The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in English language arts. The lowest is 16% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Walker Elem.
Walker Elementary is a regular public school in Florissant, Missouri, serving children from preschool through fifth grade. It is part of the Hazelwood School District, a suburban system in St. Louis County. The school’s enrollment is in the middle range for an elementary building serving these grades, and it is open to all students within its attendance boundary.
State assessment results from the most recent school year show lower proficiency rates in math and reading compared with many schools in the area. Across the tested grades, third through fifth, the share of students scoring at the proficient or advanced level on the Missouri Assessment Program was below the midpoint among districts across St. Louis County. In math, proficiency rates declined as students moved up: the highest rate came in third grade, while fifth grade had a markedly lower rate. In English language arts, rates were somewhat higher, with third and fourth grade above a third of students proficient, but fifth grade dropped below that. Science results, tested only in fifth grade, were similar to the fifth-grade English figure. A parent considering Walker might want to discuss with the school how it supports students who are not yet meeting state benchmarks and what options exist for additional academic help.
The student body is majority Black, with white students and multiracial students making up most of the remainder. A substantial share of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common indicator of household income across the school’s attendance zone. Information on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the data provided, so those population figures are a gap a parent may want to ask about directly.
Because Walker Elementary serves only early grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data was also absent from the records. The school does not have a charter or magnet designation; it operates as a traditional neighborhood school.
The Hazelwood district has made several recent program changes that affect what Walker families can expect. The district adopted a strategic plan covering 2023 to 2028 that includes goals for raising student achievement, expanding resources for students, improving professional development, keeping budgets balanced, and increasing community involvement. Preschool programs are now available in every elementary school, including Walker, so families with young children can enroll for pre-K at their neighborhood school. The district has also launched a virtual elementary program, giving families an online learning option as a permanent alternative to in-person instruction.
Florissant is a mid-sized suburban community in St. Louis County, but the data did not include a detailed locale description, so specific neighborhood context for Walker’s immediate area is not available here. The broader housing market in St. Louis County shows home values that are affordable relative to national averages, though they have softened slightly in the past year. Rents are below typical incomes for the area, and the median listing price in the county has edged down from a year ago. The number of homes for sale has risen, giving buyers more choices. These conditions may matter for families deciding where to live within the Walker attendance zone.
Overall, Walker Elementary presents as a school with a clear demographic profile and, from the state testing evidence, academic outcomes that are below the average for the county’s districts. The district’s strategic focus on improvement and its expansion of early childhood and virtual options are notable moves that could shape the experience in coming years. A family considering this school will likely want to visit, talk with staff about academic support, and see how the school’s offerings align with their child’s needs.
See more original research from School Decision →