Best Schools in St. Louis, Missouri
302 schools · 182 Elementary · 35 Middle · 58 High · 27 Other
Choosing a school in St. Louis?
Use this page to compare every school in St. Louis by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Avery Elem.
Elementary · Webster Groves. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Reed Elementary
Elementary · Ladue. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Ladue Fifth Grade Center
Middle · Ladue. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in St. Louis for 2026 are Avery Elem. (9.5/10), Reed Elementary (9.0/10), and Ladue Fifth Grade Center (9.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 179 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
302
203 public · 99 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$261,438
home value · ACS
Districts
32
serving the city
Schools
302
203 public · 99 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$261,438
home value · ACS
Districts
32
serving the city
Rates 8.9/10 despite 100% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 4.0 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among St. Louis schools.
Top-Rated Schools in St. Louis
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 179 rated schools; 302 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avery Elem. | 9.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Reed Elementary | 9.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Ladue Fifth Grade Center | 9.0 / 10 |
| 4 | The Soulard School | 8.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Collegiate School of Med/bio | 8.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Mckinley Class. Leadership Ac. | 8.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Edgar Road Elem. | 8.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Webster Groves High | 8.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Hixson Middle | 8.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Beasley Elem. | 8.5 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.0/10
- Median household income
- $72,686
- Median home value
- $261,438
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 42%
- Avg commute
- 23 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 56%
35% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How St. Louis compares
Missouri rank
#166 of 257
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.3
below Missouri avg (6.3)
Median household income
$73k
111% of Missouri median
Schools in this city
280
Education Snapshot
St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis distributes 290 schools across 32 separate school districts serving roughly 97,327 students. The average MySchoolScout composite rating lands at 6.0/10 across 267 scored schools, below Missouri's state average of 6.3/10 — a gap that persists despite a median household income of $75,013, which sits 4% above the state median of $72,114. The city's 35 charter schools reflect sustained demand for alternatives to traditional district placements. Elementary schools dominate the level mix at 176 of 290 total schools, followed by 55 high schools and 36 middle schools. Adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher account for 44% of the city's population. For parents, the clearest signal is a composite rating that trails the state average even as household income exceeds it — a divergence that makes school-by-school comparison more valuable than any single-district reputation here.
32 districts draw attendance lines through St. Louis
St. Louis is not one school system. 32 districts cut across the city limits, and the largest still holds only 32% of the public campuses.
St. Louis City is the largest slice at 65 of 203 public schools — not a majority. Choosing a St. Louis address is choosing a district first.
Among 179 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.1 to 9.5 — the spread is inside St. Louis, not a citywide average.
35 of the 203 public schools are charters (17%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- St. Louis City65 public · 32%
- Mehlville R-Ix19 public · 9%
- Riverview Gardens13 public · 6%
- Lindbergh Schools10 public · 5%
- Webster Groves9 public · 4%
About Schools in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis puts 192 ranked public schools in front of parents — a large, varied field spanning the city proper and surrounding districts. Scores range widely, with the citywide average sitting at 5.8 out of 10. That midpoint reflects a genuine performance split: a cluster of high-performing schools at the top, a long middle tier, and a lower band that families will want to screen out early in their search.
The top of the distribution is real and reachable. Forty-one schools — 21% of the ranked total — score 7 or above, giving parents a meaningful shortlist to work from. Conway Elementary leads the city with a 9.5, the highest score in St. Louis. Metro High (9.2) and Avery Elementary (9.2) sit just behind it, followed by Clark Elementary at 9.1 and Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience at 9.0. The presence of two strong high schools in that top five matters: Collegiate's specialized medical and bioscience focus gives college-bound students a rigorous, career-aligned track, while Metro High offers a broader college-prep path.
Elementary options in the top tier are particularly strong. Three of the five highest-rated schools are elementary, which means families with young children have more access points to high-performing seats than the overall average suggests. Parents of high schoolers face a narrower field — the drop-off after Collegiate and Metro is steeper — so secondary options warrant closer scrutiny before committing to a neighborhood.
Practically, St. Louis rewards early research. With nearly 200 schools and nearly four points separating the city average from the top performers, the difference between a neighborhood default and a targeted choice is significant. Parents should determine upfront whether target schools use open enrollment, magnet assignment, or address-based zoning — that distinction controls how much of the top 21% is actually accessible. Filter to 7 and above first, then layer in commute, program fit, and grade level. The top schools here compete with high performers in any major metro; the work is finding them before seats fill.
