The top reported proficiency rate is 13% in English language arts. The lowest is 2% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on La Salle Charter School
La Salle Charter School was a middle school serving grades six through eight in north St. Louis. It operated as a regular public charter school under the Missouri Charter Public School Commission. The school closed at the end of the 2022‑23 academic year, forcing roughly its entire student body to find new schools. The closure followed the commission’s decision not to renew the school’s charter, a move publicly attributed to low test scores. The school had earlier lost its academic sponsorship from the University of Missouri‑Columbia in late 2021, leading to a transfer of sponsorship to the commission.
State testing results from the school’s final year paint a stark picture. In math, proficiency rates across all three tested grades were very low, with only a handful of students meeting the state’s proficient or above threshold. English language arts results were also low, though slightly higher than math, with a similarly small proportion of students reaching proficiency. In grade eight science, the proficiency rate was also very low. These figures were a central factor in the commission’s decision. A parent considering this school in its final years would have seen a consistent pattern of low academic attainment that ultimately led to the loss of its charter.
The school was located in the city of St. Louis, an independent city with a mix of residential neighborhoods and commercial districts. The city has a diverse economy with strengths in service, manufacturing, trade, transportation, and aviation, and is home to major employers such as the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and Barnes‑Jewish Hospital, part of the Washington University Medical Center. Major research universities like Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis University, and the University of Missouri–St. Louis anchor the local economy. The city’s civic and cultural anchors include the Gateway Arch, Forest Park, the Saint Louis Zoo, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and several major museums.
Enrollment and demographic data for the school were not available in the records provided, so the precise size and composition of its student body are unclear. Because it served only middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report. The school’s status as a charter school meant any family within the city could apply, subject to availability.
Given the school’s closure, the narrative now is one of a school that no longer exists. For a parent or resident researching school options in north St. Louis, the key takeaway is that La Salle Charter School struggled academically in its final years and was unable to sustain the charter needed to remain open. Families who would have considered this school now need to look elsewhere, and the circumstances of its closure may be relevant when assessing other charter options in the city. The academic outcome data from its last year of operation, with very low proficiency across subjects, may also offer context about the challenges facing some schools in this part of St. Louis.
See more original research from School Decision →