The top reported proficiency rate is 10% in Science. The lowest is 6% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Larimore Elem.
Larimore Elementary is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the Hazelwood School District, located in the northern part of St. Louis County. The school sits in a residential area of the city, within a larger metropolitan region that has a diverse economy anchored by major employers such as the Federal Reserve Bank, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and several research universities. Families in this part of the county have access to civic and cultural institutions like the Gateway Arch, Forest Park, the Saint Louis Zoo, and the Missouri Botanical Garden, though the school itself draws its students primarily from a compact neighborhood attendance zone.
More than eight in ten students at Larimore qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a level that places the school among those serving a high concentration of families with lower household incomes. The student body is overwhelmingly Black, with a small share of students identifying as two or more races, a very small Hispanic population, and negligible representation of other racial groups. The school enrolls a modest number of children across grades PK through five, making it a small elementary by count. Because it serves only early and upper elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report; state testing data is the primary measure of academic performance.
Results from the Missouri Assessment Program in the most recent testing year show that a very small share of students scored at the proficient or advanced level in any subject. In math, the proportion of students reaching proficiency was below ten percent in each tested grade. In English language arts, proficiency rates were similarly low, with the highest single grade reaching just under ten percent. In science, the share of fifth graders scoring proficient was about one in ten. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quarter of districts in St. Louis County. These figures indicate that a large majority of students are not yet meeting state benchmarks in reading, math, or science. A parent considering this school would want to ask what targeted instructional supports, intervention programs, or additional staffing are in place to address these academic challenges.
The Hazelwood School District, which operates Larimore, has recently adopted a strategic plan for a five-year period that includes goals around improving student achievement, expanding resources and services, professional growth, fiscal responsibility, and increasing family involvement. The district now offers pre-kindergarten programs in all of its elementary schools, including this one, and has launched a virtual elementary option that gives families an alternative to in-person instruction. These district-level initiatives may be relevant to parents evaluating the school’s broader support system and available choices.
Housing in the area around the school reflects affordability relative to the national market. Home values in the immediate zip code are below the state and national averages, and rents are modestly below typical metro levels. The county housing market has seen some recent softening in listing prices, while the number of active listings has increased. For families looking to buy or rent, this part of St. Louis County offers comparatively attainable options.
Larimore Elementary is a small, high-poverty school where a large majority of students are Black and where academic proficiency at tested levels is very low. The district has made recent investments in early childhood access and virtual learning, but the school’s own data points to significant work ahead in raising student outcomes. A family considering this school should seek information on specific academic interventions, enrichment offerings, and how the school supports students who are behind grade level. The surrounding community offers reasonable housing costs and access to the broader amenities of the St. Louis region, but the academic profile suggests that a parent would want to be closely engaged with the school’s efforts to improve learning.
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