Ladue Horton Watkins High

Summary:

Ladue Horton Watkins High is a public high school in Saint Louis, Missouri, serving 1,313 students in grades 9-12. It is part of the Ladue School District, which is ranked 8th out of 386 districts in the state and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. Ladue Horton Watkins High has consistently been ranked among the top high schools in Missouri over the past decade, with a current statewide ranking of 57 out of 378 high schools.

Ladue Horton Watkins High stands out for its exceptional academic performance, with significantly higher percentages of students scoring proficient or better on standardized tests compared to the state average. For example, in 2023-2024, 71% of Ladue Horton Watkins High students scored proficient or better in English II, compared to the state average of 51.3%. The school also boasts an exceptionally high four-year graduation rate, ranging from 97.2% to 97.9% over the past few years, and a very low dropout rate of 0.4% to 0.8%. In contrast, nearby schools like Ritenour Senior High and University City Senior High have much lower test scores, graduation rates, and higher percentages of students from low-income families.

While Ladue Horton Watkins High generally performs well across different student subgroups, including Asian, African American, Hispanic, White, and multi-racial students, the school's rankings for special education and low-income students are not as high as in other areas. Additionally, the school's chronic absenteeism rate has increased from 13.8% in 2023-2024 to 24.1% in 2022-2023, which is an area the school may want to address. Overall, Ladue Horton Watkins High is a high-performing school that offers a strong academic environment for its students, but there are a few areas where the school could potentially improve to further enhance its outcomes.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 1201 S Warson Rd
       Saint Louis, MO  63124-1266


(314) 993-6447

District: Ladue

SchoolDigger Rank:
57th of 378 Missouri High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $15,503 Help


Feeder schools for Ladue Horton Watkins High:

Elementary:    Conway Elementary
    Old Bonhomme Elementary
    Reed Elementary
    Spoede Elementary
Middle:    Ladue Fifth Grade Center
    Ladue Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  14.0 Help
Number of students:  1,325

Racial breakdown:

White:
53.7%
African American:
17.0%
Asian:
15.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  9.7% Help


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 Compare Ladue Horton Watkins High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Ladue Horton Watkins High ranks better than 84.9% of high schools in Missouri. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 70.14. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Ladue Horton Watkins High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Help
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
Help
Compare Details Student population at Ladue Horton Watkins High is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (53.7%), African American (17%), Asian (15.9%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 9.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Ladue Horton Watkins High is 14. (See more...)
Help
Compare Ladue Horton Watkins High employs 94.2 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Ladue Horton Watkins High is $15,503.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Ladue Horton Watkins High:

SchoolDigger ranks Ladue Horton Watkins High 57th of 378 Missouri public high schools. (See Ladue Horton Watkins High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Gifted and Talented students:
Asian students:
African American students:
White students:


Ladue:

SchoolDigger ranks Ladue 8th of 386 Missouri school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Ladue Horton Watkins High?

Rank History for Ladue Horton Watkins High

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Ladue Horton Watkins High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 88.13 24th 534 95.5%
2007 90.14 15th 538 97.2%
2008 86.61 30th 539 94.4%
2009 56.30 184th 507 63.7%
2010 60.90 147th 516 71.5%
2011 52.07 245th 528 53.6%
2012 66.35 101st 522 80.7%
2013 65.84 90th 523 82.8%
2014 68.30 84th 521 83.9%
2015 64.25 124th 504 75.4%
2016 78.97 30th 401 92.5%
2017 74.54 76th 404 81.2%
2018 80.71 23rd 468 95.1%
2019 85.11 19th 460 95.9%
2021 91.97 7th 358 98.0%
2022 86.22 19th 361 94.7%
2023 82.46 19th 352 94.6%
2024 70.14 57th 378 84.9%
See the entire list of Missouri High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Ladue Horton Watkins High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 83.90 7th 59 88.1%
2024 71.97 6th 39 84.6%
See the entire list of Best Missouri High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Ladue Horton Watkins High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 57.37 41st 127 67.7%
2024 78.48 21st 135 84.4%
See the entire list of Best Missouri High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Ladue Horton Watkins High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.76 255th 382 33.2%
2019 29.05 289th 368 21.5%
2022 67.26 52nd 250 79.2%
2023 28.42 206th 268 23.1%
2024 33.66 192nd 274 29.9%
See the entire list of Best Missouri High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Ladue Horton Watkins High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 61.96 38th 95 60.0%
2019 72.79 26th 103 74.8%
2021 87.91 9th 129 93.0%
2022 83.20 11th 111 90.1%
See the entire list of Best Missouri High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Ladue Horton Watkins High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 42.94 75th 100 25.0%
2019 60.98 36th 96 62.5%
2022 55.09 21st 45 53.3%
2023 69.10 14th 47 70.2%
2024 64.39 17th 47 63.8%
See the entire list of Best Missouri High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Ladue Horton Watkins High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 65.83 12th 38 68.4%
2019 80.01 7th 38 81.6%
2021 75.63 2nd 20 90.0%
2022 76.00 3rd 15 80.0%
2023 83.79 2nd 11 81.8%
2024 60.97 7th 15 53.3%
See the entire list of Best Missouri High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Ladue Horton Watkins High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 68.27 20th 111 82.0%
2019 57.74 35th 106 67.0%
2022 77.47 15th 105 85.7%
2023 62.78 20th 99 79.8%
2024 45.22 46th 105 56.2%
See the entire list of Best Missouri High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Ladue Horton Watkins High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 75.66 12th 84 85.7%
2019 69.09 23rd 91 74.7%
See the entire list of Best Missouri High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Ladue Horton Watkins High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 83.07 24th 440 94.5%
2019 87.41 16th 430 96.3%
2021 94.83 4th 309 98.7%
2022 87.00 15th 310 95.2%
2023 85.43 15th 302 95.0%
2024 70.65 44th 321 86.3%
See the entire list of Best Missouri High 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.

