The Wilson School

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The Wilson School Photo #1 - Since 1913, The Wilson School has excelled in reaching every student. Children thrive in deliberately small classes, with two full-time teachers in every grade. Wilson`s size, community, and innovation mean we can offer an excellent education, no matter the circumstances.
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The Wilson School Photo #1 - Since 1913, The Wilson School has excelled in reaching every student. Children thrive in deliberately small classes, with two full-time teachers in every grade. Wilson`s size, community, and innovation mean we can offer an excellent education, no matter the circumstances.
The Wilson School Photo #2 - Integrated LearningOld verbiage: Students at The Wilson School enjoy many opportunities for hands-on exploration, integrated units, and group projects.
The Wilson School Photo #3 - Public speaking is a hallmark of a Wilson education. Students build confidence as they begin speaking in front of small groups as young as three years of age. Leading up to graduation, sixth-grade students prepare a speech that they deliver in front of a large audience as their capstone Wilson experience.
The Wilson School Photo #4 - MYMAGO - old verbiage: "Make Your Mark A Good One" is our school motto. Each month, the entire school participates in a student-led assembly oriented towards the MYMAGO theme. This tradition offers exceptional leadership and public speaking opportunities for all ages. Students who graduate Wilson are poised and at ease speaking to a crowd.
The Wilson School Photo #5 - Buddy Program - old verbiage: The Wilson School buddy program is a special tradition where students in our early childhood program are paired with students from our upper school. Each week, they participate in activities that provide wonderful peer-to-peer learning and friendship opportunities.
The Wilson School Photo #6 - 7:1 student to teacher ratio, two teachers per classroom, individual attention students need for accelerated curriculum
The Wilson School Photo #7 - Newly renovated facilities at The Wilson School include an innovation room, featuring a state-of-the-art immersion wall with 18 flat screen panels. The flexible space will soon become a part of a complete Thinking Lab with tools like 3D printers, a feedback wall, and other areas that mimic the creative process and project-based learning at Wilson.
The Wilson School Photo #8 - The Wilson School takes full advantage of its close proximity to Washington University, museums, and various attractions in and around Forest Park as extensions of the campus. A special partnership with the Zoo affords students many unique opportunities. Wilson students also benefit from a relationship with the Writing Center at Washington University.
The Wilson School Photo #9 - Physical activity provides a nice break from structured learning time. Wilson offers soccer, basketball, and baseball teams through the City of Clayton league each year. Starting in kindergarten, students can also participate in one of three running clubs offered. Students in the upper grades also partake in interscholastic competitions in track and field and flag football.
The Wilson School Photo #10 - Wilson offers a full complement of specialists classes which include music, movement, reading and composition, visual arts, a junior and senior choir, a fifth and sixth-grade musical, French, Latin, Digital Citizenship and coding programs, and library instruction. Specialist classes are offered to all ages beginning in pre-k with the exception of Latin which begins in fourth grade.
As one of the oldest independent elementary schools in St. Louis, The Wilson School is proud in its ability to reach each student. Children thrive in an average class size of eighteen students, with two full-time teachers in every grade level.
Wilson students benefit from the best classic and innovative instructional methods, along with a strong focus on character and social-emotional development alongside an accelerated curriculum.
Graduates are prepared for and matriculate to the most competitive secondary schools in St. Louis, big and small.
The school is centrally located near WashU and Forest Park in the historic DeMun neighborhood.  Call (314) 725-4999 today for more information.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Top Ranked MO School
  • Grades: Prekindergarten-6
  • Enrollment: 171 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $23,903
  • Acceptance rate: 80%
  • Average class size: 18 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 27 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

The Wilson School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Missouri for:

Category
Attribute
School History

School Overview

Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-6
Year Founded
1913

Student Body

Total Students
171 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
16%
State avg.: 20%
Students by Grade
The Wilson School Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers
26 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
7:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
63%
Average Class Size
18 students
List of Courses Offered
Matriculation DataMatric. Data
Classroom Dress Code
Casual

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline
Jan. 27 / rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost
Tuition Notes
Half-day Pre-K (3 and 4-year-olds) available for $16,016. Early care is available at 7:30 a.m. and is complimentary. Extended Day care is offered until 6 p.m. for an additional charge.
% on Financial Aid
40%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$10,400
Acceptance Rate
80%
National avg.: 85%
Admissions Director
Maggie Baisch

Sports

Total Sports Offered
3 sports

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
8 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Band, Chess, Destinatination Imagination (DI), Geography Bee, Minecraft Club, Robotics Club, Senior Choir

Arts and Music Programs:
Junior Choir

School Notes

  • Wilson students are equipped to engage confidently and creatively for success in school and in life. This is realized through a challenging curriculum of integrated, project-based, technology-enriched experiences, all within an environment where every student is known and valued.
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does The Wilson School cost?
The Wilson School's tuition is approximately $23,903 for private students and $300 for summer students.
What is the acceptance rate of The Wilson School?
The acceptance rate of The Wilson School is 80%, which is lower than the national average of 90%. The Wilson School's acceptance rate is ranked among the top private schools in Missouri with low acceptance rates.
What sports does The Wilson School offer?
The Wilson School offers 3 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball and Soccer.
What is The Wilson School's ranking?
The Wilson School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Missouri for: Lowest average acceptance rates and Oldest founding date.
When is the application deadline for The Wilson School?
The application deadline for The Wilson School is Jan. 27 / rolling (applications are due on Jan. 27 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).

