The top reported proficiency rate is 72% in English language arts. The lowest is 68% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hudson Elem.
Hudson Elementary is a regular public school in the Webster Groves School District, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It sits within St. Louis County, in a city that anchors a metropolitan economy with strengths in service, manufacturing, trade, transportation, and aviation, and is home to major research universities, federal agencies, and a large medical center. The school itself is not a charter or magnet; it is a neighborhood elementary school feeding into a district that, according to publicly reported information, recently approved a bond issue that restructured grade configurations, including moving sixth grade to the middle school and converting another school into a neighborhood elementary. The same reporting notes the district’s tax rate is among the lowest in the county.
On state assessments, Hudson Elementary’s performance is notably strong. Across the tested grades and subjects, the school’s overall proficiency places it in the top quartile relative to districts in St. Louis County. In math, results were robust: third graders showed a high rate of proficiency, and fifth graders also posted strong numbers, though fourth-grade math results were suppressed and cannot be discussed. In English language arts, third graders again reached a high proficiency level, fourth graders were close behind, and fifth-grade ELA results were suppressed. In science, fifth graders, the only grade tested, also demonstrated solid proficiency. A parent considering this school can expect that, across the three subjects measured, the typical student is meeting or exceeding state standards at rates well above the county median.
The student population is small and relatively homogeneous. Enrollment is concentrated in the early elementary grades, with a modest number of students per grade. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is low, indicating an economically advantaged community. Racially, the body is predominantly white, with a notable minority of students identifying as two or more races, a smaller share identifying as Hispanic, and an even smaller share identifying as Black. There were no available data on students with disabilities or English learners, so a family with a child in either category may want to ask the school directly about supports.
Housing in the zip code serving this area carries a value well above the national benchmark for the country overall, though the county’s median listing price is lower. Rents have risen at a notable pace recently. The county market shows an increase in active listings and new listings, with a moderate number of pending sales. Median days on market are just over a month, suggesting a relatively active market. For context, the national unemployment rate is low, and the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has fluctuated in the mid-sixes, which affects affordability for homebuyers. The estimated monthly mortgage payment in this area is higher than the typical rent, meaning buying is more expensive than renting on a monthly basis.
The community context is that of an independent city with a diverse economic base, significant cultural and civic anchors including the Gateway Arch, Forest Park, the Saint Louis Zoo, and several major museums. Growth history shows that St. Louis separated from the county decades ago, becoming an independent city with fixed political boundaries. The metropolitan area extends into Illinois. For a family living in this part of St. Louis County, the school sits within a district that has made deliberate structural changes to its feeder pattern, which families moving into the area will want to understand when planning for the middle school years.
Hudson Elementary offers a straightforward academic experience for families seeking a high-performing, small elementary school in an economically strong suburban pocket within a larger urban region. The test results are clear and favorable, the school is small enough that individual attention is plausible, and the community is stable and well-resourced. The district’s recent reconfiguration and low tax rate are additional factors that shape the long-term context. No information was available on programming such as gifted services, arts, or extracurriculars at the school itself, nor on staffing ratios or chronic absenteeism, so a parent with specific interests in those areas should follow up directly.
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