Ladue Horton Watkins High Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
Facebook Profile Picture by a parent on FaceBook
Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Open Quote The ranking for Ladue Schools on this site are flat out wrong. The high schools math scores are reported here as abysmal while Ladue is consistently in the top 2 school districts in the state as rated by the state and other reputable ranking organizations. The people at school digger must be held accountable for their obvious mistake. If you are looking to move into this district get the story from a realtor that knows the school district. Close Quote


by a student
Thursday, March 24, 2011

Open Quote Ladue High School is the best high school i have been to. It has a private school feel, yet it is a public school, and has the large varieties that public schools have. I would recommend this school to every student out there. It is a one of a kind school. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Ladue Horton Watkins High

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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 898 898
1992 630 235 42 7 0 n/a n/a 0 914
1993 671 247 43 7 0 n/a n/a 0 968
1994 697 261 47 17 1 n/a n/a 0 1023
1995 703 261 53 14 1 n/a n/a 0 1032
1996 703 261 53 14 1 n/a n/a 0 1032
1997 712 276 55 9 0 n/a n/a 0 1052
1998 727 273 44 7 0 n/a n/a 0 1051
1999 702 284 44 5 0 n/a n/a 0 1035
2000 751 280 42 11 0 n/a n/a 0 1084
2001 758 265 37 16 0 n/a n/a 0 1076
2002 801 268 52 18 1 n/a n/a 0 1140
2003 801 268 52 18 1 n/a n/a 0 1140
2004 767 237 61 17 1 n/a n/a 0 1083
2005 794 226 77 14 1 n/a n/a 0 1112
2006 808 234 89 13 1 n/a n/a 0 1145
2007 859 226 96 17 2 n/a n/a 0 1200
2008 873 232 92 16 3 n/a n/a 0 1216
2009 850 213 94 24 4 n/a n/a 0 1185
2010 863 216 88 31 4 n/a n/a 0 1202
2011 824 211 117 48 3 0 38 0 1241
2012 792 210 118 51 3 0 46 0 1220
2013 808 224 129 57 4 0 49 0 1271
2014 789 253 131 53 4 0 51 0 1281
2015 747 280 132 65 3 0 43 0 1270
2016 776 261 157 64 3 0 40 0 1301
2017 736 255 161 73 4 0 47 0 1276
2018 754 227 176 73 4 0 50 0 1284
2019 764 210 197 79 5 0 56 0 1311
2020 734 217 208 78 4 0 74 0 1315
2021 747 211 219 71 3 0 86 0 1337
2022 704 220 217 74 2 0 89 0 1306
2023 721 219 213 63 1 0 96 0 1313
2024 711 225 211 71 0 0 107 0 1325

