The top reported proficiency rate is 26% in Science. The lowest is 21% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Busch Ms Character Athletics
Busch Middle School Character and Athletics serves grades six through eight as a regular public school in the St. Louis City school district. The school operates with a stated focus that its name signals: character development and athletics, though specific program offerings beyond that name were not included in the data available here.
The student body is diverse. The largest racial group is Black students, followed by White students, then Hispanic students, with smaller shares of Asian students and students of two or more races. A very small number of American Indian or Alaska Native students are also enrolled. Every student at the school qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, which means the school serves a population that faces economic disadvantage across the board. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported.
State assessment results from the Missouri Assessment Program are available for the most recent testing year. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above was in the low twenties across all three tested grades. In English language arts, sixth graders had a lower proficiency rate, while seventh and eighth graders were somewhat higher but still in the mid-to-upper twenties. In science, tested in eighth grade only, about a quarter of students met the proficient bar. These proficiency rates are broadly low, meaning most students at the school are not yet meeting the state's academic standards. When placed relative to other districts within St. Louis city, Busch’s overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint of the cohort, though the index itself is in a modest range. A parent may want to understand what academic supports the school offers for students who are below grade level.
The school’s size is typical for a middle school in an urban district. Enrollment is spread fairly evenly across grades six, seven, and eight. The school is not a charter school, and its magnet or Title I status was not specified in the data.
Housing in the area around the school reflects St. Louis’s relatively affordable market compared to national norms. Home values and rents are modest, and the estimated monthly mortgage payment is lower than the national median, which makes the neighborhood accessible for many families. The broader St. Louis economy is anchored by major employers including the Federal Reserve Bank, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and several research universities. Civic and cultural assets such as Forest Park, the Saint Louis Zoo, and the Missouri Botanical Garden are within reach for residents.
The district itself did not report any recent major changes or strategic priorities in the public record reviewed, so it is not possible to speak to any current initiatives, leadership shifts, or facility plans that might affect families in the near term.
Busch Middle School Character and Athletics is a school where nearly every student comes from a low-income household and where state test results show that most students are not reaching proficiency. For a family considering this school, the central questions will be about how the school addresses those academic gaps and what resources it provides to help students catch up. The school’s emphasis on character and athletics may offer a particular angle for student engagement, but the data does not show how those elements translate into classroom supports. Parents should visit, ask about intervention programs, and see if the school environment aligns with their child’s needs.
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