Is Ralph M. Captain Elementary a good school?

Yes! Ralph M. Captain Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 15 th of 906 Missouri elementary schools.

How many students attend Ralph M. Captain Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 287 students attended Ralph M. Captain Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Ralph M. Captain Elementary?

Students at Ralph M. Captain Elementary are 71% White, 10% African American, 8% Two or more races, 6% Asian, 5% Hispanic.

What schools do graduates of Ralph M. Captain Elementary attend?

Students who attend Ralph M. Captain Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : Wydown Middle High : Clayton High

Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Summary:

Ralph M. Captain Elementary is a highly-regarded public elementary school in Clayton, Missouri, serving 283 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. This school consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in the state, with exceptional academic performance and low chronic absenteeism rates.

Ralph M. Captain Elementary's students excel on the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) tests, with proficiency rates significantly higher than the state and Clayton School District averages across all grade levels and subject areas. The school's student demographics also stand out, with only 10-14% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, in contrast to nearby schools like Pershing Elementary and Jackson Park Elementary, which have much higher rates of over 90% free/reduced lunch. Additionally, Ralph M. Captain Elementary maintains a low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 9.2 to 10.9 students per teacher in recent years.

The consistent high performance of Ralph M. Captain Elementary is impressive, as the school has maintained its status as one of the top-performing elementary schools in Missouri for over a decade. This level of excellence is likely due to a combination of factors, including strong district leadership, effective resource allocation, and a focus on teacher development. The presence of other highly-ranked schools, such as Meramec Elementary and Glenridge Elementary, in close proximity to Ralph M. Captain Elementary suggests that the Clayton School District as a whole is providing a high-quality education to its students.

Detail:

Public K-5

6345 Northwood Ave
Clayton, MO 63105-2220

(314) 854-6100

District: Clayton

SchoolDigger Rank:
15^th of 906 Missouri Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $21,564

Students who attend Ralph M. Captain Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Wydown Middle
High:	Clayton High

Student/teacher ratio: 9.1

Number of students: 287

Racial breakdown:

White:

71.4%

African American:

9.8%

Two or more races:

7.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 5.6%

See top rated Missouri elementary schools

Compare Ralph M. Captain Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Ralph M. Captain Elementary ranks better than 98.3% of elementary schools in Missouri. It also ranks 2^nd among 3 ranked elementary schools in the Clayton School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 96.26. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (71.4%), African American (9.8%), two or more races (7.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 5.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Ralph M. Captain Elementary is 9.1, which is the 2^nd best among 3 elementary schools in the Clayton School District. (See more...)

Compare Ralph M. Captain Elementary employs 31.4 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Ralph M. Captain Elementary is $21,564, which is the 2^nd highest among 3 elementary schools in the Clayton School District.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Ralph M. Captain Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Ralph M. Captain Elementary 15^th of 906 Missouri public elementary schools. (See Ralph M. Captain Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

White students:

Clayton:

SchoolDigger ranks Clayton 4^th of 386 Missouri school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Ralph M. Captain Elementary.

What do you think?

Your rating for Ralph M. Captain Elementary?

(Ranking FAQ)

Rank History for Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Compare

Rank History for all students at Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MO State Percentile
2006	81.77	112^th	1074	89.6%
2007	86.39	67^th	1080	93.8%
2008	89.11	45^th	1084	95.8%
2009	89.29	62^nd	1053	94.1%
2010	93.00	29^th	1066	97.3%
2011	91.95	26^th	1088	97.6%
2012	91.58	29^th	1085	97.3%
2013	92.26	26^th	1108	97.7%
2014	96.74	5^th	1089	99.5%
2015	95.28	12^th	1058	98.9%
2016	92.31	21^st	865	97.6%
2017	89.07	58^th	1032	94.4%
2018	91.02	47^th	1045	95.5%
2019	86.83	88^th	1052	91.6%
2021	90.25	58^th	901	93.6%
2022	89.24	71^st	908	92.2%
2023	97.84	10^th	898	98.9%
2024	96.26	15^th	906	98.3%

