Spending Rises, Scores Fall: Area School Districts Show Need for Reform

Information derived from from Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) data makes one thing clear: meaningful education reform is long overdue in St. Louis County.

Over the past decade, MAP/EOC test scores have steadily declined across St. Louis County school districts. Between 2014 and 2024, fewer students reached grade-level or above-grade-level proficiency. At the same time, per-student operational and capital spending in 13 of the county’s 18 districts grew faster than the rate of inflation. A great example is the Kirkwood School District which has seen a $9,000 ten-year per student increase cost while test scores are dropping. See the data listed below, More money is not working to increase educational outcomes.

Taxpayers are spending more, yet receiving less in return. Educational costs have outpaced the cost of living, while student outcomes have worsened. Our children deserve better. You can view all 18 St. Louis County district-level costs and test score comparisons under the Kirkwood data. We urge the Missouri General Assembly and Governor to act decisively by enacting bold reforms:

– Expand School Choice

– Move School Board Elections to November

– Eliminate DEI Programs That Distract from Academic Excellence

It’s time to realign our schools with the values and expectations of the families they serve.

10 Year Increase in Kirkwood School District Capital and Operational per Student Costs

Kirkwood Math MAP/EOC Percentage of All Students from 2014 to 2015 That Met or Exceeded Proficiency

Kirkwood English Language Arts MAP/EOC Percentage of All Students from 2014 to 2015 That Met or Exceeded Proficiency

Kirkwood Science MAP/EOC Percentage of All Students from 2014 to 2015 That Met or Exceeded Proficiency

Here is the same Capital and Operational Cost data for all St. Louis County School Districts from 2014 to 2024

StL County District Per Student Cost 2014-2024

DISTRICT NAME 2014 Per Student Cost 2015 Per Student Cost 2016 Per Student Cost 2017 Per Student Cost 2018 Per Student Cost 2019 Per Student Cost 2020 Per Student Cost 2021 Per Student Cost 2022 Per Student Cost 2023 Per Student Cost 2024 Per Student Cost Difference Between 2014 and 2024 Actual % Increase over 10 years Dollar Increase Based Upon St. Louis Area Inflation Rate of Inflation at 28.59% Dollar Difference between actual increase and increase based upon inflation Percentage Difference betweeen inflation Rate Increase and Actual increaese AFFTON 101 $13,123.79 $12,629.22 $12,111.25 $16,575.56 $13,140.19 $13,738.13 $13,931.14 $14,322.88 $17,413.39 $16,180.90 $17,706.85 $4,583.06 35% $16,875.88 $830.97 18% BAYLESS $10,181.60 $11,228.64 $16,127.60 $12,125.39 $11,257.97 $12,480.18 $14,248.55 $13,045.90 $16,841.70 $16,456.48 $15,388.34 $5,206.74 51% $13,092.52 $2,295.82 44% BRENTWOOD $18,966.96 $20,448.13 $20,378.08 $29,677.42 $21,376.53 $24,917.71 $43,437.08 $34,405.27 $47,057.74 $42,158.41 $46,665.39 $27,698.43 146% $24,389.61 $22,275.78 80% FERGUSON-FLORISSANT R-II $11,418.10 $11,744.38 $12,419.98 $13,143.65 $13,765.16 $8,349.15 $15,404.43 $14,864.74 $16,030.84 $17,673.94 $18,096.12 $6,678.02 58% $14,682.53 $3,413.59 51% JENNINGS $12,367.13 $11,951.40 $11,908.42 $14,786.03 $12,067.42 $12,726.90 $14,552.86 $11,888.69 $13,348.59 $14,734.15 $15,668.77 $3,301.64 27% $15,902.89 -$234.12 -7% KIRKWOOD R-VII $14,835.76 $15,677.08 $14,986.87 $14,007.65 $14,593.44 $15,059.42 $14,784.24 $15,771.72 $18,449.09 $23,522.59 $23,742.04 $8,906.28 60% $19,077.30 $4,664.74 52% LADUE $15,225.03 $15,476.13 $16,526.42 $30,465.06 $29,832.19 $22,969.33 $25,958.66 $20,078.04 $30,426.16 $33,961.76 $28,846.98 $13,621.95 89% $19,577.87 $9,269.11 68% LINDBERGH SCHOOLS $16,709.83 $12,809.14 $15,768.76 $13,505.93 $12,166.53 $18,175.61 $13,244.72 $17,151.02 $26,691.56 $17,768.22 $17,415.80 $705.97 4% $21,487.17 -$4,071.37 -577% MAPLEWOOD-RICHMOND HEIGHTS $16,970.48 $18,574.43 $24,243.40 $23,681.86 $20,417.09 $23,638.44 $17,277.54 $25,068.00 $29,081.22 $28,976.32 $29,333.95 $12,363.47 73% $21,822.34 $7,511.61 61% MEHLVILLE R-IX $9,765.50 $10,287.74 $10,022.93 $11,233.96 $11,496.11 $12,060.68 $12,229.12 $12,443.28 $12,595.35 $14,770.11 $16,361.11 $6,595.61 68% $12,557.46 $3,803.65 58% PARKWAY C-2 $14,111.81 $16,036.97 $15,253.98 $16,100.85 $16,418.28 $16,081.94 $18,507.14 $16,371.91 $17,252.94 $18,376.94 $18,693.33 $4,581.52 32% $18,146.38 $546.95 12% PATTONVILLE R-III $16,827.59 $16,813.41 $16,771.58 $16,505.27 $17,384.32 $16,985.24 $23,146.09 $17,369.93 $18,334.14 $19,140.85 $25,539.70 $8,712.11 52% $21,638.60 $3,901.10 45% RITENOUR $11,047.13 $11,093.76 $14,991.67 $11,199.38 $12,818.16 $11,444.79 $13,196.09 $11,801.15 $13,303.45 $15,357.14 $18,743.06 $7,695.93 70% $14,205.50 $4,537.56 59% RIVERVIEW GARDENS $14,673.01 $13,301.49 $12,439.25 $12,351.30 $12,213.54 $11,319.69 $13,328.82 $12,131.45 $13,071.78 $15,491.05 $18,615.55 $3,942.54 27% $18,868.02 -$252.47 -6% ROCKWOOD R-VI $13,726.17 $12,666.10 $16,039.74 $14,449.38 $14,586.32 $14,935.55 $16,478.39 $15,141.81 $15,811.98 $16,199.66 $17,424.72 $3,698.55 27% $17,650.48 -$225.76 -6% UNIVERSITY CITY $17,926.91 $17,477.36 $18,901.97 $17,279.79 $25,601.72 $19,076.59 $25,009.74 $24,494.59 $29,411.23 $23,587.87 $23,696.21 $5,769.30 32% $23,052.21 $644.00 11% VALLEY PARK $22,067.60 $14,427.62 $14,909.26 $15,772.18 $20,276.17 $23,773.10 $16,392.94 $25,500.25 $18,370.38 $20,735.29 $24,495.49 $2,427.89 11% $28,376.73 -$3,881.24 -160% WEBSTER GROVES $14,726.40 $14,383.13 $18,436.07 $13,760.15 $14,199.74 $14,237.43 $19,702.24 $18,771.45 $20,271.99 $18,032.74 $23,820.72 $9,094.32 62% $18,936.68 $4,884.04 54%

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