St. Joseph, MO - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on St. Joseph

St. Joseph School District sits in Buchanan County, serving a student population that is diverse by background and sizable for the region, with a large number of elementary schools feeding into several middle schools and high schools. The district is in the midst of notable structural change; publicly reported plans show a grade reconfiguration set for the 2026-27 school year, converting Lafayette High School into a middle school and Robidoux Middle School into an elementary school, following a bond issue and operating levy passed in 2020. A parent considering this district should weigh both the current academic profile and the transitional period ahead.

Academically, the district's state assessment results show proficiency rates that fall in a modest range. On the Missouri Assessment Program, across tested grades, math proficiency was around a quarter to just under half of students meeting the standard, depending on the grade. English language arts proficiency was similar, with most grade levels reporting that roughly a third to just under two-fifths of students scored proficient. Science results at grades five and eight were also in that general range. When placed among the other districts in Buchanan County, St. Joseph's overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint of the county's districts, though the county itself contains only two districts, so the comparison set is narrow.

The district's chronic absenteeism rate stands out as a soft spot. A substantial share of students are chronically absent, and this rate places the district in the bottom quartile among the county's two districts. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what supports are in place and whether this pattern is concentrated in particular schools or grade levels.

Per-pupil spending is in the middle range but on the upper half when compared with the county's other district, which suggests the district is investing at a level that is not lean but also not the highest locally.

The student body reflects a range of backgrounds. White students make up the majority of enrollment, with a notable share of students who identify as two or more races and a substantial Hispanic population. Smaller but present groups include Black students, Asian students, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals was not available, and neither were counts for students with individualized education programs or English learners. A parent seeking to understand the socioeconomic or special education context would need to ask the district directly.

The housing market in the communities the district covers varies by zip code. Home values span a wide range, from more modest levels in parts of Saint Joseph to higher values in the outlying areas. Rent data was available for only a couple of zip codes and showed a tight range. District-wide, home values have seen a moderate increase, broadly in line with national trends.

The district runs a large number of schools, including multiple elementary campuses, middle schools, and high schools, plus an alternative resource center, a technical center, and early learning centers. With this many buildings and a reconfiguration underway, the experience a child has can vary meaningfully depending on which school they attend. A parent should look closely at the specific school their child would attend, as the district-level picture blends results across many sites. The graduation rate for the district was not reported in the available data, which is a gap a family would want to fill by asking the district directly.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

10,477

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 13%

Black 6%

White 63%

Asian 2%

Two+ 12%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 3%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

32%

65%

Gr 4

35%

68%

Gr 5

31%

65%

Gr 6

33%

71%

Gr 7

25%

48%

Gr 8

29%

58%

Math

Gr 3

30%

77%

Gr 4

39%

68%

Gr 5

23%

65%

Gr 6

41%

84%

Gr 7

27%

50%

Gr 8

24%

46%

Science

Gr 5

29%

69%

Gr 8

25%

60%

Schools in this District

27 schools are officially reported under this district.

HILLYARD TECHNICAL CTR.

Mark Twain Early Learning Cntr

Lake Early Learning Center

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

36%

Grade 3

42%

Grade 4

28%

Grade 5

47%

Grade 6

31%

Grade 7

27%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

36%

Grade 3

39%

Grade 4

35%

Grade 5

38%

Grade 6

30%

Grade 7

34%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

34%

Grade 5

31%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$209,985

Year-over-year change+6.4%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$130K to $377K

vs. state typical0.79x

vs. national typical0.57x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
64507	Saint Joseph	$168K	+7.0%	27.2%
64504	Saint Joseph	$137K	+1.9%	25.9%
64443	Easton	$377K	+9.5%	18.1%
64503	Saint Joseph	$175K	+7.9%	10.7%
64505	Saint Joseph	$224K	+8.2%	7.9%
64506	Saint Joseph	$277K	+6.4%	7.3%
64501	Saint Joseph	$130K	+11.4%	2.8%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$913/mo

Range across 2 ZIP codes$865 to $925/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
64503	Saint Joseph	$925	—	10.7%
64501	Saint Joseph	$865	—	2.8%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,060/mo

Home price / national median income2.5x

Annual rent / national median income13.1%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$147/mo

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.