School Reviews

  5.00 out of 5  (5 reviews)
5  
We love the Wilson school. My son started since JK. He used to be shy, but now he is confident. The learning environment is positive and loving. Academic, they are challenged enough but do not lose the fun. Emotionally my son has grown a lot. He is self-aware of his emotions and knows the strategies to acknowledge them, I am glad he learned that early in school. Now he is passionate about loving the earth and the environment. For extra activities, the school provided after-school activities for them to have fun and build more friendships. It is hard to bring him home; he always says I come too early to pick him up. We are glad we choose the Wilson school. The teachers and leadership are friendly, kind, and open-minded. As a parent, I feel the respect and care from the administration, which applies to my kids. He always told me I should come to the Wilson school to study because they have so much fun. I am glad he loves to learn new things and meet so many friends. It is one cohort per grade, they argue, but in the end, they always respect and accept their difference. The teachers handle them very well.
- Posted by
5  
I absolutely LOVE The Wilson School!!! Do yourself and those you love a favor and check this school out for your children, friends, and family members! Wilson serves Pre-K through 6th grade. My daughter goes to The Wilson School and I absolutely love it! She gets an excellent education, they cater to the children's needs, they are committed to social and emotional well-being of the children and not solely academics, the families are more of a community than just parents. It's the most warm and welcoming environment EVER! Additionally, being in the midst of a pandemic, they did not miss a beat. Our school seamlessly switched to online learning and the kids remained engaged and didn't fall behind educationally. They also respected if some children needed adjustments because of the impact that quick shift and social isolation was having on the kiddos and adjusted workloads because the children's mental health was what mattered most. I am immune compromised and TERRIFIED of COVID-19, but we were able to safely send our daughter in person to school because they have gone above and beyond CDC Guidelines and safety measures. Kids' classes are their cohorts and they don't mix cohorts (5th grade has about 20 students total). They have space to break up, they use outdoor spaces and tents, etc. Masking hasn't been an issue...It's been absolutely wonderful! Also, they have the option (which is another thing I attribute lack of COVID-19 spreading at the school) of ConnectED Flex which means that even if my child is an in person student, if I feel the need to keep her home for a few days, weeks, or months, I can do that and she's learning along with her classmates. She doesn't miss a beat. Some people have used this option if they think they may have been exposed or if they had family gatherings and didn't want to risk harm to the rest of The Wilson School family. When numbers got high before Thanksgiving, I brought my daughter home virtually and have kept her home as I watched how things shook out after the holidays. She went back in person when I felt comfortable and didn't lose a step!! Seamless! Oh, and they frequently hold Town Halls to get parents' input on how things are going and what we would like to see and send surveys for us to voice our thoughts, opinions, desires, etc. They celebrate ALL cultures and holidays. They teach the kids to be independent thinkers and speak up on their own behalf rather than parents doing that which I love (my daughter is in 5th grade, it's different if there's a preschooler of course!). They discuss real, relevant issues like what happened on the 6th at the Capitol or what happened with George Floyd. They know this is on kids' minds and they need not only a safe space to have this conversation, but also to know that other people see their HUMANITY. Depending on one's lived experience, certain issues hit differently and they deserve the space to have the conversations and see things from others' viewpoints while respecting and learning from differences. As a Wilson mom, I could not have dreamed of a better school for my daughter. Prior to coming here, I prayed a school like this existed, but thought I would have to settle because nothing like this could possibly exist. Every single day I feel like I'm living a dream. This school is so amazing from the leadership to the staff, to the teachers, to the parents, and straight to the students. My daughter is happy EVERY DAY. She NEVER wants to miss school and the education she is receiving is PHENOMENAL and beyond anything she's EVER experienced. I can't say enough good things about this school. I could go on and on! Finally, they do also offer tuition assistance so don't be deterred by costs. Hope this helps!
- Posted by
5  
Wilson's a fantastic and very special school that made a deep impression on me and my family. The school has a warm and welcoming culture that you can feel as soon as you walk in the door. The academics set me up for success in secondary school and beyond. I took college classes in Ancient Civilizations and Mythology based on my fascination with what I learned about them at Wilson. My whole family loves going back to visit Wilson to connect old friends and share memories.
- Posted by
5  
Wilson is a school that feels like an extension of home. Its small size is a true gift to its students and families. Every student and their family is known by the entire faculty and staff, and children are valued as unique individuals. Not only are students challenged academically, they also learn important social and emotional skills to help them succeed out of the school walls. My child loves going to school every day and we feel so lucky to have found such a treasure of a school in St. Louis.
- Posted by
5  
Wilson is excellent in so many ways, it`s hard to condense into this review. The timeless, classical curriculum with French and Latin, challenging literature, and rigorous math make it the perfect way to start a traditional liberal education. This is not the latest fad; it`s what has worked well for generations. And the student body adds to it. Diversity at Wilson means other languages spoken at home (more than 20 different ones), students born in other countries, parents doing business in many geographies. My children learn so much from hearing the perspectives of these international families. In addition, the faculty and headmaster are long-tenured and heavily invested in the school. It`s not a career stepping stone, nor a place with a fickle board. The benefits of this show in all the details one sees every day as a parent.
- Posted by

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • Top Ranked MO School
  • Grades: Prekindergarten-6
  • Enrollment: 171 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $23,903
  • Acceptance rate: 80%
  • Average class size: 18 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 27 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Saint Louis, MO is $15,642 for elementary schools and $17,825 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
The average acceptance rate in Saint Louis, MO is 85% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).

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