A comprehensive assessment was made of the status of elementary education in Missouri in reading, mathematics, language, and study skills. The Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills (CTBS) and the Short Form Test of Academic Aptitude (SFTAA) were administered to a sample of Missouri fourth and sixth graders. For each curricular area, Missouri achievement was compared to the national norm. For reading, math, and language, the achievement of Missouri students was also compared to their anticipated achievement, and the distribution of anticipated achievement in Missouri was compared to the 10-10 distribution of the norm group. Four main conclusions were drawn: (1) students performed at or above the national norms; (2) they generally equaled or exceeded what was expected of them; (3) little relationship existed between school characteristics and achievement; and (4) when the achievement levels of students in the three district classifications (according to size) were compared, no definite trends in achievement across the four curricular areas were apparent. (Author/KM)