MOScholars Student Outcomes: Results from the Program's First Three Years
RESEARCH REPORT | Released October 28, 2026
Student Outcomes, 2023 to 2025
For the first time, researchers have a statewide picture of academic performance among students participating in Missouri's MOScholars scholarship program.
A new report from the PRiME Center at Saint Louis University finds that average English Language Arts and Math scores were near national averages during the program's first three years. The analysis covers the 2022–23 through 2024–25 school years and establishes a baseline for tracking future student outcomes.
Key Findings at a Glance:
51st percentile — English Language Arts
Average national percentile rank in 2024–25, up from the 46th percentile in 2022–23.
49th percentile — Math
Average national percentile rank in 2024–25, up from the 47th percentile in 2022–23.
2,156 assessment scores analyzed
The study examined validated results from 19 nationally norm-referenced assessment types.
More than 30 percent of MOScholars students have special needs and an IEP.
Students with Individualized Education Programs represented a substantially larger share of the testing sample than they do of Missouri's public school population.
What Does the Research Show?
1. Student achievement was near national averages
Across the first three program years, average MOScholars English Language Arts (ELA) scores increased from the 46th to the 51st national percentile. Average Math scores increased from the 47th to the 49th percentile. These figures represent average national percentile ranks for the students with valid scores in each year, not changes among the same group of students.
A national percentile rank describes how a student's test performance compares with a national reference group. For example, the 51st percentile is slightly above the national midpoint. It does not mean a student answered 51% of questions correctly.
2. Students with disabilities represented a substantial share of the testing sample
Nearly 40% of the students represented in the testing sample had an Individualized Education Program (IEP), compared with approximately 14% of Missouri public school students.
This is important context for understanding the findings because MOScholars serves a student population that differs from Missouri's overall public school population.
3. Students followed over time generally maintained their academic standing
Researchers also examined a smaller group of students with test results available across multiple years.
Those students generally maintained similar national percentile rankings in English Language Arts and Math from year to year, suggesting academic growth broadly in line with national peers.
Because the number of students with multiple years of valid scores remains limited, these findings are preliminary.
4. Program participation nearly doubled during the study period
MOScholars participation increased from 1,361 students in 2022–23 to 2,678 in 2024–25, a 97% increase.
As participation grows and more students reach testing grades, additional assessment data will make it possible to examine academic outcomes with greater precision.
Why Do These Findings Matter?
The report provides the first public, program-wide baseline for understanding academic achievement among MOScholars participants.
For families, policymakers, and researchers, it offers an initial picture of how participating students are performing relative to national benchmarks.
It also establishes a foundation for future research. As additional years of assessment data become available, researchers will be better positioned to examine academic trajectories, differences among student groups, and longer-term outcomes.
How Did PRiME Measure Student Performance?
Researchers at the PRiME Center analyzed student assessment data from the first three school years of MOScholars.
Participating students in testing-required grades generally complete nationally norm-referenced assessments. Educational Assistance Organizations collect the results and provide them to the Missouri State Treasurer's Office.
Because students take different approved assessments, PRiME researchers reviewed and validated the submitted scores and standardized eligible results to a common measure: national percentile rank.
The final analysis included 2,156 valid assessment scores from 19 test types, covering English Language Arts and Math performance.
The report examines overall performance, results for different student populations, and changes in achievement for students with multiple years of available scores.
What Are the Study’s Limitations?
The findings are encouraging, but there are important distinctions about what the data can—and cannot—tell us.
The report does not establish that MOScholars caused changes in student achievement. It describes academic performance during the program's first three years, rather than estimating the causal impact of participation.
Results cannot be directly compared with Missouri public school test scores. MOScholars participants generally take nationally norm-referenced assessments, while Missouri public schools use the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP). The assessments measure and report performance differently.
Not all required test results were available. Across the study period, valid scores were received for 77% of students in testing-required grades. The report describes additional exemptions, missing scores, and validation challenges.
Long-term outcomes are not yet available. The program is too new to report standard four-year high school graduation rates. Additional years of data will also strengthen analyses of student achievement growth.
These limitations make the findings an important starting point for continued research, rather than a final evaluation of the program's effectiveness.
Related Research: What Do MOScholars Parents Think?
In a separate three-year study, PRiME researchers examined parent satisfaction surveys conducted between the 2022–23 and 2024–25 school years.
Approximately 99% of respondents reported satisfaction with MOScholars overall, while 98% were satisfied with their child's academic achievement.
Survey responses also identified areas for improvement, including program communication and the usability of the ClassWallet scholarship platform.
About the Research
Report: MOScholars Program: Student Outcomes, 2023 to 2025
Public Release: October 28, 2026
Research institution: Policy Research in Missouri Education (PRiME) Center, Saint Louis University
Prepared for: Missouri State Treasurer's Office
Authors: Kathryn Coleman, Ph.D.; Michaela Parisi, Ph.D.; Allison Chandler; Thomas Lindstrom; and Collin Hitt, Ph.D.
Please Cite As: Coleman, K., Parisi, M., Chandler, A., Lindstrom, T., & Hitt, C. (2026). MOScholars program: Student outcomes, Student academic performance, 2023-2025. Policy Research in Missouri Education, 8(17). Saint Louis University. www.primecenter.org/education-reports-database/moscholars-student-outcomes-2026
Access the Full Research
Explore the complete findings, including results by student characteristics, assessment methodology, longitudinal analyses, and supporting tables.
Media and Research Inquiries
For questions about the research findings, methodology, or interviews with PRiME researchers, please contact the PRiME Center via prime@slu.edu or call Diana Rickert at 847-602-8039.