The top reported proficiency rate is 40% in English language arts. The lowest is 39% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Lawson Elem.
Lawson Elementary is a regular public school in the Hazelwood School District, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Florissant, Missouri. It is a neighborhood school of modest size for its grade band.
The student body is diverse, with a strong majority of students identifying as Black. White students and those identifying as two or more races make up the next largest groups, with smaller shares of Hispanic and Asian students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure of the school’s economic context. Data on students with Individualized Education Programs and English learners was not available, which is a gap a parent may want to ask the school about.
The school’s performance on the Missouri Assessment Program was mixed. In math, proficiency rates across third, fourth, and fifth grades were below the midpoint for schools in the district’s county comparison set. In English language arts, the fourth- and fifth-grade rates were stronger than the math results, while third-grade ELA was notably lower. Science testing results for fifth grade were suppressed in the available data, so no clear picture emerged for that subject. Overall, the school’s combined proficiency index falls below the midpoint when placed against other districts in St. Louis County. A parent considering Lawson should look into the school’s academic support structures and what targeted instruction looks like for students who are below grade-level benchmarks.
Because Lawson serves only elementary grades, there are no high school outcomes such as a graduation rate or college-going data to consider. The school’s mission and daily priorities are shaped by the Hazelwood district’s five-year strategic plan, which runs through 2028 and identifies student achievement, expanded services, professional growth, fiscal responsibility, and community involvement as its pillars. The district has also expanded access to pre-kindergarten, offering it at all of its elementary schools, including Lawson, so families with preschool-age children can find a program at their neighborhood school. In addition, the district offers a virtual elementary program, which is a permanent online option that was not available before the pandemic, giving families another way to approach the early grades.
The housing market in the area shows moderate home values and rents that are below the state benchmark, making this a relatively affordable part of the county. Active listings in the county are plentiful, and the typical home spends just over a month on the market before going under contract. The area’s unemployment rate tracks close to the national average.
There was no publicly reported information on class sizes, staff qualifications, or discipline and attendance patterns for this school. A family weighing a move to the attendance zone may want to seek those details directly from the school office or during a tour. The core takeaway is that Lawson is a solidly middle-performing elementary school, with some grade-level strengths in reading that outpace its math results, serving a diverse student population in a district that is actively laying out new priorities and program options.
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