Elementary Age Population Decline, School Closures, and Access to Public Elementary School Options in St. Louis City

In this brief, we examine the relationship between changes in the elementary age population in St. Louis City, school closures, and access to public elementary school options across the city.* We find:

• The elementary age population (five-to-nine year olds) in St. Louis City declined by 2,000 children between the 2010–14 American Community Survey (ACS) and the 2015–19 ACS.

• Forty-nine of 79 city neighborhoods (62%) lost five-to-nine year olds, and these neighborhoods lost on average 32% of their elementary age population.

• Most of the elementary age population decline was driven by a decrease in the number of Black five-to-nine year olds in north city.

• The highest numbers of five-to-nine year olds per square mile are in neighborhoods in southeast city.

• Half of public elementary age students attend district schools, and half attend charter schools.

• Thirty-two of the city’s neighborhoods have no schools serving elementary age students. Twenty-three have only district schools, 11 have only charter schools, and 13 have both.

• The ratio of elementary schools to children is higher in south city neighborhoods than in north city neighborhoods.

• Charters are more likely to be located in neighborhoods with relatively higher-performing rather than lower-performing district schools.

*This brief has been updated from its original version for clarity. The term “quality schools” was replaced with “access to public elementary school options.”