The top reported proficiency rate is 16% in Science. The lowest is 9% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Cross Keys Middle
Cross Keys Middle serves seventh and eighth graders in Florissant, part of the Ferguson-Florissant R-II School District. It is a regular public school, and its enrollment of roughly seven hundred students is split nearly evenly between the two grade levels. The student body is predominantly Black, with a small number of white, two-or-more-races, Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian students. Nearly every student comes from a household with economic need; the share qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is near universal.
On the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP), which is the state’s standard test, proficiency rates are low. In both seventh and eighth grade math, the share of students scoring proficient or advanced is modest, and the same is true for English language arts. Science results for eighth graders, while still low, are the strongest of the three subjects tested. A multi-year trend available for these grade levels shows proficiency in math has risen somewhat over time, though from a low starting point. The school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile relative to districts across St. Louis County. A parent reviewing these results would want to talk with the school about what academic support is in place and how the school measures progress beyond a single test.
The school serves only two grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, course access, and staffing was not available, which limits a full picture of the school environment. Similarly, information on the share of students receiving special education services or English learner support was missing.
The district context matters here. Ferguson-Florissant R-II has experienced a substantial enrollment decline over the past decade. The district’s homepage prominently features a restructuring plan for the 2027-28 school year, which is expected to involve school closures, boundary changes, or grade reconfiguration. In recent years, the district closed two elementary schools and converted a former high school into a selective STEAM academy, a shift that continues to reshape school options. These changes mean that middle school assignment patterns and feeder patterns across the district may be in flux, something families moving into the area or considering this school should investigate directly with the district.
Housing in the Florissant area is moderately priced relative to the broader St. Louis region. Home values have held steady with modest appreciation, and the rental market is active. The local unemployment rate is close to the national average. For a family considering a move to the area, the affordability of housing is a notable feature, but the district’s restructuring timeline introduces uncertainty about long-term school assignments.
Cross Keys Middle is a school where academic performance, as measured by state assessments, is an area the school is clearly working on. The near-universal economic need among students is a reality that shapes the school’s daily work. A parent considering this school would want to understand what academic interventions and enrichment opportunities are offered, how the school supports student engagement, and what the upcoming district restructuring means for this building specifically. The available data does not answer those questions, but the school’s staff and the district office would be the right sources to fill those gaps.
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