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About the School District of Clayton
As a public school system dedicated to the education of all children who come to our schools, the School District of Clayton strives to develop in all its children the strength of character, the skills, the knowledge and the wisdom necessary to build creative, productive lives and to contribute to a global society. The District’s early childhood center, three elementary schools, middle school and high school serve a diverse student body of approximately 2,500.
The District prides itself in its small class sizes and low staffing ratios in order to reach the goals of recognizing individual differences and providing each child with a positive and complete educational experience. Clayton maintains a student to teaching-staff-member ratio of about 11:1 at the elementary level and about 10:1 at the secondary level, which includes teachers, counselors and librarians. Individualized instruction is stressed at each grade level.
Exceptional student achievement and success is possible only with a top-notch staff of teachers and specialists. Most classroom teachers have 15 or more years experience and 88.6 percent hold a Master’s Degree or higher. Resource teachers, interns, clerks and general education staff complement their work. Each school has a library exceeding national standards and a full-time librarian. All schools also have at least one counselor, and basic instruction is augmented by regular instruction in art, music, physical education and technology.
Clayton students excel academically. At Clayton High School, 21 Advanced Placement courses are available. Students took 514 AP exams last year, with 87 percent of the students earning a passing grade of a 3, 4 or 5. Last year, 99 percent of the seniors graduated and 98 percent of the graduates went on to two- and four-year colleges. The Class of 2010 had a composite mean SAT critical reading score of 659, a writing score of 653 and the average math score was 665. The average ACT composite score during the same time period was 26.
Every year a large number of students are recognized as National Merit and Commended Scholars. Our K-12 students compare favorably in ability and achievement with students from independent schools and select suburban districts nationally, including schools on the eastern seaboard and west coast.
The District offers a full range of extracurricular activities and special programs. Before and after school care is available in each of our elementary schools. Activity programs, intramural sports and city-sponsored athletic leagues provide other afternoon, evening and weekend options.
The School District of Clayton subscribes to the guiding principle that diversity enriches our schools, mirrors our world and reflects our future. More than one third of enrolled students do not live in the city of Clayton. Since 1981, the District has participated in a voluntary desegregation program with the City of St. Louis. Approximately 22 percent of Clayton’s students would identify themselves as African-American and just over nine percent of students would identify themselves as Asian.
The District is located in the City of Clayton, six miles west of St. Louis. It is the hub of the St. Louis Metropolitan area. Combining a bustling downtown with quiet, secure residential neighborhoods, Clayton is the seat of St. Louis County. With a population of around 15,000 residents, it is also home to Forbes and Fortune 500 headquarters. Clayton is recognized as the urban center of St. Louis.
To learn more about the School District of Clayton and its schools and programs, please visit www.claytonschools.net.
