The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in English language arts. The lowest is 19% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Cold Water Elem.
Cold Water Elementary is a regular public school in the Hazelwood School District, located in the suburban north St. Louis County community of Florissant. The school serves children from prekindergarten through fifth grade, making it a neighborhood entry point for families with young children. The building is one of many elementary schools in a district that enrolls students across a wide area of north St. Louis County. Enrollment is moderate, and the school serves a student body that is predominantly Black, with smaller shares of white and multiracial students. Roughly two-thirds of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school draws from a community with a substantial share of families experiencing economic need.
State assessment results for the most recent testing year provide a clear picture of academic performance at Cold Water. In math, English language arts, and science, proficiency rates across grades three through five were low. The pattern was especially pronounced in fifth-grade math, where the share of students reaching the proficient or advanced level was very small. Reading and writing proficiency in ELA was somewhat higher in fourth grade but fell back in third and fifth. Science proficiency in fifth grade, the only tested science grade at this level, was also low. When compared to the broader set of districts in St. Louis County, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits below the midpoint of the distribution. The data does not include chronic absenteeism or discipline figures, so a complete picture of school climate is not available from this source.
The district context matters here. Hazelwood School District has undertaken several initiatives in recent years that affect Cold Water. The district adopted a strategic plan running through 2028, with stated goals around student achievement, expanded resources, professional development, fiscal responsibility, and community involvement. Additionally, the district now offers prekindergarten programs in all of its elementary schools, including Cold Water, so families with preschool-age children can enroll at their neighborhood school rather than traveling to a separate early childhood center. The district also launched a virtual elementary program, giving families an alternative to full-time in-person instruction. These programmatic additions represent concrete choices the district has made, and they shape the options available to families at this school.
The housing market in the zip code that includes Cold Water Elementary is moderately priced relative to national benchmarks. Home values have been stable in the recent period, while rents have edged up slightly, reflecting general trends in the St. Louis metropolitan area. For families looking to buy or rent near the school, the area offers a range of affordable options typical of older suburban communities in north St. Louis County.
A few notes on what is not in the data. As an elementary school serving grades PK through five, Cold Water has no graduation rate to report, which is expected and not a gap in quality. Staffing data, such as teacher experience or student-to-teacher ratios, were not available, and neither were figures on student discipline or attendance. The school’s status under Title I federal funding was also not provided. A parent may want to ask the school directly about class sizes, how the school addresses the literacy and math gaps visible in state scores, and what supports are in place for students who are below grade level.
Cold Water Elementary is a school serving a predominantly low-income student population, and its state test results reflect significant academic challenges. For a family weighing this school, the district’s recent investments in early childhood education and a virtual learning option may be relevant considerations. The core academic picture, however, is one where proficiency rates are low and well behind county norms, and a prospective parent would be wise to understand what interventions and enrichment the school offers before making a decision.
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