The top reported proficiency rate is 69% in English language arts. The lowest is 55% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Ridge Meadows Elem.
Ridge Meadows Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in the Rockwood R-VI district, located in the suburban community of Ellisville, a western outer-ring suburb of St. Louis. The school sits within a residential neighborhood of single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments on lots that range from half an acre to three acres. Commercial life in Ellisville is concentrated along Manchester Road and Clarkson Road, with shopping centers, big-box retailers, automobile dealerships, and professional offices. Most residents commute to work outside the city limits. The city has an extensive multi-use trail system connecting its parks, and Metro bus routes provide public transit connections to the broader St. Louis region.
Ridge Meadows is a regular public school with a modest enrollment for its grade band. The student body is predominantly white, with Asian students forming the next largest group, followed by smaller shares of Hispanic and Black students. A very small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in an economically advantaged context relative to many others in the region. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source material; a parent may want to ask the school directly about these support populations.
State testing results from the Missouri Assessment Program show a mixed picture across subjects and grades. In third grade, math proficiency was well above half, and English language arts proficiency was near three-quarters. In fourth grade, math proficiency dropped to below half, while English language arts held above three-fifths. Fifth grade math came in above half, and science, tested only at fifth grade, matched that same level. Fifth grade English language arts results were suppressed and not reported. Looking at the school’s overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades, Ridge Meadows ranks in the top quartile relative to other districts in St. Louis County, a strong showing.
Because Ridge Meadows serves only elementary grades, it has no graduation rate to report, which is expected for a school of this grade band.
The broader Rockwood district has made recent investments that affect this school. Voters approved two no-tax-rate-increase bond issues in recent years. Proposition S in 2022 funded safety and security improvements, HVAC upgrades, technology, and facility renovations across all district schools. Proposition T in 2024 funded a new elementary school to address enrollment growth, along with further safety upgrades, HVAC replacements, and technology infrastructure. These bond measures mean Ridge Meadows likely benefits from ongoing facility and security improvements, and the construction of a new elementary school elsewhere in the district will influence future enrollment patterns and class sizes at Ridge Meadows. Additionally, the district implemented a new elementary literacy curriculum starting in the 2023-2024 school year, aligned with the science of reading approach, replacing the previous balanced literacy model. This represents a shift in how reading is taught across all Rockwood elementary schools, including Ridge Meadows, and includes new instructional materials and teacher training.
Housing values in the area are above the national benchmark, and rents are similarly elevated, reflecting the economic profile of the community. The county housing market shows a moderate supply of active listings and consistent demand, with median listing prices having softened somewhat over the past year while remaining at a level that reflects the area’s desirability.
Ridge Meadows is a school where academic proficiency is generally strong, particularly in the early elementary grades, though fourth grade math is a softer spot a parent may want to investigate further. The school serves a largely homogeneous and economically advantaged student population within a district that has made substantial capital investments in its facilities and a deliberate shift in literacy instruction. Families considering this school should weigh the strong overall proficiency and district support against the uneven grade-level results and the absence of information on special education and English learner services.
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