See the entire list of Missouri Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	57.85	325^th	887	63.4%
2019	46.86	489^th	907	46.1%

See the entire list of Best Missouri Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	47.70	65^th	91	28.6%

See the entire list of Best Missouri Elementary Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for African American students at Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	83.38	21^st	243	91.4%

See the entire list of Best Missouri Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for White students at Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MO State Percentile
2018	92.33	35^th	898	96.1%
2019	89.79	46^th	917	95.0%
2021	87.82	63^rd	691	90.9%
2022	95.03	13^th	675	98.1%
2023	97.93	4^th	673	99.4%
2024	95.96	8^th	668	98.8%

See the entire list of Best Missouri Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1991	0	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	335	335
1992	218	86	16	4	2	n/a	n/a	0	326
1993	245	82	15	5	2	n/a	n/a	0	349
1994	230	104	22	5	3	n/a	n/a	0	364
1995	223	69	17	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	316
1996	223	69	17	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	316
1997	239	68	17	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	327
1998	235	70	18	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	326
1999	216	68	24	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	311
2000	213	70	18	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	304
2001	203	79	11	1	2	n/a	n/a	0	296
2002	196	83	18	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	299
2003	196	83	18	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	299
2004	214	83	16	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	319
2005	232	82	21	8	0	n/a	n/a	0	343
2006	210	71	13	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	299
2007	229	72	17	9	0	n/a	n/a	0	327
2008	211	73	25	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	315
2009	212	75	19	8	0	n/a	n/a	0	314
2010	216	74	21	9	0	n/a	n/a	0	320
2011	228	71	22	11	0	0	0	0	332
2012	250	70	20	13	0	0	3	0	356
2013	255	13	19	17	0	0	10	0	314
2014	254	54	19	13	0	0	13	0	353
2015	244	48	20	12	0	0	19	0	343
2016	240	54	25	11	0	0	27	0	357
2017	243	52	31	8	1	0	34	0	369
2018	235	57	27	10	1	1	35	0	366
2019	221	50	22	17	0	1	36	0	347
2020	213	44	28	16	0	1	29	0	331
2021	205	50	27	17	0	1	24	0	324
2022	195	44	20	13	0	1	23	0	296
2023	187	40	17	13	0	0	26	0	283
2024	205	28	18	14	0	0	22	0	287

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1991	335	24.4	13.7	n/a
1992	326	23.4	13.9	22.1
1993	349	23.0	15.2	24.6
1994	364	22.3	16.3	0
1995	316	25.0	12.6	28.2
1996	316	25.0	12.6	28.2
1997	327	26.7	12.2	16.5
1998	326	25.5	12.8	15.3
1999	311	24.7	12.6	24.8
2000	304	25.2	12.1	18.1
2001	296	25.9	11.4	26.4
2002	299	25.9	11.5	13.7
2003	299	25.9	11.5	13.7
2004	319	26.9	11.9	19.1
2005	343	26.9	12.8	19.8
2006	299	25.9	11.5	16.4
2007	327	24.9	13.1	15
2008	315	28.1	11.2	6
2009	314	28.8	10.9	12.1
2010	320	28.8	11.1	8.1
2011	332	30.7	10.7	7.2
2012	356	30.6	11.5	9
2013	314	31.8	9.8	7.6
2014	353	30.8	11.4	15
2015	343	30.0	11.4	16.6
2016	357	31.0	11.5	15.1
2017	369	30.4	12.1	13
2018	366	30.9	11.8	15.8
2019	347	30.9	11.2	15
2020	331	30.9	10.6	10
2021	324	29.4	10.9	14.2
2022	296	29.9	9.8	10.5
2023	283	30.4	9.2	10.6
2024	287	31.4	9.1	5.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1991	335	24.4	13.7	n/a
1992	326	23.4	13.9	22.1
1993	349	23.0	15.2	24.6
1994	364	22.3	16.3	0
1995	316	25.0	12.6	28.2
1996	316	25.0	12.6	28.2
1997	327	26.7	12.2	16.5
1998	326	25.5	12.8	15.3
1999	311	24.7	12.6	24.8
2000	304	25.2	12.1	18.1
2001	296	25.9	11.4	26.4
2002	299	25.9	11.5	13.7
2003	299	25.9	11.5	13.7
2004	319	26.9	11.9	19.1
2005	343	26.9	12.8	19.8
2006	299	25.9	11.5	16.4
2007	327	24.9	13.1	15
2008	315	28.1	11.2	6
2009	314	28.8	10.9	12.1
2010	320	28.8	11.1	8.1
2011	332	30.7	10.7	7.2
2012	356	30.6	11.5	9
2013	314	31.8	9.8	7.6
2014	353	30.8	11.4	15
2015	343	30.0	11.4	16.6
2016	357	31.0	11.5	15.1
2017	369	30.4	12.1	13
2018	366	30.9	11.8	15.8
2019	347	30.9	11.2	15
2020	331	30.9	10.6	10
2021	324	29.4	10.9	14.2
2022	296	29.9	9.8	10.5
2023	283	30.4	9.2	10.6
2024	287	31.4	9.1	5.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$457 (2.6%)	$16,894 (97.4%)	$17,351
2020	$67 (0.4%)	$18,213 (99.6%)	$18,280
2021	$988 (5.2%)	$17,934 (94.8%)	$18,922
2022	$617 (2.9%)	$20,947 (97.1%)	$21,564

