Parkway School District: Schools Serving Ballwin, MO
Ballwin is served by two school districts: Parkway and Rockwood. Both are National Schools of Character and consistently ranked among the best in Missouri.
Parkway High Schools Serving Ballwin
Parkway West and Parkway South
Parkway West High School
14653 Clayton Rd, Ballwin, MO 63011
#1
In Parkway District
#11
In Missouri
#8
Best college prep public high school in MO
78%
Students proficient in math and reading
23
ACT average score
25+
Competitive sports offered
40%
Students compete in at least one sport
Sports and Athletics
Swimming and Diving
Boys hold 11 state titles, girls hold 14 including a three-peat from 2020 to 2022.
Water Polo
Among the few Missouri schools to offer and consistently excel in water polo, with multiple state championships.
Cross Country
Both boys and girls teams carry a strong tradition of success dating back to the late 1980s.
Softball and Volleyball
Consistently competitive programs with multiple state championships.
Facilities
Frequently cited for high-quality athletic resources, earning an A- Niche grade for sports.
Unique Clubs
Archery, Dance and Step Teams, and a student-led Ping Pong Club round out the options beyond varsity sports.
Notable Alumni
Blaine Gabbert
NFL quarterback and Super Bowl champion.
August Busch IV
Former President and CEO of Anheuser-Busch.
Stone Phillips
Former anchor of Dateline NBC.
Chip Caray
Baseball broadcaster for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Theater and Performing Arts
Dramatics Company
Two mainstage productions, two improv performances, a showcase, and student-directed one-acts each year.
Missouri Thespians
Students compete at the Missouri State Thespian Conference in Thespys, Improv Intensive, and scholarship events.
Music and Band
Symphonic and concert bands earn top exemplary ratings at MSHSAA state festivals. Students regularly earn All-State spots.
Signature Events
Annual Jazz Coffeehouse Concert and preview concerts hosted by the band and orchestra programs.
Visual Arts
Regional Art Show
One of the two largest regional art shows in the area, featuring work from all art classes and neighboring feeder schools.
Curriculum
Ceramics, Digital Design, Painting, and Photography. Many courses offer college credit through UMSL.
Honors Art History
Open to upperclassmen with no prerequisites. Covers global art from paleolithic to contemporary times.
Parkway South High School
801 Hanna Rd, Manchester, MO 63021
#39
In Missouri
#19
College prep in MO
Top 10%
Missouri high schools
28
Sports offered
2x
Girls swimming state titles 2022 and 2023
2x
Cheerleading state titles 2001 and 2018
Sports and Athletics
Special Olympics
South is the district hub for regional Special Olympics events, where hundreds of students volunteer as buddies alongside competing athletes.
High School Heroes
A student-led drug prevention program where South students mentor 6th graders on healthy lifestyle choices.
Girls Swimming
Back-to-back state champions in 2022 and 2023.
Cheerleading
Two-time state champions with titles in 2001 and 2018.
Notable Alumni
Sarah Haskins
Olympic triathlete, 2008 Beijing Games.
Atiyyah Ellison
Former NFL defensive tackle for the Panthers and Chiefs. Only player in school history to have his jersey number retired.
Cara Spencer
48th Mayor of St. Louis City.
Mike McKenna
Former NHL goaltender for the Blue Jackets, Lightning, and others.
Scott Langley
Professional golfer on the PGA Tour.
Greg Raymer
2004 World Series of Poker Main Event Champion.
Theater, Performing Arts and Traditions
Spirit of '76 Marching Band
A major point of pride at South. The school is a regular recipient of the Best Communities for Music Education award.
Performing Arts
Strong band, orchestra, and choir programs with consistent district and state recognition.
Patriot Pass
Seniors who maintain strong grades and attendance earn off-campus lunch privileges, one of the most coveted perks at South.
Pat on the Back
A school-wide tradition where students and staff publicly recognize each other for positive contributions to the community.
Niche Clubs
Thrifting and Upcycling Club, Glamour Girls providing makeovers at nursing homes, Botany Club, and Medical Science Club.
Quick look: Parkway West vs. Parkway South
| Category | Parkway West | Parkway South |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Rank | #11 | #39 |
| Location | Ballwin, MO | Manchester, MO |
| ACT Average | 23 | Top 10% MO |
| Sports Offered | 25+ | 28 |
| Signature Sport | Swimming and Water Polo | Girls Swimming |
| Distinctive Identity | Arts, Athletics, and Academics | Community and Character |
| National Recognition | National School of Character | National School of Character |
Parkway Middle Schools Serving Ballwin
Southwest, West, and South
What all three schools share
Teaming Model
About 100 to 125 students share the same four core teachers all year. If a student struggles, all teachers know immediately and coordinate a plan.
