The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in Science. The lowest is 48% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Ridgewood Middle
Ridgewood Middle School serves sixth through eighth graders as part of the Fox C-6 School District in Arnold, a suburban community in the St. Louis metro area. The school operates as a regular public school and draws its student body from Arnold and surrounding parts of Jefferson County.
On state assessments, Ridgewood Middle’s results present a mixed but generally solid picture. In math, seventh graders posted the strongest share scoring proficient or above, while sixth and eighth graders’ results were lower. English language arts showed a clear upward trend across the grades—eighth graders recorded the highest proficiency rate, with a majority meeting or exceeding the state standard, while sixth and seventh graders were closer to the midpoint. Eighth-grade science results also showed a majority scoring proficient or above. When combined across all tested subjects and grades, Ridgewood Middle’s overall proficiency index lands in the top quarter among districts within Jefferson County, placing it among the stronger performers in the area. A family considering this school will see that academic outcomes are notably higher than the typical school in the county, though not uniformly strong at every grade level. A parent may want to look into whether the school provides targeted support for students who are not yet meeting benchmarks, especially for the grades where results were softer.
The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic, Black, Asian, and multiracial students. More than two in five students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that signals a moderate level of economic need and is typical for a suburban school in this part of the metro area. Enrollment is in the mid-hundreds, giving the school a size that is manageable for most middle-schoolers while still offering a range of course sections and activities. The school’s grade span—three years in one building—means students have consistency in routines and expectations through the middle grades.
Arnold is a car-oriented suburb with a strong retail and industrial base. The city’s largest employer is the Fox C-6 School District itself, followed by a call center, a major Walmart, and an Anheuser-Busch InBev can manufacturing facility. The school sits within a community that has grown steadily and remains a regional shopping and hospitality hub, though it lacks a traditional walkable downtown. Housing values in Arnold are slightly above the state median, and rents are moderate relative to national benchmarks. For a family moving into the area, this suggests a reasonably affordable suburban market with access to jobs and amenities. The district itself reported no major recent changes or new initiatives in publicly available records, so families should expect continuity in staffing, programs, and leadership.
What Ridgewood Middle offers is a middle school experience anchored by above-average academic results within its county. The school’s location in a stable, car-accessible suburb with a range of housing options and employment may appeal to families who want a conventional suburban public school setting without high-profile recent disruptions. The absence of detailed data on programs, course access, discipline, or staffing is a gap—anyone considering the school should ask the front office about elective offerings, special education support, and how the school addresses behavior and attendance. Similarly, civil rights and outcome data were not available in the source material, so families with specific concerns about equity or special populations may want to request that information directly from the district. Overall, Ridgewood Middle fits a family looking for a county-leading academic baseline in a straightforward suburban environment, with the understanding that fine-grained program details require their own inquiry.
See more original research from School Decision →