Data source: Missouri Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Ralph M. Captain Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 88^th of 1052 Elementary schools	Ranks 10^th of 898 Elementary schools	7.3%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Ralph M. Captain Elementary)	68.7	44	24.7%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Clayton)	71.4	62.3	9.1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Missouri)	46	39.7	6.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Ralph M. Captain Elementary)	74.6	79.6	5%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Clayton)	76.9	74.3	2.6%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Missouri)	48.7	42.4	6.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Ralph M. Captain Elementary)	79.1	75	4.1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Clayton)	79.4	76.8	2.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Missouri)	46.8	43.8	3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Ralph M. Captain Elementary)	78.7	77.1	1.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Clayton)	75.6	76.5	0.9%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Missouri)	49.3	45.9	3.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (Ralph M. Captain Elementary)	50.8	85	34.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Clayton)	64.3	79.9	15.6%
5th Grade Mathematics (Missouri)	40.3	39.1	1.2%
5th Grade Science (Ralph M. Captain Elementary)	54.4	81.7	27.3%
5th Grade Science (Clayton)	64.8	76.9	12.1%
5th Grade Science (Missouri)	42.5	40.9	1.6%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Ralph M. Captain Elementary)	61.9	81.6	19.7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Clayton)	67.1	76.2	9.1%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Missouri)	47.1	44.1	3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	347	283	18.4%
African American	50	40	20%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	22	17	22.7%
Hispanic	17	13	23.5%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	221	187	15.4%
Two or More Races	36	26	27.8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	15%	10.6%	4.4%

