2023 Best Places to Teach in Missouri

• Clayton, MO•

• School District

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  Rating 4.4 out of 5  10 reviews

Senior: While my experience with the School District of Clayton has had its high and low points, I truly believe it has set me up for the best future possible. The teachers and administration are very receptive to the needs of their students and, for the most part, do their best to make sure the students feel as though they are being listened to. The academics are challenging, but I rarely have problems asking my teachers for help. I have had some issues with the college counseling department, but it has not affected my ability to get into a school that is a great fit for me.... Read 10 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Average teacher salary $88,702

• Fair Play, MO•

• School District

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  Rating 4.55 out of 5  11 reviews

Senior: I have gone to Fair Play Schools all the way from Kindergarten to now as a high school Senior about to graduate. Fair Play is in a small town with a population of about 450 people, therefore the school only has a couple hundred kids in it. Although we are small our school still tries as hard as they can to provide us with nice, up to date technology and education. All the teachers and staff at Fair Play Schools are very committed, involved, and play a huge role in the students and communities lives. Fair Play has always been amazing at helping out families in need. If a person involved with Fair Play schools or the communities needs help, our school is always the first ones setting up fundraisers to help gain money, or setting up meal drives for people who can not afford to feed their family every night.... Read 11 reviews

• grade B

• grade A+

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Average teacher salary $81,145

• St Louis, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.27 out of 5  22 reviews

Parent: This public school system offers superior education to all but the most elite private schools such that any kid lucky enough to live in the district has an excellent opportunity to learn, achieve and matriculate at an elite university despite not having all the benefits of upbringing or affluence. Public education is the great equalizer in society and very few district in the USA do it better than Ladue. Compared to where and when I went to public school, the instruction my kids receive is like that which was offered to the richest kids who attended the best private country day school. In terms of value, nothing beats the Ladue School District. In areas where public school systems are plagued with poor performance, this kind of education would cost you 30K or more per year per student at a very competitive private school. If you have multiple kids, that delta can add up to 7 figures and so dollar for dollar, living in the Ladue District is the best value bar none.... Read 22 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Average teacher salary $76,138

• St Ann, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.41 out of 5  32 reviews

Senior: High School isn't easy for anybody. At Pattonville, I was able to experience college level classes that prepared me for anywhere life was going to take me. Not only does Pattonville offer a wide range of classes to suit student's interests, but they also allow students to create clubs and after school activities revolving around any topic they choose. To summarize my experience in the Pattonville School District, I would safely say that I am going to go into college with experience in the field of study I want to pursue.... Read 32 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Average teacher salary $79,646

• Kirkwood, MO•

• School District

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  Rating 4.3 out of 5  53 reviews

Senior: I really enjoyed my time in the district overall, even though I moved there as a freshman in high school. I think the administration overall does a decent job and is there to help students succeed. I also think we have excellent facilities and resources compared to many other places. Most of the study body is friendly and encouraging toward one another which is refreshing to see, yet it would be nice if the school/district had more diversity.... Read 53 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Average teacher salary $77,530

• Blue Springs, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.4 out of 5  85 reviews

Senior: It is a great school and teachers are people who are passionate about their job. They are caring and will help you in many ways. My learning has increased by a lot ever since I moved to the Blue Springs School District. When I first came here, back in 2016, I barely knew any English at all. I came to Blue Springs and I could say I learned about 90% of the English I know right now. Every day, my learning increases in any of my classes!... Read 85 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Average teacher salary $63,169

• Lee's Summit, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.34 out of 5  128 reviews

Parent: This school district has many opportunities for students. From Parents as Teachers, Great Beginnings, neighborhood elementary schools with caring teachers and staff, four middle schools (one brand new this year and the other three being retrofitted/remodeled to add 6th graders), 3 traditional high schools that offer many clubs and extra curricular activities as well as IB Diploma and IBCP curriculum, 2 alternative secondary schools, and an “Innovation Campus” for 11th and 12th graders that allows students to work towards a fast-tracked bachelor’s degree in high demand fields and/or experiential learning in STEAM subjects.... Read 128 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Average teacher salary $64,941

• Chesterfield, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.21 out of 5  105 reviews

Senior: Parkway School District strives to prepare you for your next steps following high school, whether it be for students intending to enter the working world, or for students intending to go to college. They have great resources and staff while also providing students with many great opportunities to build their resumes, whether it be extracurricular activities, volunteer opportunities, sports, and so much more! I have enjoyed these last 4 years as a student at Parkway North and I am excited to continue my education in college for the next four years!... Read 105 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Average teacher salary $74,574

• Eureka, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.48 out of 5  93 reviews

