ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
St. Joseph School District
The St. Joseph School District is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of nearly 11,000 students. Through partnerships with families and the community, the district is preparing students for success in a complex and changing world.
Students in the district have access to a rigorous elementary program that is supplemented with adaptive technological resources. At the secondary level, students have access to a wide variety of specialized coursework. Some of the unique pathways include career and technical education, performing and visual arts, agricultural science, biomedical studies and engineering.
Students also have access to numerous advanced placement and dual credit courses. The district supports teachers and staff in their professional learning by providing access to training in research-based best practices and specialized programs.
The district employs more than 1,600 teachers and staff to facilitate powerful learning experiences at more than 20 school sites.
The St. Joseph School District is committed to providing a quality education to all students at 14 elementary schools, four middle schools and three high schools. Specialized programs and facilities for early childhood, gifted and talented education, alternative education and career and technical education add to a student-centered and future-focused culture of learning.
St. Joseph Catholic Schools
St. Joseph Catholic Schools have been known for generations for providing high-quality, faith-based education while offering an opportunity for parents and students alike to participate in the life of the school.
The values of Catholic education are more than plaid-deep. When you spot a student of a local Catholic school (Cathedral, St. Francis Xavier, St. James or Bishop LeBlond), you’ll know them not only by their classic school uniform, but also by their intelligence, self-confidence, reverence and Christian values. Local employers seek out students and graduates of the Catholic schools for their work ethic, responsibility and maturity.
The faculty and parents of St. Joseph’s Catholic schools share a commitment to exceeding expectations academically and to supporting the growth of students in a community. Students build meaningful and lasting relationships with teachers through classroom, parish and school activities and teams.
More than 95% of Bishop LeBlond graduates pursue post-secondary education, with the other 5% joining the military or working in a trade. LeBlond graduates earn the highest average ACT scores in the city and Northwest Missouri (23.3 composite average for 2020). Student athletes at Bishop LeBlond regularly compete for state championships and earn scholarships to continue their athletic careers in college.
St. Joseph Christian School
St. Joseph Christian School, a non-denominational Christian school, currently serves over 350 pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade students. Founded in 1988 and known for excellent academics based on biblical worldview teaching, the school partners with parents, churches and the community to equip students to impact their world for Jesus Christ.
The 2019-20 composite ACT score for St. Joseph Christian was 23.7, compared to the Missouri average of 20.8. Spiritual growth is encouraged through daily Bible classes, weekly chapels and an annual Missions Week. The school is fully accredited by ACSI/Cognia, is a Missouri State High School Activities Association member, and participates in the A+ Schools Program.
Elementary students participate in STEM activities/field trips, fine arts programs, character education, Scholar Bowl, spelling/geography bees and elementary sports leagues/camps. Opportunities for secondary students include dual-credit/college online courses, speech, foreign language, Cisco Academy courses, Hillyard Technical School, Cadet Teaching program, National Honor Society, Scholar Bowl, yearbook, fine arts, drama club, football, volleyball, cross country, basketball, track & field, baseball, cheerleading and weight training.
Student leadership is encouraged through student government, Drug Free Superstars, chapel team, small groups, student mentoring, and service days. St. Joseph Christian School offers before/after school care, summer camp and a needs-based financial aid program to assist families. For more information, visit www.stjosephchristian.com.
ST. PAUL LUTHERAN SCHOOL
St. Paul Lutheran School is committed to offering quality education for students Pre-K through eighth grade exceeding academic standards at all grade levels while developing and fostering spiritual growth and personal excellence in its students. Visit www.splcc.org for more information.
HIGHER EDUCATION
Benedictine College
Founded in Atchison, Kansas, in 1858, Benedictine College has grown to be one of the top Catholic colleges in the nation and is now the largest private college in Kansas. With a highly-rated nursing program, an architecture degree, a full slate of engineering degrees, modern residence halls, the Murphy Student Recreation Center, a highly successful College Ministry program and now a new 100,000-square-foot state-of-the-art STEM facility, Benedictine continues to attract high-achieving, faith-filled students from all across the United States. Benedictine is proud to have been named one of America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report.
Hillyard Technical Center
Students in Northwest Missouri have access to one of the most modern career centers in the state at Hillyard Technical Center. Located in the center of St. Joseph, Hillyard provides specialized programming to hundreds of students throughout the region annually. Hillyard offers 15 program areas for students including industry and trade technologies, health sciences, two public safety programs and two in agriculture/natural resources.
Students from 18 area high schools attend Hillyard programs throughout the year. Hillyard programs utilize a variety of delivery systems from traditional classroom to hands-on learning experiences in labs, shops, work-based activities and clinical sites, both internal and external to the institution. Licensures, registrations and/or certifications are also available in most programs.
Hillyard Technical Center was founded in 1943 through persistent efforts and generous donation of time and wealth. The school was a leader in job training for defense plant workers during World War II and later for retraining veterans for civilian jobs after the war. In 1982, the school moved to its present facility at 3434 Faraon St. In 1999, in response to the developing mission of the school and industry needs, the St. Joseph School District Board of Education approved the change of the institution’s name to Hillyard Technical Center. In 2017, Hillyard opened the Advanced Science Research Center addition to offer additional opportunities for students in the region.
Metropolitan Community College
Metropolitan Community College is now offering health care, technical educational training, and general education courses in St. Joseph at the Hillyard Technical Center. Health care programs include Practical Nursing, Radiologic Technology and Surgical Technology. Launch your career in these high-demand fields as employers in St. Joseph and Northwest Missouri are looking to fill positions. Taking classes or working toward a certification or degree in these areas can help make you work-ready for the next step to your future. Financial aid, including A+ scholarship benefits, are available to qualifying students.
MCC is also offering the following evening non-credit courses:
- Certified Nurse Assistant
- Introduction to Welding
- Introduction to Machining-Lathe
For additional information, call a student services coordinator at (816) 604-1403, attend an open house or visit
www.mcckc.edu/stjoseph.
Missouri Western State University
As Missouri’s official applied learning university, Missouri Western State University gives students opportunities to gain real-world experience before graduation.
Limiting classes on Fridays, Gold Fridays allows students more time to engage in internships, research and other applied-learning activities.
The Center for Service lets students earn free elective credits for completing community service.
Missouri Western offers undergraduate and master’s degrees and graduate certificates. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds several program accreditations.
Along with 11 academic buildings, six residence halls, an indoor pool and fitness center, the 723-acre campus features numerous trails and ponds.
Northwest Missouri State University
Founded in 1905, Northwest Missouri State University is a coeducational four-year university offering a broad range of programs on its Maryville campus as well as its Northwest-Kansas City location and
through Northwest Online.
It places a high emphasis on profession-based learning to help graduates get a jumpstart on their careers. Its internationally benchmarked student employment program also helps students build professional skills. As a result, 96 percent of bachelor’s degree earners and 99 percent of master’s degree earners secure employment or continue their education within six months of graduating, making Northwest the best college in Missouri for getting a job.
Textbooks and a laptop are included in tuition, which is among the lowest in the nation, saving students an estimated $7,400 over four years. For details, visit www.nwmissouri.edu.