Engineering Sequence
6th grade: 3D printing basics. 7th grade: design thinking. 8th grade: building and programming robots using professional software.
No-Cut Intramurals
Any student can play. Fleetball, floor hockey, cross country and more. Participation over competition.
WEB Program
Where Everybody Belongs. 8th graders are trained as mentors to guide incoming 6th graders through their first year.
Exploratory Wheel
6th graders rotate through Global Cuisine, Technical Literacy, Visual Arts, and World Languages before committing to electives.
Southwest Middle School
763 Baur Blvd, Ballwin, MO 63021
Best Known For
Strong emphasis on student leadership. Located directly in Ballwin.
Project Lead the Way
Lead campus for PLTW, introducing students to advanced engineering and biomedical sciences before high school.
STEM Fest Hub
Hosts the district-wide annual STEM Fest featuring coding robots, slime chemistry, and engineering challenges open to all families.
Innovation Hub
Makerspace featuring laser cutters and robotics kits available during free periods and electives.
West Middle School
600 W Wildwood Dr, Chesterfield, MO 63017
Best Known For
Consistently ranked among the top 10 public middle schools in Missouri. Highest-ranked middle school in the Parkway district.
WEST Time
A daily dedicated advisory period for character building, social-emotional support, and academic check-ins built into every student's day.
Schools Within a School
Students are grouped into smaller teams to create a more personal, connected experience within a larger building.
South Middle School
753 Kehrs Mill Rd, Ballwin, MO 63011
Best Known For
High-energy school culture with strong participation in fine arts including band, orchestra, and choir.
Fine Arts
One of the most active fine arts programs at the middle school level in the district.
Medical Science Club
A standout inclusive extracurricular that sets South Middle apart from others in the district.
Adventure Club
Highly active intramural and social programs focused on building connections across grade levels.
Parkway Elementary Schools Serving Ballwin
8 elementary schools with a Ballwin, MO address
Every Parkway elementary school in Ballwin is part of a district-wide STEM pipeline that feeds directly into the advanced programs at the middle and high school level. Robotics, makerspaces, and coding start as early as kindergarten.
What families should know
MOSAICS Gifted Program
Parkway's gifted program keeps students at their home school but provides pull-out instruction. A major draw for families moving to the area for academics.
Adventure Club Waitlist
Before and after school care through the district. Extremely popular and often has a waitlist. Contact the district as soon as you have a confirmed address.
Check the Boundary Map
Some streets in Ballwin are split between Parkway and Rockwood. Always verify the Parkway Boundary Map before signing a lease or mortgage.
STEM Fest
Annual district event hosted at Southwest Middle open to all elementary families. Hands-on activities including coding robots, slime chemistry, and engineering challenges.
The schools
Ballwin Elementary
400 Jefferson Ave, Ballwin, MO 63021
Carman Trails Elementary
555 S Weidman Rd, Ballwin, MO 63021
Known among local parents for its tight-knit, small-town feel despite being part of a large district.
Claymont Elementary
405 Country Club Dr, Ballwin, MO 63011
Known for high academic rigor and Gold Star status. One of the most active and well-funded PTOs in the district. National Blue Ribbon recognition.
Henry Elementary
700 Henry Ave, Ballwin, MO 63011
Home of the Henry Nature Trail, used as a live science and writing classroom. Integrates 3D printing into curriculum. National Blue Ribbon recognition.
Oak Brook Elementary
510 Big Bend Rd, Ballwin, MO 63021
Major district hub. Frequently hosts Parkway Early Childhood programs, making it a go-to campus for families with both preschool and elementary-aged children.
Sorrento Springs Elementary
390 Tumulty Dr, Ballwin, MO 63021
Features an open-concept architectural layout designed for collaboration and pod-based learning.
Westridge Elementary
908 Crestland Dr, Ballwin, MO 63011
Frequently cited by local parents for its tight-knit community feel.
Woerther Elementary
314 New Ballwin Rd, Ballwin, MO 63021
One of the first Parkway schools to go all-in on makerspaces and coding for younger grades. Highly regarded for STEM integration district-wide.
School boundaries, attendance zones, and program offerings can change. Contact the Parkway School District directly to verify your assigned school and confirm current program availability before making any decisions based on this information. Do not rely solely on what you read here.
Rueben Wuerdeman
Real Estate Agent | West County St. Louis | Ballwin • Chesterfield • Ellisville • Wildwood • Eureka • Manchester
