The top reported proficiency rate is 22% in English language arts. The lowest is 20% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on West Middle
West Middle is a regular public school serving grades six through eight in Hazelwood, a second-ring northern suburb of St. Louis. It is one of several middle schools in the Hazelwood School District and sits within a community that balances industrial parks, commercial corridors, and residential subdivisions. The school’s enrollment is substantial for its grade band, drawing from neighborhoods that are auto-oriented and highway-adjacent rather than walkable.
On the Missouri Assessment Program, proficiency rates at West Middle are low. Across sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, roughly one in five students scored proficient or above in math, with a similar pattern in English language arts. Eighth-grade science results fall in the same range. Overall, the school’s combined proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it below the midpoint when compared to other districts in St. Louis County. These are soft numbers. A family considering this school will want to ask what academic supports are in place and how the school addresses skill gaps, particularly in the transition from elementary to middle school.
The student body is diverse. A large majority of students are Black, with smaller shares of White students, students of two or more races, and Hispanic students, along with smaller numbers of Asian and Native American students. About six in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that a substantial share of families have lower household incomes. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to inquire directly about how the school serves those populations.
West Middle is located in Hazelwood, a city that has seen a modest population decline in recent years. The housing market reflects the area’s broad affordability: home values and rents are well below national medians, and the local economy is anchored by aerospace, manufacturing, and logistics employers. The city’s industrial base is expanding, with major redevelopment projects underway on former industrial sites, but the residential growth has been flat.
Within the Hazelwood School District, the school operates under a strategic plan adopted for the period through 2028 that prioritizes student achievement, expanded resources, fiscal responsibility, and family involvement. The district has also expanded pre-K to all elementary schools and launched a virtual elementary option, though these changes affect the elementary tier more directly than the middle grades. For a middle-school family, the most immediate district-level context is the overall achievement challenge reflected in the proficiency data.
This is a school where a parent should expect to be an active partner. The proficiency results are clear, and while test scores do not capture everything a school offers, they point to a setting where many students are not yet meeting state benchmarks. For a family that values a diverse peer environment, an affordable housing market, and a district that has publicly committed to improvement, West Middle may fit. For a family seeking high aggregate test scores or a more affluent peer group, other options in the county would likely align better. A direct conversation with the school about academic intervention, enrichment, and the day-to-day climate would be a useful next step.
See more original research from School Decision →