The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in Math. The lowest is 19% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Kipp Wisdom Academy
KIPP Wisdom Academy is a public charter school in the city of St. Louis serving kindergarten through fourth grade. It is one of several schools operated by the KIPP St. Louis Public Schools network. Because it serves only the early elementary years, the school has no graduation rate, no high school outcomes, and no measure of chronic absenteeism—those metrics simply do not apply at this grade band.
The student body is almost entirely Black, with a small Hispanic population and a very small number of white students and students of other races. Every student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a fact that signals a high level of economic need across the school community. The school’s enrollment is moderate for an elementary campus, with a fairly even distribution across grades kindergarten through four.
On the state’s MAP assessments, results are mixed. In math, roughly one in five third-graders and one in five fourth-graders scored at or above the proficient level. In English language arts, about one in five fourth-graders met that bar; data for third-grade ELA was not fully reported, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about that year’s reading performance. The pattern that emerges is that a meaningful minority of students reach the state’s proficiency standard, while the majority do not. When stacked against other public school districts within St. Louis city, KIPP Wisdom Academy’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint. That means it outperforms a number of its city peers, even though the absolute rates indicate substantial room for academic growth.
The school is located in the Grattan Street area of St. Louis, an independent city with its own distinct political boundary. St. Louis has a mixed economy with strengths in service industries, manufacturing, trade, transportation, and aviation. Major employers include the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and several research universities. Civic and cultural anchors such as Forest Park, the Gateway Arch, the Saint Louis Zoo, and the Missouri Botanical Garden are part of the broader city context. Housing in the area—typical home values and rents—sits at a moderate level relative to national averages, with rents having seen some upward movement in recent years.
As a charter school, KIPP Wisdom Academy operates under the KIPP network’s model, which emphasizes college readiness from an early age, extended learning time, and high expectations for student behavior and academic effort. The school’s small grade span means that families who enroll here will need to plan for a transition to another school after fourth grade, whether another KIPP campus or a different option.
For a parent or resident weighing this school, the picture is one of a high-need, majority-Black elementary community where test results are modest but better than many of the surrounding district schools. The school’s charter status and network affiliation bring a particular approach to teaching and school culture that some families will find appealing and others will want to investigate further. The academic data suggests that a child who is already on grade level may need strong enrichment, while a child who is behind may find targeted support—parents should ask the school directly about how it identifies and accelerates students at different performance levels. No recent major changes were publicly reported for the district, so the school appears to be operating on a steady footing within the KIPP St. Louis network.
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