Original Research by School Decision on Francis Howell Union High
Francis Howell Union High is an alternative school in O’Fallon, part of the Francis Howell R-III district. It serves grades nine through twelve and is classified as an alternative school, which typically means it is designed for students who need a nontraditional setting—perhaps due to behavioral, academic, or personal circumstances that make a conventional high school environment less workable. The school’s location on Corporate Centre Drive places it in a commercial-business area rather than a residential neighborhood.
The most striking feature of the available data is that virtually nothing is reported. The enrollment count for every grade is given as zero. No student demographics are available beyond the same zero entries for each racial and ethnic category. There are no figures for special education, English learner status, or free or reduced-price meal eligibility. State assessment results, graduation rates, chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing, and course access are all absent. The comparison metrics that would place this school against other St. Charles County districts are all marked as not applicable because the underlying values are missing.
What explains this gap? The school type itself may be the reason. Alternative schools sometimes serve very small numbers of students, operate on a referral basis, or focus on credit recovery and at-risk populations that do not generate the same public data profile as a comprehensive high school. The data provided does not specify why these fields are empty, but a parent should not read the absence of test scores or a graduation rate as a weakness—it is simply that standard measures were not reported for this school. It would be wise to contact the school directly to understand its enrollment size, academic focus, and graduation outcomes.
O’Fallon itself is a large, auto-oriented suburb west of St. Louis with a significant employment base, extensive parks, and a mix of housing subdivisions and shopping corridors. The median housing value in the area is in line with national trends, and rents make up a modest share of household income. The city has grown steadily in recent years.
The district context matters for any parent considering Francis Howell Union High. The Francis Howell R-III board has been the site of several contentious policy changes in the last few years. In 2024 voters approved a bond issue for capital improvements and safety upgrades after a previous attempt had failed, so facility investments are underway. The board also voted to restore an abstinence-only approach to sex education, reversing a more comprehensive curriculum. That same year the board approved a policy restricting classroom displays to official U.S., Missouri, and district flags, effectively prohibiting Pride flags and similar banners. A year earlier, eight books were removed from school libraries following complaints. These decisions signal a particular direction in curriculum and school culture that families may want to weigh.
For a parent evaluating this alternative high school, the key takeaway is that the public data paints an almost blank picture. That is likely a function of the school’s purpose and small scale rather than a sign of trouble, but it also means there is little to go on from standard metrics. Reaching out to the school to ask about its programs, referral process, student outcomes, and daily environment will be essential. The broader district’s recent policy changes add another layer for families to consider when deciding whether this alternative setting fits their student’s needs.
See more original research from School Decision →