Clayton, MO - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Clayton

Clayton is a small, high-performing suburban school district situated in St. Louis County, serving students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. With a student enrollment that is small relative to many nearby districts, it is composed of a close-knit set of schools: three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, plus a family center. The student body is predominantly white, with Asian and Black students each forming a sizable share, alongside a smaller Hispanic population and a notable number of students who identify as two or more races. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch was not available, so the economic profile of the student population cannot be assessed from this metric.

Academically, the district posts performance that places it in the top quartile of St. Louis County districts. Across tested grades and subjects, proficiency rates are consistently high. In mathematics, a strong majority of students meet state standards in every grade, with the lowest result still well above the county median. English language arts scores follow a similar pattern, with the highest rates in fourth grade and a noticeable dip in eighth grade, where about six in ten students reach the proficient threshold. Science results show a similar contrast: fifth-grade proficiency is very strong, while eighth-grade science drops to a level that a parent may want to look into further with the school. The overall proficiency index is the highest in the county among the districts compared, meaning that on average across all tested subjects and grades, Clayton students outperform their peers elsewhere in the county.

Chronic absenteeism, a measure a reader can treat as a barometer of engagement and support, is low, ranking in the top quartile among county districts for having the fewest students missing substantial school time. This suggests that most students are attending regularly, which is one pillar of the district’s academic consistency.

The district’s per-pupil current spending is in the upper range among St. Louis County districts, reflecting a significant investment per student. This level of spending, combined with high academic outcomes, may be a factor for families weighing housing costs and tax burden alongside school quality.

The housing market across the area the district serves is expensive. Home values are well above the St. Louis County median, and rents are similarly elevated. The district draws from parts of Clayton itself, Richmond Heights, a small slice of Ladue, and a portion of University City. These are not a single community; they vary in character and price. Clayton is an established inner-ring suburb with a dense downtown feel, while the other contributing areas range from older suburban neighborhoods to more modest and more affluent pockets. The housing market in St. Louis County as a whole has seen a rise in active listings, a slight dip in median listing prices, and a modestly elevated unemployment rate at the national level, all of which could affect the pace of the local market.

We looked for recent parent-relevant changes in the district, such as referendums, bond issues, property tax shifts, or building projects, but did not find any that met the bar of a lasting, verifiable impact. The district brief found basic profile and fiscal data but no specific change items to report. A parent exploring this district would be well served by reaching out to the district directly for updates on capital plans, curriculum shifts, or upcoming ballot measures.

At its core, Clayton presents as a high-attainment district with a small, relatively well-resourced structure, set in an expensive housing market. The student body is less economically diverse than many in the region, based on the available evidence, and the academic results are consistently among the strongest in the county. The dip in middle-school science and eighth-grade English language arts are points a prospective family may want to discuss with school leaders. For a family that prioritizes a high-proficiency environment, small district scale, and a suburban setting close to the urban core of St. Louis, Clayton fits that profile clearly. For a family seeking a more economically or racially diverse peer environment, or one looking for a lower-cost housing market, this district may not align as well, and that is a matter of fit, not quality.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

2,416

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 4%

Black 13%

White 61%

Asian 12%

Two+ 9%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

—

75%

Gr 4

—

81%

Gr 5

—

79%

Gr 6

—

75%

Gr 7

—

73%

Gr 8

—

66%

Math

Gr 3

—

80%

Gr 4

—

79%

Gr 5

—

73%

Gr 6

33%

83%

Gr 7

—

76%

Gr 8

39%

75%

Science

Gr 5

—

82%

Gr 8

—

65%

Schools in this District

6 schools are officially reported under this district.

GLENRIDGE ELEM.

MERAMEC ELEM.

RALPH M. CAPTAIN ELEM.

CLAYTON HIGH

FAMILY CTR.

WYDOWN MIDDLE

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

78%

Grade 3

78%

Grade 4

71%

Grade 5

77%

Grade 6

73%

Grade 7

69%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

73%

Grade 3

79%

Grade 4

77%

Grade 5

70%

Grade 6

70%

Grade 7

63%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

80%

Grade 5

62%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$714,453

Year-over-year change+3.6%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$279K to $1.3M

vs. state typical2.69x

vs. national typical1.94x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
63105	Clayton	$803K	+4.5%	70.6%
63117	Richmond Heights	$374K	+0.1%	19.1%
63130	University City	$279K	+1.7%	5.5%
63124	Ladue	$1.3M	+7.2%	4.7%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,714/mo

Year-over-year change+7.7%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$1,531 to $2,017/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
63105	Clayton	$1,715	+9.0%	70.6%
63117	Richmond Heights	$1,688	+4.5%	19.1%
63130	University City	$1,531	+2.9%	5.5%
63124	Ladue	$2,017	—	4.7%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$3,605/mo

Home price / national median income8.5x

Annual rent / national median income24.6%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$1,891/mo

Market Activity: St. Louis County

Median listing price$220,000

Median listing price YoY-8.3%

Median price per sq ft$161

Median price per sq ft YoY-2.4%

Median days on market37.0 days

Median days on market YoY+2.8%

Active listings2,021

Active listings YoY+18.7%

New listings1,504

New listings YoY+5.0%

Pending listings1,817

Pending listings YoY+4.7%

Hotness: median listing price$219,950

Hotness: median listing price YoY-5.3%

Supply score83.8

Supply score YoY+2.0%

Demand score73.5

Demand score YoY+2.7%

Median listing price (12 months)

Median price per sq ft (12 months)

Median days on market (12 months)

Active listings (12 months)

New listings (12 months)

Pending listings (12 months)

Hotness: median listing price (12 months)

Supply score (12 months)

Demand score (12 months)

Comparison

State typical home value$265,398 (+2.8% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.