Original Research by School Decision on Kipp St. Louis High
KIPP St. Louis High is a charter school serving grades nine through twelve in the city of St. Louis. It operates under KIPP St. Louis Public Schools, a small district of charter schools in the city. The school sits in a central urban area near downtown St. Louis, a city that is an independent municipality with a diverse economy anchored by major employers such as the Federal Reserve Bank, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and several research universities. The city also has well-known cultural attractions like the Gateway Arch, Forest Park, and the Saint Louis Zoo. Home values in the surrounding zip code are lower than the state median, and rents have been rising, reflecting broader housing market pressures.
The school enrolls a student body that is almost entirely Black, with a small Hispanic presence and very few White, Asian, or multiracial students. Every student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a student population that is economically disadvantaged. Enrollment is small for a high school, with roughly a hundred students in each grade. Data on special education and English learner populations was not available.
On state assessments for the most recent school year, proficiency rates were low: about one in twenty students scored proficient in English language arts, and about one in eleven scored proficient in math. These figures are based on a single year of testing data, and no multi-year trend was available to show improvement or decline. Because the school serves grades nine through twelve, state testing typically applies to specific high school grades; the available data covers all tested grades in ELA and math but does not include other subjects. A parent should note that the school’s academic performance is well below typical levels, and it would be wise to ask the school directly about its instructional strategies, intervention supports, and how it measures progress beyond state tests.
No graduation rate was reported. This absence may reflect that the school is relatively new, that data is not yet publicly available, or that the rate fell below a reporting threshold. Without it, a key measure of high school completion is missing, and a family should inquire about the school’s graduation and college-going record.
No information was available on advanced coursework, career and technical programs, dual credit, or other academic pathways. The school’s program offerings are not listed in the provided data, so a parent interested in the breadth of options would need to contact the school directly. Similarly, data on discipline, attendance, and staffing is absent, making it impossible to assess school climate or student support structures from public records.
KIPP St. Louis High is a charter high school serving a predominantly Black, low-income student body in an urban setting with a rich economic and cultural base. The academic proficiency numbers are concerning and raise questions about the school’s effectiveness. The absence of so many standard metrics—graduation rate, program offerings, student support data—means that any family considering this school should seek direct, detailed information from the school itself about its curriculum, student outcomes, and learning environment before making a decision.
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