Missouri Gold Star Schools Program

Missouri Gold Star Schools Program

Missouri Gold Star School

This state program recognizes high-achieving and improving schools and is administered by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Up to eight schools are selected each year with at least one third (3) identified as disadvantaged schools. To be nominated, schools must have at least 100 students enrolled and have assessment data for at least 10 students in each tested grade for both English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics. The complete methodology and criteria used to award Gold Star Schools can be found here.

2025 Missouri Gold Star Schools

  • Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience, St. Louis Public Schools
  • Conway Elementary, Ladue School District
  • East Elementary, Ozark School District
  • Eugene Field Elementary, Poplar Bluff School District
  • Green Forest Elementary, Green Forest R-II School District
  • James Walker, Blue Springs School District
  • Marion County Elementary, Marion County R-II Schools
  • Steam Academy Middle School, Ferguson-Florissant School District

2024 National Blue Ribbon and Missouri Gold Star Schools

  • 2024 Gold Star Schools List
  • Bristol Elementary school, Webster Groves School District
  • Meramec Elementary School, Clayton School District
  • Metro Academic and Classical High School, St. Louis Public School District
  • Oakwood Elementary School, Hannibal 60 School District
  • Ralph M. Captain Elementary School, Clayton School District
  • Richland Elementary School, Richland R-I School District
  • Voy Spears, Jr. Elementary Schol, Blue Springs R-IV School District
  • William Yates Elementary School, Blue Springs R-IV School District 

2023 National Blue Ribbon and Missouri Gold Star Schools

  • Betty Wheeler Classical Junior Academy, St. Louis Public Schools
  • Chesterfield Elementary School, Rockwood School District
  • South High School, Fort Zumwalt School District
  • Harry S. Truman Elementary School, Webb City School District
  • Mallinckrodt Academy of Gifted Instruction, St. Louis Public Schools
  • Mathews Elementary School, Nixa Public Schools
  • Pierremont Elementary School, Parkway School District
  • Reed Elementary School, Ladue School District 

2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools and Missouri Gold Star Schools

  • Blair Oaks Elementary School, Blair Oaks R-II School District
  • Chapel Lakes Elementary School, Blue Springs R-IV School District
  • Dewey Elementary School, Chillicothe R-II School District
  • Epic Elementary School, Liberty 53 School District
  • Eugene Field Elementary School, Webb City R-VII School District
  • Kirkwood Senior High School, Kirkwood R-VII School District
  • Nixa High School, Nixa Public Schools

2021 National Blue Ribbon and Missouri Gold Star Schools

  • Bloomfield Middle School, Bloomfield R-XIV School District
  • Delta Woods Middle School, Blue Springs R-IV School District
  • Wydown Middle School, Clayton School District
  • Francis Howell Middle School, Francis Howell R-III School District
  • Skyline Middle School, Hickory Co. R-I School District
  • North Kirkwood Middle School, Kirkwood R-VII School District
  • Mansfield Junior High School, Mansfield R-IV School District
  • Wilson’s Creek 5-6 Intermediate Center, Springfield R-XII School District

2020 National Blue Ribbon and Missouri Gold Star Schools

  • Clayton High School, Clayton School District
  • Festus Elementary School, Festus R-VI School District
  • Francis Howell High School, Francis Howell R-III School District
  • Lincoln Elementary School, St. Charles R-VI School District
  • Rose Acres Elementary School, Pattonville R-III School District
  • Sunny Pointe Elementary School, Blue Springs R-IV School District
  • West Elementary School, Ozark R-VI School District

Description of the Missouri Gold Star Schools Program 

Missouri’s Gold Star Schools program was established by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in 1991. It is designed to identify schools that are performing at a high level academically or making exceptional progress.

In order to recommend a school to the Commissioner of Education as a Missouri Gold Star School, the school must meet the nomination criteria outlined by Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The Missouri Gold Star Program recognizes schools whose students achieve at very high levels or schools that make significant progress in closing the achievement gap. The program sets a standard of excellence for all schools striving for the highest level of achievement. 

Missouri may nominate up to eight (8) schools for the award. One-third of the schools (3) must be identified as disadvantaged schools. To be nominated, schools must have at least 100 students enrolled. In addition, nominated schools must have assessment data for at least 10 students in each tested grade for both English language arts (ELA) and mathematics.

This program was based on the Federal Blue Ribbon Schools Program that was discontinued in 2025. Missouri will continue to recognize schools at the state level with the Gold Star School Program. Below is a list of all of the Missouroi schools that received the Blue Ribbon Schools Award.

Contact Information 

Kathleen Schwartze, Assistant Director- Federal Programs
Gold Star Schools
573 751-6830