SDOW: Beyond the Letter Grade

The School District of Washington (SDOW) is one of the largest geographical school districts in Missouri, spanning about 254 square miles in Franklin, Warren, and St. Charles counties.  SDOW operates as fiscally independent of the State of Missouri or any other jurisdiction in the county or local township in which it operates.  The District includes an Early Learning Center, seven Elementary (K-6) schools, one Middle School (7-8), one High School, and a career technical education center.  SDOW currently provides educations to approximately 3500 students K-12.  The student to teacher ratios for the District are 15:1 for elementary schools, 14:1 for middle school, and 23:1 for high school.

SDOW offers a broad range of programs for students including gifted/talented, English as a Second Language, fine arts, advanced college placement, interscholastic and intermural athletics, assistance for at-risk students, and more.  The District also provides services beyond the broad K-12.  The Early Learning Center provides early childhood services for children before they enter Kindergarten.  The Four Rivers Career Center (FRCC) serves students from Washington high school as well as eight other high schools in the area.  High School students may also participate in the Early College Academy, which partners with East Central College to allow juniors and seniors to gain college credit and earn as much as an Associate’s Degree by the time they graduate high School.

In 2023 the School District of Washington utilized input from various stakeholders such as staff, parents, and community members to update its Strategic Plan (see image for summary).  These goals have manifested in initiatives such as the implementation of a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) that uses data-driven decision making to provide access to interventions for students who need it.  The focus on Climate and Culture has resulted in multiple awards, including State School of Character at Washington Middle School, Champions of Character at Campbellton Elementary, and Missouri SWPBS Recognition Award of Excellence at Clearview Elementary.  The District hasalso used Connect Washington to partner with local business and prepare students for the workforce (see Our Community for more about this program!).  These are just a few of the ways that SDOW has committed to inspiring achievement, character, and personal growth in all students as they pursue and succeed in college, careers, and life.

The Washington, MO area is located on the Missouri at the intersection of Highways 100 and 47, with Amtrak and Union Pacific Railroads serving the town.  With more than 300 retail stores, it is the largest shopping community between St. Louis and Jefferson City, serving a shopping population of over 150,000.  Washington also has a growing visitor industry, attracted by boat access to the Missouri River, a historical downtown area, and wineries throughout the area.

The School District of Washington has a great relationship with the local community.  Washington’s Investment in Great Schools Foundation (WINGS) was founded in 1993 and provides annual program grants to the District teachers from funds raised through its own fundraising efforts.  In 2021 the District launched Connect Washington with our partners in the City of Washington, Washington Area Chamber of Commerce, and Downtown Washington, Inc.  Connect Washington’s goal is to ensure eachs tudent has an opportunity to explore their workforce passions and interests prior to graduation from Washington High School.  This program has grown to 150 business partners and has already received economic recognition by the Eash-West Gateway Council of Government, national corporations, and area governmental agencies.

In order to foster support and pride for our local students and schools, “Blue Friday” was launched as a community initiative by the School District of Washington, St. Francis Borgia High School, Washington Chamber of Commerce, and Downtown Washington, Inc.  All residents, businesses, students, parents, and community members are encouraged to don the color blue every Friday as a symbol of our collective committment to our community’s young minds and their academic and extracurricular success.

Understanding the A-F Pilot Framework

In the coming days or weeks, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will release pilot A-F letter grades for public school districts across the state, created following an executive order signed by Governor Mike Kehoe in January. 

It is important to note that these pilot ratings are preliminary and based on standardized test data from the 2024-25 school year.  The state is still refining how these scores are calculated, therefore, we fully expect the underlying evaluation framework and local ratings to evolve over time.  

Along with other district leaders across Missouri, we have shared constructive feedback with state officials regarding the accelerated timeline and methodology of this system, and we will continue advocating for measures that accurately reflect school quality.

Our Primary Accountability Is to You

District Priorities

Our true measure of success comes from the priorities our community has established.  Through surveys, feedback meetings, various committees and school board meetings, you told us what matters most, and we have taken direct action:

• Safety & Security: We enhanced districtwide safety protocols by installing secure vestibules, adding window safety film, expanding School Resource Officer (SRO) presence, adopting the Raptor emergency response platform, training threat assessment teams, and implementing character and digital citizenship programs. (Parent survey satisfaction increased from 83% to 89%.)
• Transparent Communication:  We streamlined district messaging through ParentSquare to ensure accessible, consistent, timely updates for every family. (Parent survey satisfaction increased from 78% to 94%.)
• School Culture & Climate:  We created more opportunities for family partnerships and input.  We focused heavily on building welcoming, supportive school environments. (Parent survey satisfaction increased from 69% to 81%.)
• Targeted Academic Growth:  We expanded our Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) to provide structured intervention for learners needing extra help and enrichment for advanced students. This process is designed to meet your child’s individual needs. (Parent survey satisfaction increased from 67% to 83%.