The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in Science. The lowest is 42% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Washington Middle
Washington Middle serves seventh and eighth graders in the city of Washington, a growing exurb on the Missouri River about an hour west of St. Louis. The school is part of the School District of Washington, and it is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. For families considering this school, the key questions are what academic performance looks like at the middle level and what kind of peer environment and community setting their child would enter.
On state assessments, Washington Middle shows a mixed profile. In both math and English language arts, proficiency rates for seventh and eighth graders cluster in a range where roughly four out of ten students meet the state’s proficiency benchmark. Science results for eighth graders follow a similar pattern. When placed against other districts in Franklin County, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades falls below the midpoint of the county cohort. That means a parent looking at this school alongside nearby middle schools will find that some peers post higher proficiency rates, while others are lower. The numbers are not weak to the point of raising alarm, but they do suggest that academic performance is an area where a family may want to discuss supports and expectations with the school directly. No longitudinal trend data was available, so it is not possible to say whether these results are improving or declining over time.
The student body is overwhelmingly white, with a very small share of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. About three out of ten students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure that indicates a moderate level of economic diversity. Enrollment is large enough to provide a typical middle school experience with multiple sections per grade but not so large that a student would feel lost. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report, and data on special education and English learner populations was not available in the records reviewed.
The community context matters for understanding what this school is like day to day. Washington functions as the industrial and retail hub of Franklin County, with a historic downtown that draws residents for shopping and dining. Manufacturing remains present, though less dominant than in past decades, and the city has seen steady population growth. Housing values in the area are roughly in line with state averages, and the overall cost of living makes this a more attainable option than many closer-in suburbs of St. Louis. The Missouri River borders the city, and a new bridge recently improved cross-river connectivity. For a family, this means a mid-sized town with its own civic life, parks and recreation programs, and a public library that is part of the regional system. The schools are on separate campuses from the downtown core, which is typical for a city of this size.
No recent district-level changes such as bond issues, curriculum overhauls, or tax shifts were found in publicly available sources, so the district appears to be operating without major disruption. That stability may appeal to families who value predictability.
In sum, Washington Middle offers a solidly mainstream middle school experience in a town that is neither a fast-growing suburb nor a shrinking rural community. The academic results are moderate relative to the county, and the peer group is predominantly white with a noticeable but not dominant share of students from lower-income households. A parent would want to visit, ask about academic interventions and enrichment, and understand how the school supports students who are not yet at the proficient mark. For those who value a historic town setting, a moderate commute to St. Louis, and a straightforward public school, this is a reasonable option to evaluate.
See more original research from School Decision →