Francis HowellSchool District

FHSD is proud to announce that 333 students, the most in District history, have been named Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars for 2018-19. The AP program recognizes high school students who have demonstrated outstanding college-level achievement through AP courses and exams with the prestigious AP Scholar Awards.   Read more about AP Scholars 2019

Again this year, a Francis Howell School District educator has been selected as a Missouri Teacher of the Year Finalist by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Seven educators from around the state were named as finalists, and Independence Elementary first-grade teacher Rachael Wilcox was among those selected. Finalists are eligible for consideration as the Missouri Teacher of the Year.  Read more about Independence Teacher Rachael Wilcox Selected as a Teacher of the Year Finalist

As students at Central Elementary pass through the entrance hallway each day, they see a large vending machine sitting right outside the office. This is no ordinary vending machine, mind you. It is colorful, big, and full of BOOKS! As part of a new initiative this year, Central used federal Title 1 funds to purchase the Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine as a “novel” way to provide more opportunities for their students to read.  Read more about Central Elementary Vending Machine Provides Food for the Mind

Castlio Elementary students and staff had a surprise visitor today, a star known around the world. This celebrity stands three feet tall, weighs 35 pounds, is 97 percent silver, is 126 years old, and bears more than 2,400 names. The National Hockey League's Stanley Cup trophy made a surprise stop at the school as part of its victory tour celebrating the St. Louis Blues' 2019 championship, to the delight of over 800 Castlio students and staff members.  Read more about The Cup Comes to Castlio

For the second consecutive year, a Francis Howell School District educator has been selected as a Missouri Teacher of the Year semifinalist by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Rachael Wilcox, a first-grade teacher at Independence Elementary School, was selected as one of seventeen honorees from across the state who are eligible for consideration as the Missouri Teacher of the Year. Wilcox was named the 2019 Francis Howell School District Teacher of the Year and was honored by DESE in July as a Regional Teacher of the Year.   Read more about Independence Teacher Rachael Wilcox Selected as a Teacher of the Year Semifinalist

Stay informed about recent Board of Education actions.   Read more about Board Action Report 08/15/19

What did you do over your summer vacation? Well, Bryan Middle School Social Studies Teacher Rhonda O’Keefe had the rare opportunity to participate in the 2019 National Geographic Summer Institute. O’Keefe is a National Geographic Certified Educator and was the only teacher from Missouri selected to participate in the institute designed for middle school teachers.  Read more about Bryan Middle Teacher Attends National Geographic Summer Institute

Francis Howell is ranked as the best school district in St. Charles County and the #11 best school district in Missouri according to the 2020 Best Schools in America list released by Niche. That state ranking is two spots higher than last year and, with more than 500 public school districts in the state, puts FHSD in the top three percent in Missouri. All three FHSD high schools are ranked in the top 50 high schools in Missouri. In St. Charles County, FHSD middle schools are all ranked in the top ten, and FHSD also has seven of the top ten ranked elementary schools.  Read more about Niche Ranks Francis Howell as One of the Top School Districts in Missouri

While the FHSD Transportation Department is new this year, what’s not new is the dedication and skill of many of the bus drivers. For Hannah Scharfenberg, driving a bus is more than just a job. It’s a mission to keep students safe during the commute to school. Each year, she participates in safety bus competitions to continue her growth as a driver. In June she won the 2019 State School Bus Safety Competition hosted by the Missouri Association for Pupil Transportation. As state champion, she earned the right to compete in the Annual School Bus Driver International Safety Competition hosted by the National School Transportation Association (NSTA) where she placed fifth in the nation.  Read more about FHSD Bus Driver Hannah Scharfenberg - A Champion of Bus Safety

On July 11, 2019, Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed into law legislation barring school districts from starting the school year more than 14 calendar days before the first Monday in September. For the 2020-21 school year, school may not start before Aug. 24. Francis Howell’s previously approved 2020-21 calendar had a starting date of Aug. 10, 2020. Therefore, the calendar committee will be reconvened to make changes to the calendar to meet the new state requirements. The committee will also create the 2021-22 calendar.  Read more about Volunteers and Survey Input Requested for Calendar Committee