The top reported proficiency rate is 37% in English language arts. The lowest is 30% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Russell Elem.
Russell Elementary is a regular public school in the Hazelwood School District serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It sits in a second-ring northern suburb of St. Louis that is heavily auto-oriented, with highway corridors, industrial parks, and residential subdivisions rather than a walkable downtown core. The city has a large job base anchored by Boeing, Amazon, and other manufacturing and distribution employers, though the residential population has been slowly declining. Housing in the area is priced below national and state benchmarks, which may appeal to families seeking more affordable entry into the St. Louis region.
The school enrolls a diverse student body, with a majority of students identifying as Black and smaller shares identifying as White, two or more races, Hispanic, Asian, or American Indian. About half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker that roughly half the families are working with lower household incomes. The school is not a charter or magnet, and its Title I status was not reported. Enrollment spans the early elementary years only, so there is no graduation rate to evaluate and no high school academic pathways.
On state assessments administered in the most recent year, Russell Elementary’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades placed below the midpoint when compared with districts across St. Louis County. Proficiency levels in math and English language arts varied by grade, with the highest shares of students meeting or exceeding standards appearing in fourth-grade ELA and third-grade ELA, while fifth-grade math and fifth-grade science showed lower shares of students at that level. English language arts proficiency was generally stronger than math within each grade, but the pattern across all tested grades and subjects was consistently below the county median. A parent considering this school may want to ask the school directly about how it supports students who are not yet meeting proficiency benchmarks, particularly in math and science.
Because Russell serves only elementary grades, it does not offer high school–level programs such as Advanced Placement, dual credit, or career pathways. The Hazelwood School District, however, has made several recent programmatic changes that affect families at the elementary level. The district adopted a strategic plan covering 2023 through 2028 that sets goals around student achievement, student resources, professional growth, fiscal responsibility, and community involvement. It now offers pre-kindergarten programs in all of its elementary schools, 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 online learning option that did not exist before the pandemic. These are permanent alternatives that may matter to parents deciding between in-person and remote instruction for younger children.
The school itself is one of several elementary schools within Hazelwood city limits. The district also operates middle and high schools in the area, including Hazelwood West High School and Hazelwood West Middle School. Part of the city lies in the neighboring Ferguson-Florissant School District, so exact attendance boundaries matter for families buying or renting a home.
Overall, Russell Elementary serves a diverse, predominantly Black elementary population in a suburban setting with a strong industrial employment base and relatively affordable housing. Its state test results fall below the midpoint for the county, a pattern a family may want to explore with the school to understand what interventions and supports are in place. The district’s newer pre-K and virtual programs offer additional flexibility for early elementary families.
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