Original Research by School Decision on Boonslick
Boonslick is a special education school serving students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. It is part of the Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled, a statewide district that provides specialized educational services to students with significant disabilities. The school is located in St. Peters, a predominantly residential suburb of St. Louis in St. Charles County.
The school’s enrollment is very small. The student body is predominantly white, with a smaller share of Black students and a very small share of students identifying as two or more races. About half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Because Boonslick is a special education school that serves students with severe disabilities, standard state assessment data and graduation rates are not available. These metrics do not apply in the same way they would for a traditional public school, and their absence reflects the school’s specialized mission rather than a weakness. A parent considering this school should understand that the school’s purpose is to serve a specific population of students with significant needs, not to produce the same academic outcomes measured in general education settings.
The surrounding community of St. Peters is a car-dependent suburban environment that grew rapidly from a small farming town into a large suburb with residential subdivisions, shopping centers, and civic facilities. The Mid Rivers Mall is the county’s largest shopping center and a primary commercial anchor. Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital is a major employer. The city has an extensive park system and a large recreation complex. Housing values in the area are above the national median, and the local housing market shows modest appreciation.
The parent district, Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled, is undertaking a consolidation of several of its schools across the state, with the changes taking effect at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. The schools identified for closure are all located in other parts of Missouri, not in St. Peters, so this consolidation plan does not appear to directly affect Boonslick. The district brief noted this as a lasting change for families whose children attend those specific schools, but it does not indicate any immediate change for Boonslick itself.
For a parent exploring this school, the key takeaway is that Boonslick is a specialized placement for students with severe disabilities. It is not a general education school and should not be evaluated against the same benchmarks. The small enrollment suggests a highly individualized setting. The school’s location in a suburban area with typical amenities and a growing housing market may be relevant for families considering a move. The absence of standard academic performance data is expected given the school’s type, and a parent should expect to work closely with the school and the district to understand how the program serves their child’s specific needs.
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