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 Ladue Horton Watkins High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1991 898 69.4 12.9 n/a
1992 914 69.8 13.0 n/a
1993 968 72.7 13.3 n/a
1994 1023 78.2 13.1 5.4
1995 1032 84.0 12.3 n/a
1996 1032 84.0 12.3 n/a
1997 1052 84.8 12.4 2.9
1998 1051 85.9 12.2 4.5
1999 1035 85.6 12.1 6
2000 1084 88.4 12.3 4.6
2001 1076 94.6 11.4 4
2002 1140 91.8 12.4 3.1
2003 1140 91.8 12.4 3.1
2004 1083 93.5 11.6 4.1
2005 1112 92.0 12.1 5.9
2006 1145 85.0 13.5 7.5
2007 1200 83.9 14.3 6.5
2008 1216 93.9 12.9 6.3
2009 1185 95.1 12.5 6.7
2010 1202 96.6 12.4 7.8
2011 1241 93.1 13.3 9.8
2012 1220 85.6 14.2 11.8
2013 1271 86.7 14.6 12.2
2014 1281 87.9 14.5 13
2015 1270 88.0 14.4 13.1
2016 1301 90.0 14.4 11.9
2017 1276 89.0 14.3 11.6
2018 1284 89.0 14.4 9.3
2019 1311 88.7 14.7 8.2
2020 1315 90.6 14.5 9.9
2021 1337 92.9 14.3 7.7
2022 1306 94.0 13.8 7.6
2023 1313 94.9 13.8 12.2
2024 1325 94.2 14.0 9.7

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 Ladue Horton Watkins High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1991 898 69.4 12.9 n/a
1992 914 69.8 13.0 n/a
1993 968 72.7 13.3 n/a
1994 1023 78.2 13.1 5.4
1995 1032 84.0 12.3 n/a
1996 1032 84.0 12.3 n/a
1997 1052 84.8 12.4 2.9
1998 1051 85.9 12.2 4.5
1999 1035 85.6 12.1 6
2000 1084 88.4 12.3 4.6
2001 1076 94.6 11.4 4
2002 1140 91.8 12.4 3.1
2003 1140 91.8 12.4 3.1
2004 1083 93.5 11.6 4.1
2005 1112 92.0 12.1 5.9
2006 1145 85.0 13.5 7.5
2007 1200 83.9 14.3 6.5
2008 1216 93.9 12.9 6.3
2009 1185 95.1 12.5 6.7
2010 1202 96.6 12.4 7.8
2011 1241 93.1 13.3 9.8
2012 1220 85.6 14.2 11.8
2013 1271 86.7 14.6 12.2
2014 1281 87.9 14.5 13
2015 1270 88.0 14.4 13.1
2016 1301 90.0 14.4 11.9
2017 1276 89.0 14.3 11.6
2018 1284 89.0 14.4 9.3
2019 1311 88.7 14.7 8.2
2020 1315 90.6 14.5 9.9
2021 1337 92.9 14.3 7.7
2022 1306 94.0 13.8 7.6
2023 1313 94.9 13.8 12.2
2024 1325 94.2 14.0 9.7

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 Ladue Horton Watkins High

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $24 (0.2%) $13,796 (99.8%) $13,820
2020 $66 (0.5%) $13,146 (99.5%) $13,212
2021 $208 (1.5%) $14,036 (98.5%) $14,244
2022 $112 (0.7%) $15,391 (99.3%) $15,502

Data source: Missouri Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Ladue Horton Watkins High

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 19th of 460 High schoolsRanks 19th of 352 High schools
 1.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
End of Course Algebra I (Ladue Horton Watkins High)75.359.7
 15.6%
   End of Course Algebra I (Ladue)75.367.2
 8.1%
   End of Course Algebra I (Missouri)45.341.5
 3.8%
End of Course Biology I (Ladue Horton Watkins High)5460.6
 6.6%
   End of Course Biology I (Ladue)5460.6
 6.6%
   End of Course Biology I (Missouri)39.238.5
 0.7%
End of Course English II (Ladue Horton Watkins High)72.766.5
 6.2%
   End of Course English II (Ladue)72.766.5
 6.2%
   End of Course English II (Missouri)5954.4
 4.6%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students13111313
 0.2%
African American210219
 4.3%
American Indian51
 80%
Asian197213
 8.1%
Hispanic7963
 20.3%
Pacific Islander00
White764721
 5.6%
Two or More Races5696
 71.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients8.2%12.2%
 3.9%


Schools Near Ladue Horton Watkins High









Frequently Asked Questions about Ladue Horton Watkins High

Ladue Horton Watkins High ranks 57th of 378 Missouri high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,325 students attended Ladue Horton Watkins High.

Ladue Horton Watkins High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Conway Elementary
Elementary : Old Bonhomme Elementary
Elementary : Reed Elementary
Elementary : Spoede Elementary
Middle : Ladue Fifth Grade Center
Middle : Ladue Middle

Students at Ladue Horton Watkins High are 54% White, 17% African American, 16% Asian, 8% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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