The top reported proficiency rate is 34% in Science. The lowest is 14% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Brown Elem.
BrownElementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the Hazelwood School District, a regular public school in the Florissant area of St. Louis County. With an enrollment that is centered within the typical range for a school of its grade band, Brown Elementary operates as a neighborhood school. It sits in a community where housing values have been relatively modest compared to national figures, and where the local rental market has seen recent upward pressure. The broader St. Louis County market has experienced a slight softening in median listing prices, though demand remains consistent.
Families considering Brown Elementary will find that the district has made some notable moves in recent years. Hazelwood School District adopted a strategic plan covering a multi-year period that sets goals around student achievement, differentiated resources, fiscal responsibility, and family engagement. The district also expanded pre-kindergarten programs into all of its elementary schools, meaning that families with young children can now access early childhood education at their neighborhood school rather than traveling to a separate site. Additionally, the district launched a virtual elementary program, offering an online learning alternative that was not available before the pandemic. These changes give families within Brown’s attendance area more options for how their children start school.
On state assessments, which are administered in grades three through five, Brown Elementary’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits below the midpoint relative to districts in St. Louis County. In mathematics, the share of students scoring at proficient or advanced levels was in the single digits or teens across the three tested grades. In English language arts, performance was somewhat higher in the upper grades, particularly in fourth and fifth grade, where about one-third of students met proficiency, while third-grade ELA proficiency was lower. Science results for fifth graders were in a similar range. Taken together, the school’s academic results point to an environment where a majority of students are not yet reaching grade-level benchmarks on state tests. A parent looking into this school may want to ask the school directly about how it is working to raise achievement and what supports are available for students who are behind.
The student body is predominantly Black, with smaller shares of White students, multiracial students, and Hispanic students. A substantial share of students come from economically disadvantaged households, as measured by eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the profile, so families with children who may need those services should check with the school to understand what is provided.
Brown Elementary is a regular public school without charter or magnet status. Its grade span means that students move on to a middle school within the Hazelwood district after fifth grade. Because it serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data was also not available for this school. The school’s Title I status was not indicated in the data.
For a family weighing this school, the picture is one of a neighborhood elementary in a district that has invested in early childhood options and virtual learning, but where the academic proficiency rates are lower than many of the other districts in the county. The housing market in the surrounding area is relatively affordable compared to national norms, which may be a practical consideration. Any parent considering Brown Elementary would do well to visit the school, talk to staff about their approach to raising student performance, and get a sense of how the school supports children who need extra help.
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