PRiME Center
The Policy Research in Missouri Education (PRiME) Center at Saint Louis University’s School of Education serves as a trusted resource for state lawmakers, educators, administrators and other education leaders who shape policy decisions for K–12 education in Missouri.
About PRiME
The PRiME Center is dedicated to producing accessible, rigorous evidence on education research and policy to support all students across the state.
Missouri’s K–12 landscape is broad and diverse — spanning small rural districts, large urban systems, charter LEAs, and independent schools. Enrollment ranges from fewer than 20 students to nearly 25,000, and per-pupil expenditures vary widely. While many challenges are shared statewide, regions also face unique circumstances and opportunities. Our work remains grounded in this diversity as we seek to better understand and illuminate Missouri’s education system.
Students, educators and policymakers deserve timely, trustworthy information to guide decision-making. Through our research, tools and partnerships, we aim to strengthen educational opportunities for every child in Missouri.
Visit the PRiME Center Website
Products and Services
Research
Our research portfolio includes education reports, policy briefs, education profiles, blog posts, informational PRiMERs, and more—each designed to make complex education topics accessible to educators, policymakers, and families.
Growth Reports
Missouri growth reports provide a deeper understanding of how schools support student learning over time. Unlike proficiency rates, which capture a single moment, growth measures highlight student progress and offer a fairer, more nuanced view of school impact.
We produce regular growth reports as well as specialized analyses such as BTO (Better-Than-Expected) reports, rural growth reports, and three-year trend overviews.
Program Evaluations
We conduct independent evaluations for districts, schools and educational initiatives, offering evidence-based insights to strengthen programs and support continuous improvement.
Compliance Reporting Support for LEAs
We provide technical expertise to help LEAs meet state and federal reporting requirements accurately, efficiently and with confidence.
Resources Available on Our Website
- Data page featuring downloadable datasets
- Interactive data dashboards
- Cleaned and ready-to-use datasets
- Interactive maps that visualize education trends across Missouri
- Webinars highlighting timely education policy issues and findings from affiliate researchers