Schools Near Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MAP Mathematics (2024)				MAP Science (2024)	MAP English Language Arts (2024)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MAP Mathematics 6th Grade	MAP Science 5th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Ralph M. Captain Elementary	Public	K-5	6345 Northwood Ave	Clayton	63105	St. Louis County	Clayton	No	No	No	Yes	(314) 854-6100	287	31	9.1	5.6%	205 (71.4%)	28 (9.8%)	14 (4.9%)	18 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (7.7%)	96.3	15^th of 906 public elementary schools	98.3%		97.8	10^th of 898 public elementary schools	98.9%	5	68.5	74.4	76.0		76.0	68.5	82.9	75.4		$21,564	$617	$20,947
Glenridge Elementary	Public	K-5	7447 Wellington Way	Clayton	63105	St. Louis County	Clayton	No	No	No	No	(314) 854-6200	318	30	10.4	6.9%	179 (56.3%)	33 (10.4%)	20 (6.3%)	53 (16.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (10.4%)	96	18^th of 906 public elementary schools	98.0%		92.6	45^th of 898 public elementary schools	95.0%	27	68.8	80.3	77.3		69.7		79.5			$22,267	$612	$21,655
Flynn Park Elementary	Public	K-5	7220 Waterman Ave	University City	63130	St. Louis County	University City	No	No	No	Yes	(314) 290-4421	313	27	11.7	100.0%	100 (31.9%)	147 (47.0%)	24 (7.7%)	10 (3.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (9.9%)	52.7	421^st of 906 public elementary schools	53.5%		47.3	487^th of 898 public elementary schools	45.8%	66	42.7		36.9		35.8	44.1		38.8		$17,520	$2,841	$14,679
Julia Goldstein Early Child.	Public	PK	737 Kingsland Ave	University City	63130	St. Louis County	University City	No	No	No	No	(314) 721-2965	113	12	9.3	100.0%	25 (22.1%)	67 (59.3%)	14 (12.4%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (5.3%)								(n/a)
Mrh Elementary	Public	3-6	7314 Glades Avenue	Richmond Heights	63117	St. Louis County	Maplewood-Richmond Heights	No	No	No	Yes	(314) 644-4403	411	39	10.5	30.7%	268 (65.2%)	67 (16.3%)	28 (6.8%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	42 (10.2%)	84.2	114^th of 906 public elementary schools	87.4%		74.7	190^th of 898 public elementary schools	78.8%	76	44.8	57.8	64.8	50.4	72.0	56.0	75.3	65.9	53.3	$14,155	$620	$13,535
Wilkinson Early Childhood Center	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-2	1921 Prather Ave	Saint Louis	63139	St. Louis city	St. Louis City	No	Yes	No	No	(314) 645-1202	290	25	11.8	100.0%	95 (32.8%)	171 (59.0%)	8 (2.8%)	11 (3.8%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.7%)								(n/a)										$23,742	$1,060	$22,681
Meramec Elementary	Public	K-5	400 S Meramec Ave	Clayton	63105	St. Louis County	Clayton	No	No	No	Yes	(314) 854-6300	393	32	12.4	4.6%	253 (64.4%)	34 (8.7%)	11 (2.8%)	58 (14.8%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (8.4%)	97.7	7^th of 906 public elementary schools	99.2%		98.1	7^th of 898 public elementary schools	99.2%		87.6	81.0	80.7		83.5	64.0	89.3	74.9		$19,052	$577	$18,475
Pershing Elementary	Public	K-5	6761 Bartmer Ave	University City	63130	St. Louis County	University City	No	No	No	Yes	(314) 290-4152	270	27	9.9	100.0%	13 (4.8%)	239 (88.5%)	12 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.2%)	11.5	816^th of 906 public elementary schools	9.9%		12.1	804^th of 898 public elementary schools	10.5%	12	9.2	22.8	5.0		19.6	23.7	18.3			$18,132	$2,903	$15,230
Jackson Park Elementary	Public	K-5	7400 Balson Ave	University City	63130	St. Louis County	University City	No	No	No	Yes	(314) 290-4451	263	24	10.7	100.0%	45 (17.1%)	180 (68.4%)	16 (6.1%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (7.6%)	40.3	556^th of 906 public elementary schools	38.6%		28.1	681^st of 898 public elementary schools	24.2%	125	40.8	37.5	26.3			34.0	40.0			$19,548	$2,790	$16,759
Brentwood Early Childhd Center	Public	PK	2350 St. Clair Ave - Suite B	Brentwood	63144	St. Louis County	Brentwood	No	No	No	No	(314) 262-8521	82	5	15.4	4.9%	52 (63.4%)	1 (1.2%)	3 (3.7%)	18 (22.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (9.8%)								(n/a)

Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Ralph M. Captain Elementary:

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Clayton:

Average Rating:

What do you think?

Rank History for Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Rank History for all students at Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Rank History for African American students at Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Rank History for White students at Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Review counts

Enrollment information for Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Student/Teacher Ratio Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Per Pupil Expenditures for Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Impact of COVID-19 on Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Frequently Asked Questions about Ralph M. Captain Elementary

Rate Ralph M. Captain Elementary!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Sign up for updates!