Education system and best schools in Missouri: Diverse public and private school options. Accredited school districts across the state. Strong emphasis on STEM programs. Availability of charter schools. Gifted education programs. Advanced Placement opportunities. Presence of top-ranked universities. Focus on early childhood education. Extracurricular activities and sports. Statewide school choice policies.
Diverse public and private school options
The education system in Missouri provides a wide range of choices for both public and private schooling. Encompassing 554 public school districts along with charter schools, the state offers diverse educational opportunities. Additionally, a variety of private and parochial schools are available, although they lack state accreditation or regulation. Spanning from kindergarten through 12th grade, Missouri's offerings include innovative programs such as the Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program (MOCAP) designed for online learning, ensuring flexible and modern educational solutions for students.
Accredited school districts across the state
The Missouri School Improvement Program plays a crucial role in accrediting public school districts in Missouri, a process mandated by state law and regulation. This ensures that districts not only meet specific standards but also implement effective educational practices. For more information, visit the Frequently Asked Questions and Educational Topics on the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's website.
Strong emphasis on STEM programs
Missouri schools are significantly expanding their STEM education programs, with over 300 schools participating in Project Lead the Way. They are offering rigorous and innovative STEM courses and are ranking high nationally in computer science, biomedical science, and other STEM fields. For more detailed information on this growth, you can visit the KC STEM Alliance website.
Availability of charter schools
In Missouri, Charter Schools are independent public schools that operate with some flexibility from traditional public school regulations, primarily located in the St. Louis and Kansas City school districts, as well as in unaccredited or provisionally accredited districts. These schools are sponsored by various entities, including universities and non-profit organizations, and must participate in the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) and maintain specific performance standards.
Gifted education programs
In Missouri, gifted education programs are designed to provide enriched learning experiences across multiple curricular areas, addressing the unique academic, social, and emotional needs of gifted learners through guidelines set by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Missouri Gifted Learner Outcomes (MO-GLOs).
Advanced Placement opportunities
In Missouri, top-ranked high schools such as Metro Academic and Classical High School and the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience offer extensive Advanced Placement (AP) coursework and exams, with high participation rates, allowing students to earn college credit and advanced placement. These programs are part of the broader AP Initiative that enables students to pursue college-level studies while in high school, preparing them for greater academic success in college.
Presence of top-ranked universities
Missouri is home to a diverse higher education system, including 13 public four-year universities, such as the University of Missouri and Missouri State University, along with numerous other institutions offering a variety of degree and certificate programs.
Focus on early childhood education
In Missouri, a new legislative development, Senate Bill 727, is making waves by allowing schools to include pre-K enrollees in their daily attendance calculations. This strategic change enables districts and charter schools to access additional funding, which can be instrumental in hiring more teachers and expanding classrooms. By implementing this law, the state aims to enhance access to quality early childhood education, especially benefiting families in need. For a comprehensive understanding of this initiative, visit KSHB for further details.
Extracurricular activities and sports
The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) governs high school activities, encompassing 23 sports along with various extracurricular activities such as music, scholar bowl, speech, debate, and theatre. MSHSAA plays a crucial role in organizing championship-level competitions and managing district assignments for playoffs. Through its programs, it actively promotes sportsmanship and community involvement. To learn more about their comprehensive range of activities and governance, visit the Missouri State High School Activities Association webpage on Wikipedia.
Statewide school choice policies
Missouri offers several school choice options, including a tax-credit education savings account program, charter schools, magnet schools, homeschooling, and public school choice via open enrollment, allowing families to select the best educational setting for their children's needs. For more information on these options and how they can benefit your family, you can visit the EdChoice website for detailed insights.