The top reported proficiency rate is 10% in English language arts. The lowest is 4% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Woodward Elem.
Woodward Elementary is a regular public school in St. Louis, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It operates within the St. Louis City school district, which covers the independent city of St. Louis. The school sits in a residential area of the city, a place with a diverse economy anchored by industries like service, manufacturing, trade, transportation, and aviation. Major employers include the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and several research universities. The city also offers notable cultural attractions such as Forest Park, the Saint Louis Zoo, and the Missouri Botanical Garden. St. Louis separated from St. Louis County in the past, becoming an independent city with its own political boundaries, and its population has shifted over time.
Woodward Elementary enrolls a modest number of students across seven grade levels from pre-K through fifth grade. The student body is racially and ethnically diverse, with the largest groups being Black students and Hispanic students, along with smaller shares of White and Asian students. Every student at the school qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, an indicator that the school serves a community with very high economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available.
On state assessments, which measure proficiency in math and English language arts, Woodward’s results fall well below typical levels. The available data points for third-grade math, fifth-grade math, third-grade English, and fifth-grade English all show very low proficiency rates. Results for fourth-grade math, fourth-grade English, and fifth-grade science were suppressed, meaning they could not be reported due to small group sizes or other privacy concerns. When compared with other schools within St. Louis city, Woodward’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quarter of the group. Because Woodward is an elementary school, it does not have a graduation rate, and data on chronic absenteeism was not reported, so those metrics were not included in the comparison.
The housing market in the area around Woodward reflects moderate costs relative to the national picture. Home values and rents are lower than the state average, and while a typical mortgage would be more expensive than the average rent, the overall cost of housing is still relatively accessible compared to many other parts of the country. This aligns with the city’s broader character as a place with a mix of older neighborhoods and ongoing economic activity.
No recent parent-relevant changes at the district level were found in publicly available sources. That means the district’s leadership, policies, or programs appear to have been stable in the recent period, at least as far as what is reported.
For a parent considering Woodward Elementary, the picture is straightforward. This is a neighborhood school serving a high-poverty, diverse population. Academic achievement, as measured by state tests, is very low compared to other schools in the city. The school operates without a charter or magnet designation, meaning it draws its students from its attendance zone. Anyone looking seriously at Woodward would want to investigate what academic supports, interventions, and enrichment programs are available, and to visit the school to see how it addresses the challenges reflected in the data. The available information does not include details on class sizes, staffing, discipline, or course access, so those are important gaps to fill through direct inquiry. The school’s small size and community setting could be appealing for families who want a close-knit elementary experience in a part of St. Louis that is affordable and well-connected to the city’s broader resources.
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