ST. LOUIS — Missouri schools are making progress after years of upheaval. New state data shows 86% of districts meeting or exceeding expectations, with over 60% improving their scores since last year.
We caught up with Laura Haywood after she picked up her 7-year-old son from Shaw Visual and Performing Arts Elementary, part of Saint Louis Public Schools.
“The teachers, principals, superintendent, everybody is super cool, super sweet and just try to do their best when it comes to the kids," Haywood said.
Still, she’s cautious about the state report, which ranks SLPS as “provisionally accredited.” This label, tied to low math and reading scores, pressures the district to strengthen support and instruction for students.
The scale, from highest to lowest, consists of "accredited with distinction," "fully accredited," "provisionally accredited," and "unaccredited."
“I don't think it's SLPS, I think it's more parents that need to do more and help those kids when it comes to at home and homework and getting them ready for the next day at school. SLPS is doing the best they can and they've been doing good by me," Haywood said.
The data shows 63 school districts in Missouri got a composite score under the 70th percentile, which is considered below proficiency, over a three year period. Among them, the Hazelwood School District.
A spokesperson expressed disappointment, saying the district “will proceed with a sense of urgency to turn this around.”
Using Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education data, the Missouri Independent created a map that shows a breakdown of percentage of points earned per district in the performance report:
The report offers some bright spots. Missouri’s four-year graduation rate hit its highest mark since 2019, with more than 90% of students graduating this year. Attendance is also improving after pandemic-related drops.
“I am very proud of our students and grateful to the administrators and the teachers and other school personnel who serve our students every day," said DESE Commissioner of Education Karla Eslinger.
Eslinger calls the report crucial for maximizing resources and guiding smarter decisions.
“These schools are funded with taxpayer dollars and we must be accountable for the work we're doing and transparent in sharing those outcomes," said Eslinger.
While districts will not face penalties from these scores until 2026, the report provides a clear picture of challenges and progress. Some districts, like Mehlville and Maplewood-Richmond Heights, made significant gains, earning “with distinction” ratings.
The report also highlights the Success-Ready Students Network, a pilot program exploring innovations like career-readiness initiatives. It's a model the state hopes to expand. For parents like Haywood, she sees progress reflected in her son.
“I help him with his math, but he challenged me when it comes to math," said Haywood. “He's teaching me how to this new math.”
The report highlights progress but reveals major gaps in math and reading for districts like SLPS, Hazelwood, and Ritenour. State ratings won’t change until 2026, affecting oversight and resources.
5 On Your Side reached out to SLPS about the ranking. With the district closed for fall break, no one was available to reply.
A spokesperson with the Hazelwood School District told us in an email: "We at the Hazelwood School District are obviously quite disappointed with our state test data and will proceed with a sense of urgency to turn this around. The district is committed to high student achievement and quality education. We have been aware of preliminary state test data since July and have made it a priority since then to focus on improving state test scores and we will continue to do so. Despite the test data being below our goals, our student achievement and accomplishments across other multiple measures do remain high."
A spokesperson with the Ritenour School District told us in an email that Ritenour is one of 20 Missouri school districts participating in the Success-Ready Students Network (SRSN).
“As a proud member of this forward-thinking initiative, Ritenour is helping to shape the future of how student success is measured in Missouri,” said the district’s Superintendent Chris Kilbride in a letter sent November 25 to district families. “This groundbreaking approach allows us to pilot innovative measures of accountability over three years, moving beyond the once-a-year standardized tests to focus on a more comprehensive view of student achievement. As part of the SRSN, Ritenour is now focused on multiple ways of assessing the growth of our students to ensure they will be successful upon graduation,” he said.