Academic Growth Scores Across Four Types of Public Schools in St. Louis City
By : Amy Shelton, Ph.D.
In this first blog of a four-part series, we examine average three-year growth scores (from 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25) across four types of public schools in St. Louis City: Saint Louis Public Schools (SLPS) neighborhood schools (31 schools in 2025–26), SLPS open magnet schools (20), SLPS selective magnet schools (8), and 37 public charter schools operated by 17 charter local education agencies (see definitions in Table 1). We exclude four SLPS special population schools that do not have growth scores.
Overall, all public school types in St. Louis City have average three-year growth scores in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math that are above the state average of 85 (Figures 1 & 2). Average three-year growth in both ELA and math is highest in selective magnets, followed by charter schools, neighborhood schools, and open magnets. We find some variation across schools serving different grade levels.
FIGURE 1
All Public School Types in St. Louis City Above State Average in ELA Growth
Three-Year Average ELA Growth by Public School Type and Level (2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25)
*Excludes three charter elementary schools that do not have three years of growth data.
FIGURE 2
All Public School Types in St. Louis City Above State Average in Math Growth
Three-Year Average Math Growth by Public School Type and Level (2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25)
*Excludes three charter elementary schools that do not have three years of growth data.
Elementary Schools: All elementary school types but open magnet elementaries have average three-year ELA growth scores that are above the state average, and all types but charters have above-average math growth. Selective magnet elementaries far out-perform other public school types in both ELA and math growth.
EleMiddle Schools: Average three-year growth is highest among charter eleMiddle schools for ELA and among open magnet eleMiddle schools for math. Only neighborhood eleMiddle schools have average growth scores below the state average, and only in math. There are no selective magnet eleMiddle schools.
Middle Schools: Charter middle schools have the highest average growth scores in both ELA and math and are the only middle school type that has average math growth scores above the state average. Neighborhood middle schools have the lowest average growth scores in ELA, and average math growth is lowest in the one selective magnet middle school.
Overall, public schools in St. Louis City are helping students to make above-average progress in ELA and Math, relative to public schools statewide. This is true for schools with high ELA and Math proficiency rates and for schools with low ELA and Math proficiency rates, as well as for schools serving high-poverty student populations and schools serving a more economically-advantaged student demographic. We applaud the hard work and dedication of St. Louis City teachers and school leaders!
TABLE 1
St. Louis City Has Five Types of Public Schools
Definitions of St. Louis City Public Schools Types
MORE FROM THE PRiME BLOGS
As concerns grow and information comes out about the dangers of GAI, policymakers, educators, and caregivers continue to look for ways to support all students in a technology-ridden world.