St. Louis
Schools
St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS), like other large districts, grapples with issues of student achievement. On average, only 19 percent of SLPS secondary students receive a score of proficient or better on the communication arts MAP test, and only 16 percent receive a score of proficient or better in math. In addition, for children attending school in the city of St. Louis, the average academic growth is approximately one-quarter to one-half of a grade level per year; thus many St. Louis students are graduating between a sixth and eight grade level.
Although St. Louis Public Schools are currently in a state of repair, the city’s education system has a rich and innovative history. St. Louis is home to the nation's first kindergarten and the first high school for African-American students west of the Mississippi River. St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS), which serves nearly 24,000 students, is the largest public school district in Missouri. The majority of corps members teach in SLPS, with additional placements in smaller districts and charter schools in the St. Louis area. Most students attend their local schools. However, the district also has a large number of magnet schools that were created in response to the 1980 school desegregation case of Liddell vs. St. Louis Board of Education. This landmark case also resulted in the voluntary transfer of over 10,000 city students to neighboring suburban districts.
In 2003, SLPS began major organizational restructuring aimed at reducing a deficit of more than $90 million and redirecting more of the district's funding toward activities that impact instruction and student learning. After seeing seven superintendents in six years, the state Board of Education revoked the District’s accreditation, and appointed a Special Advisory Board (SAB) to assume control of the District. During this transition, many leaders have recognized Teach For America corps members and alumni as a force for change within the St. Louis education reform movement.
At a Glance
| Ethnic Breakdown-Student Population |
| 82% African-American |
|
14% Caucasian |
|
2% Latino/Hispanic |
|
2
% Asian-American |
| 1% Native American |
| N/A Other |
| Ethnic Breakdown-St. Louis |
| 51% % African-American |
| 44% Caucasian |
| 2% % Latino/Hispanic |
| 2% % Asian-American |
| < 1% Native American |
| 1% Other |
| Percentage of Students Qualifying for Free/Reduced-Price Lunch |
|
82% |
| Placement |
|
20% elementary |
|
80% secondary |
|
93% teach at a school with another corps member or alumnus |
K-12 grade level placements:
- general subject elementary
- specific subject secondary (math, science, English, Spanish, French)
- special education
|
Our corps members
Placement regions
Corps and Alumni
