The top reported proficiency rate is 77% in Science. The lowest is 60% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Lafayette Preparatory Academy
Lafayette Preparatory Academy is a charter school in St. Louis serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. It operates as its own district, meaning it is not part of the larger St. Louis Public Schools system. The school sits in the city's Lafayette Square neighborhood, an area with a mix of residential and commercial districts. St. Louis itself is an independent city 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's civic and cultural anchors include the Gateway Arch, Forest Park, the Saint Louis Zoo, and the Missouri Botanical Garden.
The school received a multi-year charter renewal in 2023, which, as publicly reported, secures its continued operation and signals sponsor confidence in its performance. That renewal is a meaningful marker of stability for families considering the school.
Lafayette Preparatory Academy serves pre-kindergarten through eighth grade and enrolls a student body that is diverse. The school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile relative to other districts in St. Louis city. That is a strong position, and it reflects a pattern of solid academic performance that stands out in the local context.
Looking at the state assessment results by grade, the picture is more detailed. In math, proficiency rates for third, fourth, fifth, and seventh grades all fell in a range that is well above typical citywide levels, with each of those grades showing a majority of students meeting or exceeding the state standard. Sixth-grade math was lower, with just under half of students reaching proficiency. Eighth-grade math results were suppressed, meaning the tested group was too small to report a reliable rate. In English language arts, the pattern was similar. Third grade showed a solid majority proficient. Sixth grade was lower, with just over half of students meeting the standard. Seventh and eighth grades posted strong results, with eighth grade particularly high. Science results were available for eighth grade only, and that cohort performed well, with a large majority of students scoring proficient or above. Fifth-grade science results were suppressed.
The school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to districts in St. Louis city. That is a strong showing, and it aligns with publicly reported information that the school has been recognized for its test performance within the city.
The student body is diverse. A little more than half of students are white, roughly a third are Black, and smaller shares are Hispanic or multiracial. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a lower share than is typical for many St. Louis city schools. The school serves pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, so there is no high school graduation rate to report. The school does not serve high school grades, so measures like graduation rate and college readiness do not apply.
Housing in the area around the school reflects a market where home values are above the national median, and rents have been rising. The school itself is located on Lafayette Avenue in the city's Lafayette Square neighborhood, a historic area with a mix of housing stock and proximity to downtown St. Louis.
The school's charter was renewed for a multi-year term in 2023, which, as publicly reported, provides operational stability through a defined period. That renewal signals that the school's authorizer has confidence in its academic and operational performance.
For a family considering Lafayette Preparatory Academy, the picture is of a charter school that serves a diverse student body through eighth grade and posts academic results that are strong relative to other schools in St. Louis city. The school does not serve high school grades, so families will need to plan for a transition after eighth grade. The school's performance on state assessments is generally solid, with some variation by grade and subject. The lower share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to many city schools, is a characteristic worth noting. The charter renewal provides a measure of institutional stability.
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