City of St. Charles School District
The City of St. Charles School District is building tomorrow’s leaders, while having played an integral role in the city’s rich past. Established in 1846, the district covers 17 square miles, mostly located in St. Charles proper, with a small percentage in St. Peters plus some unincorporated areas.
Approximately 4,900 students are enrolled in the district’s six elementary schools (grades Kindergarten-4), intermediate school (grades 5-6), middle school (grades 7-8) and two high schools. In addition, the district features the Lewis and Clark Career Center and the St. Charles County Center for Advanced Professional Studies program, which serves students across St. Charles County.
The City of St. Charles School District’s mission is to “reach, teach and empower all students by providing a challenging, diverse and innovative education.”
In 2018, the district opened its Early Childhood Center; a state of the art learning facility that features 16 early childhood education classrooms, multiple therapy rooms, a large outdoor learning playground and the one-of-a-kind “Our Town” playroom. The “Our Town” playroom, which is made possible by the generous donations from organizations and individuals throughout the community, is a child-sized recreation of Main Street St. Charles featuring its historic look, markets and stores allowing for students play, learn and grow.
Whether a student or employee, the City of St. Charles School District has it all. The district is fully accredited by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and both high schools are designated A+ Schools. The district was named the City of St. Charles “2018 Employer of the Year-Service” award winner, as well as a “Healthiest Employer” twice by the St. Louis Business Journal and a “Top Employer” by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, among other recent awards.
Values the district promotes include providing high-quality education for all students; achievement through individual success, collaboration with parents and community stakeholders; exploration, innovation and creativity; hiring and retaining high-quality staff; and making informed decisions that are student centered, data driven and fiscally responsible.
Contact the City of St. Charles School District at (636) 443-4000 or visit www.stcharlessd.org
Fort Zumwalt School District
Come to Fort Zumwalt School District, and you’ll find educators whose interests extend beyond academics, as evidenced by their longstanding philosophy of “Pushing for Positive Peer Influence.”
The district, based in O’Fallon, serves more than 18,000 students in 27 schools across 122 square miles. It is the fourth-largest district in the bi-state region, with about 1,500 teachers, 1,300 support staff and 100 administrators. All four of its comprehensive high schools recently were named to the “U.S. News and World Report” list of America’s best high schools.
Fort Zumwalt’s mission is to ensure that “students, regardless of ability or economic level, are provided an education in such a positive and safe learning environment that all reach their potential.” The district emphasizes the virtues of democracy, citizenship, self-discipline, work ethic and the need to respect all members of society.
Recently, the district opened its 71,000-square-foot Early Childhood Center, which served more than 500 3- to 5-year-old students during the 2017-2018 school year. In 2015 the Mike Clemens Center for Adaptive Learning opened for students and families who require a support system for social/emotional, behavioral, autism, and/or academic needs. Other developments include Flint Hill Elementary, which opened in fall 2016, and serves grades K-5.
When it comes to both athletics and the fine arts, various school groups consistently nab awards and distinctions.
Contact the district at (636) 240-2072 or visit www.fz.k12.mo.us.
Francis Howell School District
The Francis Howell School District is one of the highest performing districts in Missouri, and one of the largest. The school district spans 150 square miles and includes the cities of St. Peters, Cottleville, Weldon Spring, Harvester, New Melle, southern portions of St. Charles City and eastern portions of O’Fallon.
The district includes three early childhood centers, 10 elementary schools, five middle schools, three high schools, one alternative high school, and one alternative education school, and has an enrollment of more than 18,000 students.
The district received a score of 99.3 percent on the “school district report card” from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the second consecutive year, and has been honored by the College Board with placement on the eighth Annual AP District Honor Roll – one of only three school districts in Missouri to achieve this distinction. The readers of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch selected Francis Howell School District as the best public school district in St. Charles County in the “Reader’s Choice” awards. All three high schools have been named Project Lead the Way Distinguished Schools; only 10 high schools in Missouri received this designation. For the 12th consecutive year, the school district has won the Meritorious Budget Award from the Association of School Business Officials International.
Contact the Francis Howell School District at (636) 851-4000 or visit www.fhsdschools.org.
Orchard Farm School District
At Orchard Farm School District, students have ample opportunity to learn to excel in diverse communities and compete globally. The rapidly growing school district, located in northeastern St. Charles County, serves more than 2,000 students in preschool through 12th grade. Residents of the Orchard Farm community have a deep-rooted pride in their schools.
Orchard Farm School District is a forward-thinking district preparing students to be life ready, career ready and college ready. In grade 4-12, the district is one device to one student with Chromebooks. Students experience Innovation class at elementary and middle schools. In this class, students are introduced to the latest technologies and learn coding, program drones and use 3-D printers.
Orchard Farm High School offers Project Lead the Way strands in engineering, biomedical and computer science. Students experience hands-on learning with the Center for Advanced Professional Studies in three industries – technology, health and global business. Advanced Placement courses and dual credit courses are also available. Beginning in 2018-19, students can enroll in the Early College Program (a partnership with St. Charles Community College) to earn a high school diploma and an associate degree at no cost to the student or their family. The program is free to Orchard Farm students.
For more information on the Orchard Farm School District, call (636) 925-5400 or visit www.ofsd.k12.mo.us.