We understand that finding the right St. Louis school for your child can be a daunting task for parents. We know how important it is to find a school that meets the unique needs of your child and offers them the best opportunity to thrive. It is a good first step to learn the different types of schools available to your child and the different criteria that each requires. We believe the best decision is an informed decision and we want to make it easier for you. Here we will show you how to research school options and start the school search process. This will provide some information to help you choose.

There Are Several Types Of Schools Available In St. Louis:

• Public District Schools.
• Public Magnet/Choice Schools.
• Public Charter Schools.
• Private Independent Schools.
• Private Faith-Based Schools.

Traditional Public Schools

How Is It different:

• There is no application process, enrollment is based on geographic boundaries.

How To Enroll:

• You need to provide your child’s birth certificate, immunization records, and proof of residence.

Who Runs This School:

• In St. Louis City, these schools are run by St. Louis Public Schools and governed by the publicly-elected School Board of St. Louis.

How Much Is Tuition:

• None

Public Magnet/Choice Schools

How Is It Different:

• Magnet schools follow a particular theme, like the arts or Montessori, and require students to submit an application and be accepted prior to being able to enroll. Note that Magnet/Choice schools are not dictated by your address.

How To Enroll:

• You must complete an application through slpsmagnetschools.org during the application window and be accepted to the school to be able to enroll.

Who Runs This School:

• These schools are run by St. Louis Public Schools and governed by the publicly-elected School Board of St. Louis.

How Much Is Tuition:

• None

Public Charter Schools

How Is It Different:

• Charter schools are independent of schools in St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS). Some are open to any child living in the city, whereas others may require the student to live in the school’s established attendance zone.

How To Enroll:

• Some charter schools require an application and may run a lottery for a limited number of seats each year. Other charter schools may allow walk-in enrollment.

Who Runs This School:

• Charter schools are run by independent boards that are accountable to their charter sponsor and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

How Much Is Tuition:

• None

Private Independent Schools

How Is It Different:

• Private independent schools are independent of the state and city school boards. This category also encompasses faith-based schools (also known as parochial schools), which offer students religious instruction in addition to traditional academic classes.

How To Enroll:

• They are open to any child who completes an application and can pay tuition although financial aid may be available.

Who Runs This School:

• Private independent schools are run by independent boards rather than the government and elected school board. In addition to being run by a board of directors, faith-based schools are also run by their affiliated religious institutions.

How Much Is Tuition:

• This varies by school. They offer differing amounts of financial aid and scholarships.

Now that you’ve learned about the main differences between various school types and know what each one requires before you can enroll your child, you can move forward with the school search process! Remember to take advantage of the built-in features on our school search tool, such as filters to create yourself a list customized to your child and adding potential schools to your favorites list.

For more information about researching school options, as well as other important school search factors like visiting schools, enrollment and application, standardized learning assessments, and more please visit the resources section of our website.