Elementary Schools
182 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 350 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.5 |
| 2 | 384 students · Kindergarten–4th | 9.0 |
| 3 | 137 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.9 |
| 4 | 382 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.8 |
| 5 | 286 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.5 |
| 6 | 251 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.5 |
| 7 | 393 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.5 |
| 8 | 288 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.4 |
| 9 | 381 students · Kindergarten–4th | 8.3 |
| 10 | 383 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.3 |
Show all 182 elementary schools in St. Louis
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
35 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 322 students · 5th–5th | 9.0 |
| 2 | 967 students · 6th–8th | 8.6 |
| 3 | 449 students · 6th–8th | 8.5 |
| 4 | 642 students · 6th–8th | 8.1 |
| 5 | 595 students · 6th–8th | 7.9 |
| 6 | 1,033 students · 6th–8th | 7.7 |
| 7 | 962 students · 6th–8th | 7.7 |
| 8 | 408 students · 6th–8th | 7.3 |
| 9 | 754 students · 6th–8th | 7.2 |
| 10 | 579 students · 6th–8th | 7.0 |
Show all 35 middle schools in St. Louis
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
High Schools
58 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 335 students · 9th–12th | 8.9 |
| 2 | 580 students · 6th–12th | 8.8 |
| 3 | 1,310 students · 9th–12th | 8.7 |
| 4 | 1,325 students · 9th–12th | 8.3 |
| 5 | 333 students · 9th–12th | 8.3 |
| 6 | 423 students · 9th–12th | 7.8 |
| 7 | 375 students · 9th–12th | 7.8 |
| 8 | 2,266 students · 9th–12th | 7.7 |
| 9 | 1,013 students · 9th–12th | 7.4 |
| 10 | 140 students · 9th–12th | 7.2 |
Show all 58 high schools in St. Louis
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
27 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 234 students · 9th–10th | 7.1 |
| 2 | 298 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.3 |
| 3 | 111 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.2 |
| 4 | 213 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.9 |
| 5 | 232 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.7 |
| 6 | 377 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.6 |
| 7 | 200 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.6 |
| 8 | 7 students · Kindergarten–12th | — |
| 9 | 77 students · Kindergarten–12th | — |
| 10 | 212 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — |
Show all 27 other schools in St. Louis
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri · 302 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 40 ZIP codes
Median Income
$72,686
Median Home Value
$261,438
Median Rent
$1,108/mo
Population
863,843
College Educated
42%
Homeownership
56%
Avg Commute
23 min
Poverty Rate
16.2%
Community Profile
St. Louis has a median household income of $72,686. It is a well-educated community where 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $261,438, with a median rent of $1,108/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.2%. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Missouri
- Elementary
- 182
- Middle
- 35
- High
- 58
- Other
- 27
Resources
School Districts (32)
DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICE
41 schools · 570 students
MO SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
2 schools · 46 students
MO SCHLS FOR THE SEV DISABLED
35 schools · 692 students
LIFT FOR LIFE ACADEMY
3 schools · 816 students
PREMIER CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 904 students
CONFLUENCE ACADEMIES
6 schools · 2,274 students
CITY GARDEN MONTESSORI
2 schools · 573 students
ST. LOUIS LANG IMMERSION SCH
1 school · 419 students
NORTH SIDE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
2 schools · 69 students
KIPP ST LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
6 schools · 2,368 students
GATEWAY SCIENCE ACAD/ST LOUIS
4 schools · 1,631 students
MOMENTUM ACADEMY
4 schools · 659 students
LAFAYETTE PREPARATORY ACADEMY
1 school · 406 students
THE BIOME
1 school · 161 students
KAIROS ACADEMIES
2 schools · 491 students
THE SOULARD SCHOOL
1 school · 137 students
ATLAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
1 school · 307 students
AFFTON 101
4 schools · 2,582 students
BAYLESS
3 schools · 1,836 students
FERGUSON-FLORISSANT R-II
23 schools · 9,336 students
HANCOCK PLACE
3 schools · 1,244 students
HAZELWOOD
32 schools · 16,262 students
LADUE
8 schools · 4,482 students
LINDBERGH SCHOOLS
10 schools · 7,497 students
MEHLVILLE R-IX
19 schools · 10,162 students
NORMANDY SCHOOLS COLLABORATIVE
7 schools · 2,883 students
PARKWAY C-2
29 schools · 16,924 students
PATTONVILLE R-III
11 schools · 6,128 students
RITENOUR
10 schools · 6,414 students
RIVERVIEW GARDENS
13 schools · 5,100 students
ST. LOUIS CITY
68 schools · 18,284 students
WEBSTER GROVES
9 schools · 4,366 students
Other Major Cities in Missouri
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in St. Louis, Missouri
How many schools are in St. Louis, Missouri?
St. Louis has 302 schools, including 203 public and 99 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in St. Louis, Missouri?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in St. Louis is 6.0 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in St. Louis, Missouri?
The top-ranked school in St. Louis on MySchoolScout is Avery Elem. with a composite score of 9.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in St. Louis, Missouri?
The top-ranked elementary school in St. Louis on MySchoolScout is Avery Elem. with a composite score of 9.5/10.
What is the best middle school in St. Louis, Missouri?
The top-ranked middle school in St. Louis on MySchoolScout is Ladue Fifth Grade Center with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best high school in St. Louis, Missouri?
The top-ranked high school in St. Louis on MySchoolScout is Collegiate School of Med/bio with a composite score of 8.9/10.
How many school districts serve St. Louis, Missouri?
St. Louis is served by 32 school districts: Division of Youth Service, Mo School for the Blind, Mo Schls for the Sev Disabled, Lift for Life Academy, Premier Charter School, Confluence Academies, City Garden Montessori, St. Louis Lang Immersion Sch, North Side Community School, Kipp St Louis Public Schools, Gateway Science Acad/st Louis, Momentum Academy, Lafayette Preparatory Academy, The Biome, Kairos Academies, The Soulard School, Atlas Public Schools, Affton 101, Bayless, Ferguson-Florissant R-II, Hancock Place, Hazelwood, Ladue, Lindbergh Schools, Mehlville R-Ix, Normandy Schools Collaborative, Parkway C-2, Pattonville R-III, Ritenour, Riverview Gardens, St. Louis City, Webster Groves.
What is the education level in St. Louis, Missouri?
According to Census data, 42% of adults in St. Louis have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in St. Louis, Missouri?
The median household income in St. Louis is approximately $72,686 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in St. Louis, Missouri?
Yes, St. Louis has 99 private schools alongside 203 public schools. The top-rated private school is Crossroads College Preparatory School with a score of 8.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in St. Louis, Missouri?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in St. Louis is 13.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in St. Louis, Missouri?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings and parent guides, free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Missouri Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.