Lindbergh Ranks No. 8 in Missouri by U.S. News and World Report

When graduates are asked the standard St. Louisian question, “Where did you go to high school?” they can say proudly that their alma mater is a No. 8 ranked school in Missouri. In this 4^th year of ranking public high schools, U.S. News and World Report ranked Lindbergh No. 8 in the state of Missouri. Lindbergh was ranked No. 876 nationally out of nearly 22,000 public high schools.

State rankings are based on student-teacher ratios, college readiness and proficiency on state math and English assessments.

Lindbergh School District Superintendent Dr. Jim Simpson said that Lindbergh is all about helping students to be successful, and for the vast majority that means college preparedness.

“In the early elementary and middle grades we make sure they have strong academic skills,” Simpson said. “Then after that at the high school level we have a full slate of advanced placement courses, and for students who want the most rigorous courses we have the international baccalaureate program. Students can actually get their freshman year of college finished in high school if they want to take advantage of it.”

U.S. News also assessed types of courses a particular district offered and the passage rate.

Here are the Lindbergh academic indicators:

National Rank: #876

College Readiness Index: 34.4

Algebra 1 Proficiency: 2.9

English 2 Proficiency: 3.3

Student/Teacher Ratio: 16.1

Simpson said that one of the district’s biggest challenges is student enrollment growth rate, which is increasing at more than 100 students a year.

“Small class size is at risk with increased growth. We have to meet that challenge,” he said. “The Board of Education has purchased 10 acres at an old school building called Dressel, so we have a safety valve, but that campus is definitely 5 years out or longer.” 

Simpson said that growth is a good challenge to face, that being a sign of vitality, having quality families and still providing individual education for every child, which is part of the Lindbergh model from kindergarten throughout high school. 

“Lindbergh has worked hard to put in place programs and quality education initiatives that have really allowed us to excel in academic achievement,” Simpson said. We have outstanding community support with teachers and parents—we’re very proud and we’re blessed to have a lot of the parts of that puzzle in place. It makes me proud to be the superintendent.”