The top reported proficiency rate is 70% in Math. The lowest is 62% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Hixson Middle
Hixson Middle sits within the Webster Groves School District, serving grades six through eight in St. Louis County. It is a regular public school, and the district moved sixth grade into Hixson as part of a voter-approved bond issue, making it a straight sixth-through-eighth middle school. That reconfiguration is now in place, so families entering the district will find a consistent three-year middle school experience at Hixson before moving on to the high school.
The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Black, Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial students. A relatively small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which points to a generally higher-income enrollment. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about how those populations are served.
On state assessments, Hixson posts strong results. In math, sixth and seventh graders each show a high rate of proficiency, while eighth graders are a bit lower, though still solid. In English language arts, sixth graders also perform at a high level, while seventh and eighth graders are a step lower, landing in a moderate range. Science, tested only in eighth grade, comes in at a comparably strong level. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among districts in St. Louis County. That is a clear indicator that Hixson is delivering academic results well above the typical school in the county.
Hixson does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Chronic absenteeism data was also not available. A parent who wants to understand school climate might ask about attendance patterns directly.
The housing market in the broader St. Louis area shows a median listing price in the county that is below the national benchmark, making the region more affordable than many metro areas. Home values in the immediate zip code around the school are above the county median, reflecting the desirability of the Webster Groves area. Rents are also above typical levels for the county. The district’s tax rate is among the lowest in St. Louis County, a point district leaders highlight as they balance offerings with tax burden. This combination of below-average property taxes for the region and above-average home prices is a distinctive feature. Families moving here tend to pay a premium for the house but less in annual school taxes than they would in many neighboring districts.
St. Louis itself is an independent city with a diversified economy anchored by the Federal Reserve Bank, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and major medical and research institutions such as Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. The city’s population has changed over time, and its political boundaries have been fixed for decades. Civic and cultural amenities are abundant, including Forest Park, the Zoo, and the Art Museum. The character of the city is urban with distinct residential neighborhoods; the school’s location in the Webster Groves area part of St. Louis County offers a suburban feel within easy reach of downtown.
Overall, Hixson Middle presents as a high-performing school in a district that placed a deliberate bet on reconfiguring its middle grades. The academic results are strong by county and state standards, the student body is economically homogenous with relatively low poverty, and the district keeps its tax burden light. A family that values strong tested outcomes in a low-tax, higher-home-value suburban setting will find Hixson a straightforward fit. A parent who wants to probe further might check on supports for students with disabilities and English learners, as those data points were not provided.
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