When comparing schools do not base your decision on what the "best" schools are on standardized testing. Nixa especially has leaned into test scores heavily as a way to boost property values (since they don't have anything else), but the teacher burnout and lack of teacher autonomy is brewing a low-level mutiny. The teachers are being micro-managed to death, and most of the Nixa teachers I know plan to leave in the near future. I mean, if you value test scores over critical thinking and big picture ideas, Nixa will suit your needs, and honestly some people are looking for that. I don't know many Ozark teachers, but I hear it's similar there.