The 2024-2025 Annual Performance Reports (APR) were released last month by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and South County school districts are ranking high among public and charter schools in the state.
APR scores are based on the district’s progress — educators, students, parents and community — toward meeting the standards of the Missouri School Improvement Program. APR scoring is 70% based on student performance data, while the other 30% is based on “continuous improvement measurements” related to the school district. The scores affect accreditation.
The Bayless School District was in a unique position with a quick rise in its APR score from 2023-2024 to the present. This year, the district earned 92.7% of the possible points available, making the district fifth in St. Louis County and the 20th in the state of Missouri. Last year, Bayless scored 82%. The 10 percentage point jump is the highest in the county, and the second highest in the area; St. Charles School District, now sitting at 90%, had a 13.3% increase from last year’s score of 76.7%.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our students, staff and community for living out what it means to be ‘Bronchos with an H,’” Bayless superintendent Amy Ruzicka said, referencing the district’s mascot spelling and mission to emphasize “guiding values.” “This accomplishment is the result of high expectations, hard work, heart and hope — and we are not stopping here. Bayless will keep pushing forward for every student, every day.”
Lindbergh, Mehlville, Affton and Hancock Place school districts similarly walked away with APR scores above 85%, sitting at 93.5%, 91.7%, 85.7% and 85.2%, respectively. This puts all of these South County schools in the fully accredited range of 70 to 94.9%.
Mehlville was the only South County district that dropped slightly this year, falling from a score of 93.2% to a score of 91.7%. Neighboring districts, such as Webster Groves and Kirkwood, fell at much higher rates, going from 94.5% to 88.7% (a 5.8 point decrease) and 89.7% to 78% (an 11.7 point decrease, the highest decrease area-wide), respectively.