Junior: Throughout the years, have enjoyed Rockwoods leadership and their engagement in their community. It feels like the district makes an effort to provide a nurturing environment for their students to achieve the greatest they can academically and prepares them for their life outside of school. I feel as though they make efforts to promote diversity, such as holding clinics and assemblies and getting input from their students regularly. However, I still believe with the world we live in today, more can be done to promote diversity and equality among students to get them better prepared for the real world, equipped with empathy and understanding. Overall, Rockwood has been a great environment... Read 93 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Average teacher salary $66,626

• Ste Genevieve, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.48 out of 5  21 reviews

Junior: At the Ste. Genevieve County R-II School District our motto is "Family. Tradition. Excellence." The district is about family in the classroom, clubs, and teams. The small school provides a family environment where everyone attending feels safe and comfortable. Tradition comes from my school being over 100 years old and continuing to support and help students through their first major stage of life. Excellence comes from the great teachers and supportive administration throughout the district. Every person working at my school cares about the students attending and their future. This dedication rubs off on students and creates a great learning environment. One thing that we don't have at SGHS is diversity. Our school mostly consists of white males and females. Sainte Genevieve is a highly catholic town. Therefore, most students that attend my school are catholic. Finally, my school has outstanding facilities with a great gym including high tech equipment and a performing arts center.... Read 21 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Average teacher salary $61,673

• Brentwood, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.5 out of 5  4 reviews

Alum: With it being a small school, it was very inclusive. It was special being able to have a connection with every single teacher and student in the school. Every teacher in the building knew every single student which provided me with a great academic experience.... Read 4 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Average teacher salary $63,977

• Valley Park, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.27 out of 5  15 reviews

Senior: Valley Park School District is an awesome district, Public High School With Pre-12th being on the same campus. It is the perfect school for everybody in the community. I have been going to Valley Park since Kindergarten, and I am now a Senior in high school. I was a part of the VICC program, Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporation. (De-Segration). From the janitors to the administration everybody treats you well. I participated in baseball and basketball in which I had opportunity to make friends with the whole school and community. My overall experience was great! loving all the great memories. Totally amazing District.... Read 15 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Average teacher salary $74,560

• Lake Ozark, MO•

• School District

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  Rating 4.65 out of 5  31 reviews

Junior: School of the Osage is a very good school with plenty of opportunities for any activity. Teachers take the time to make sure students understand and offer tutoring or extra help. The district goes to school Tuesday through Friday which is nice but I feel that sometimes teachers are rushed to get through curriculum. I know many parents and some students who feel the same way. Maybe this is something that the district will better adapt to with time, but it is something to be mindful for because it puts immense pressure on students and teachers to get through the curriculum. Overall it’s a good school with a positive environment no matter if you play sports, do theatre, or band. Individuals are given the attention they need and students aren’t just a number to the district.... Read 31 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Average teacher salary $54,640

• Webster Groves, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  33 reviews

Junior: Webster Groves has a very strong community and the school involves it which I really like. WGHS provides many unique classes, extra-curricular activities, clubs, and provided opportunities. It is a diverse school and the admin makes sure that everyone feels safe and welcome! There are many thing I get to do at school that my friends can't believe since they don't have the same programs/classes which is really cool.... Read 33 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Average teacher salary $70,201

• St Charles, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.18 out of 5  136 reviews

Niche User: The community gets SO much for their tax dollars in this district. They have top-notch teachers, despite several pay freezes over the years. Lots of administrators “wear multiple hats” and do phenomenal work without the support staff found in similarly-sized districts in the area. Great opportunities for students and very professional, caring adults amid a community that gets more than they pay for and more than they have supported. It’s astounding that so many great educators hang on, despite the challenges that some in the community throw in their way.... Read 136 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Average teacher salary $64,814

• Essex, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.91 out of 5  11 reviews

Senior: Richland is truly an amazing school. It's staff and administration go above and beyond to make sure that every student is properly cared for. The atmosphere is positive and the environment is friendly. The staff does more than what is asked to let their kids know that they care and that they are invested in their future successes. Richland has hands on learning and updated technology. The school pushes its students to try new things and expand their minds with new ways of learning. It's not a very big school but there are many extracurricular activities and sports. The school has amazing security. There is always an officer at school during the day, and there is rarely a time when there isn't an officer at games or other school activities. The facilities are always clean and maintained very well. If I could change one thing, it would be to have more music/art classes available. Richland has band and art classes, but no choir or theatrical classes.... Read 11 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Average teacher salary $56,368

• Branson, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.21 out of 5  19 reviews

