foster stronger relationships and provides consistency for both students and families.
On the main campus, Principal Chris Byington said Oak Ridge will serve as a bridge between elementary and secondary school, allowing students to build confidence and independence before moving on.
“Oak Ridge has long held a special place in our district as the building where all our young Lakers first come together to learn as one community,” Dr. Byington said. “By transitioning to a 4th- and 5th-grade center, we are creating a focused, age-appropriate environment specifically for our upper elementary students.”
As the Middle School moves to a 6th through 8th-grade model, Principal Robert Sangster said they will be a key step in unifying students from across the district.
“This change marks a significant milestone in the district’s bigger-picture plan, as the middle school will now be the official point where every Laker from across the community joins together for the first time,” Sangster said.
Sangster also addressed concerns about capacity, noting the building previously housed four grade levels when it served as the district’s high school. He said the new model allows staff to better support students during critical adolescent years.
"Shifting from two grades to three is well within our building's capabilities and will not burden our resources or space," Sangster said. "We are thrilled to open our doors wider and create a spirited, unified home where all our middle schoolers can finally grow together under one roof."
District leaders emphasized that additional details about logistics, transportation, and transition events will be shared in the coming months.
"We understand that change, even positive change, can bring about questions regarding logistics, transportation, and daily routines," Thompson said. "We are currently working through additional details and will share more information regarding transition events, building tours, and specific ‘next steps’ for your family in the coming weeks."
CAMDENTON, Mo. — The Camdenton R-III School District could see big campus changes in the com…
