10/31/24
University City Schools Achieve Unmatched Gains in St. Louis
The Takeaway
The School District of University City (SDUC) has emerged as one of the most improved districts in academic growth in St. Louis County since the pandemic, a testament to its focus on high expectations, strategic planning, and instructional excellence. This progress is the result of a strong partnership between the district, under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Sharonica Hardin-Bartley, and The Opportunity Trust, which has provided key support on strategic planning and curriculum implementation.
In comparison to other St. Louis County districts, University City Schools stand out for their impressive academic growth in both mathematics and English Language Arts. While many districts continue to struggle with post-pandemic recovery, University City has made strides that set it apart:
- Mathematics: SDUC’s math proficiency increased significantly, rising 4% points from 2022 to 2023, while the St. Louis County average improved by 1% point. SDUC’s math performance index improved faster than almost 90% of districts statewide (87th percentile), both overall and for historically underperforming students. SDUC was 1 of only 5 districts in St. Louis County to return to pre-pandemic proficiency rates by 2023. The performance index is a measure used by DESE to assess the performance of all students tested, not just those scoring proficient.
- English Language Arts (ELA): SDUC’s overall proficiency rate held steady from 2022 to 2023, but its performance index improved faster than two thirds of districts statewide (the 67th percentile). Among historically underperforming students, SDUC’s performance index improved faster than three quarters of districts statewide (the 76th percentile).
In both subjects, University City’s growth trajectory is noticeably more positive compared to other districts, which have shown declines or slower recovery in proficiency levels.
Any partner that I work with has to be centered on helping me achieve my goals for my students. The Opportunity Trust is no exception. Their agenda is our agenda.
Dr. Sharonica Hardin-Bartley
Dr. Hardin-Bartley began collaborating with The Opportunity Trust in 2018, shortly after stepping into her role as superintendent. Recognizing the importance of strategic expertise, she worked with The Opportunity Trust Founder and CEO Eric Scroggins to connect with educational consultant Alyssa Whitehead-Bust to develop a long-term plan that aligns with the district’s vision of “Learning Reimagined.” This plan, which centers on five strategic priorities, is designed to humanize, personalize, and problematize learning for all students and continues to guide the district’s efforts today.
“The humanizing pillar, that social-emotional piece is where I feel like teachers became better equipped and aware of what students were experiencing in their everyday life,” said Tameka Staten, a longtime parent in the district and newly elected school board member. “Having that teacher-peer trusting relationship established a learning environment that children could thrive in.”
The partnership between University City Schools and The Opportunity Trust has also focused on strengthening curriculum in critical areas such as English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics. Since the inception of this partnership, The Opportunity Trust has invested over $1.3 million in the School District of University City. Through collaborative efforts, the district has implemented high-quality instructional resources like Carnegie Math and provided coaching and support to build capacity among teachers and leaders. Several district educators and leaders have also participated in TOT fellowships and bootcamps to continue professional development. Now, as a participant in the Emerson Early Literacy Challenge, Dr. Hardin-Bartley is doubling down on ELA.
“Literacy is the foundation for all content areas, and so having a coordinated effort to support literacy so that we can ensure that children are, in fact, reading on grade level by third grade is important,” Dr. Hardin-Bartley emphasized.
“It feels good to know that we live in a community where resources are being made available to us. We’re experiencing the same thing that sometimes only people with lots of money only get to experience,” Staten explained.
Dr. Hardin-Bartley highlights that the success of the district is rooted in a combination of factors: a solid instructional core, consistent focus on high expectations, and strong partnerships that align with the district’s goals.
“My hope is that there’s more coordination and more collaboration with schools in a supportive way versus a punitive and negative way,” Dr. Hardin-Bartley said. “What I mean by that is really collaborating with those who are closest to children and leveraging their expertise, scaling up strategies that are working well.”
While the district celebrates its progress, Dr. Hardin-Bartley is clear that there is more work to be done.
“As we continue to raise the bar, our goal is to stay the course so that we can really go deeper with our success and hopefully use them as a solid proof point. One that can be replicated,” Dr. Hardin-Bartley said.
The district’s ongoing collaboration with partners like The Opportunity Trust will continue to play a vital role in helping University City Schools build on its successes and serve as a model for others.
For more information on this partnership and the district’s ongoing work, visit Learning Reimagined or explore The Opportunity Trust’s Reimagining School initiative.