Senior: I loved my experience at Branson! I attended for 10 years and always felt so welcomed and cared for by all of the teachers and faculty. They were always willing to help and make sure that students felt safe and were getting involved. I loved my time in Branson schools and would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants their children to be in safe hands.... Read 19 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Average teacher salary $47,881

• Rolla, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.25 out of 5  20 reviews

Senior: I have had an amazing experience at Rolla high school. They have a large variety of classes and the teachers do their best to make sure every student succeeds. When a student has tournaments, meets, or games, the teachers make sure to get them what they missed and help them to the best of their abilities. The counselors are always open if you need some help with your schedule or just need to talk. With a big university nearby there are also fairly large amounts of AP, dual credit, and college class opportunities. we also have a large number of international students because of the university too. It's amazing to see how people you wouldn't expect to be friends with will end up as lifelong ones. As far as clubs go RHS has all kinds of clubs and they encourage students to create their own, some of our clubs even go and compete on a large scale.... Read 20 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Average teacher salary $55,836

• Barnard, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.25 out of 5  4 reviews

Senior: I have been a part of the Longhorn Family for 13 years, and I have loved every bit of it. South Nodaway provides a small school experience like no other. I have had the perfect balance of one-on-one education and extracurricular opportunities at South Nodaway.... Read 4 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Average teacher salary $47,189

• Meadville, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  3 reviews

Senior: My experience at Meadville R-IV began in Pre-school. Since Pre-school, our school has improved a lot, however, it still has many problems. The strong subject at our school math, while the other subjects typically lag behind. Although the small classes are great, we do not have as many opportunities as students in bigger schools. Meadville has few organizations and no clubs for the students to join. However, I do like the one on one with teachers, and being able to know almost all of the students in grades Kindergarten through Seniors. Our school has a lot of support from the community, especially in sporting events.... Read 3 reviews

• grade B

• grade A

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Average teacher salary $58,261

• Kansas City, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  91 reviews

Alum: Overall the district had amazing faculty that genuinely cared about your success. There were lots of academic opportunities including AP classes, Honors courses, and a new program that was opened during my senior year- early college academy. I always felt safe at school as well as any school in the district. As you move through the years, more and more responsibility is placed on you as the student and less on parents/guardians. I personally wasn't part of clubs or organizations but I always saw signs up in the hallways for them, there were a lot to offer. The counselors are amazing! That is one thing I can say with no doubt in my mind. I used my counselor all the time and for the most part, they were always happy to help and they could almost always help. Early college academy was a weird transition, but my counselors were always there to help and make sure I was doing okay. The students weren't always the greatest but there isn't much you can change about that.... Read 91 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Average teacher salary $58,593

• Jackson, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.5 out of 5  34 reviews

Parent: The experiences that my son liked the most are the large quantity of classes that are offered. They offer several AP and dual credit on the high school campus being taught by teachers he is familiar with. He didn't have to drive to a college campus or satellite campus to take them. The school has a large variety of elective classes, clubs, and sports to choose as well. He has been heavily involved in marching band and jazz band throughout his high school career. The teachers are always willing to go above and beyond to help with what ever needs students have. His experience at Jackson High School has been great!... Read 34 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Average teacher salary $48,061

• St Louis, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  21 reviews

Parent: Mt children attend Hancock Place school district, and we absolutely love it! They are very up to date with their technology and academics. The teachers here honestly care about the kids and he'll them in any way they can in order to help them succeed. They offer programs so the kids can earn college credit while still in high school, and they have the A+ program which helps with college tuition after the kids graduate. We are very happy here!... Read 21 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B+

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Average teacher salary $71,482

• Blue Eye, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  8 reviews

Senior: I have attended Blue Eye since kindergarten, and I love it. The school is a big part of our community offering care and support. It's easy to make lifelong friends. I will be attending college in the fall of 2020 with my best friends who I met while in preschool. I’m excited because I will have my support group at college. The administrators always help students and teachers set aside time to help individual students. For instance, during my freshman year I struggled with math, and my teacher stayed after school to help me. Students are great at intervening and taking care of problems as well. They constantly work hard with the faculty to make sure everyone is safe. The counselor is the absolute best. She has personally supported me through several rough times. She has worked closely with me during my senior year to get me ready for college. She has showed me how to get scholarships to finance my education. There are many reasons and moments that capture my experience at Blue Eye.... Read 8 reviews

• grade B

• grade A minus

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Average teacher salary $63,294

• Park Hills, MO•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.29 out of 5  17 reviews

Senior: I absolutely loved Central R-III School District! I have always been treated very well all throughout my years there and I went there from kindergarten through high school.... Read 17 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Average teacher salary $56,248