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Teacher Experience
The percentage of students enrolled in a public or charter school in the City of St. Louis that attend a school where more than 50% of teachers have less than three years of teaching experience
Black students are 70% more likely than white students to be enrolled in schools where more than half of the teachers have fewer than three years of teaching experience.
A score of 100 represents racial equity, meaning there are no racial disparities in outcomes between black and white populations. The lower the Equity Score, the greater the disparity.
For Teacher Experience, a score of 100 — a score reflecting racial equity — would mean black and white students are equally likely to attend schools where it’s the norm to have a teacher with less than three years of teaching experience. It is important to note that for this indicator, equity is not our only goal: we also want to improve outcomes for all.
More Information
What does this indicator measure?
Teacher Experience measures the percentage of students enrolled in a public or charter school in the City of St. Louis that attend a school where more than 50% of teachers have less than three years of teaching experience. In 2016, there were 25 schools in St. Louis (23% of all schools) where it is the norm for students to be taught by teachers with less than three years of teaching experience. These schools enrolled 17% of all students.
Teacher experience analysis
Students who attend public or charter schools where more than 50% of teachers have less than three years of experience in St. Louis City.
| All | Black | White | Disparity Ratio | Equity Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students at schools with less teacher experience | 5,675 | 4,706 | 543 | - | - |
| Student population | 33,352 | 24,655 | 4,843 | - | - |
| Percent of students at schools with less teacher experience | 17.0% | 19.1% | 11.2% | 1.702 to 1 | 52 |
Data Source: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 2016.
What does this analysis mean?
Black students are 70% more likely than white students to be enrolled in schools where it’s the norm to have a teacher with less than three years of teaching experience. Black students are the most likely to be enrolled in schools with less teacher experience (19.1%), followed by Hispanic students (17.4%). Asian students were the least likely to be enrolled in schools with less teacher experience (10.9%), followed by white students (11.2%).
If access were equitable, 1,945 more black students would be enrolled in schools with more teacher experience.
Teacher experience by school analysis
Schools where 50% or more of teachers have less than three years of experience in St. Louis City.
| Schools where 50% or more of teachers have less than three years of experience | 25 |
|---|---|
| Number of schools reporting | 108 |
| Percent of schools | 23.2% |
Data Source: Data Request from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 2016.
Data Note: School districts evaluated in 2016 include Better Learning Community Academy, Carondelet Leadership Academy, City Garden Montessori, Confluence Academies, Eagle College Prep Endeavor, Gateway Science Academies, Grand Center Arts Academy, Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls, Jamaa Learning Center, KIPP St. Louis Public Schools, La Salle Charter School, Lafayette Preparatory Academy, Lift for Life Academy, Missouri School for the Blind, North Side Community School, Preclarus Mastery Academy, Premier Charter School, South City Preparatory Academy, St. Louis Language Immersion School, St. Louis City Public Schools, and The Biome.
Why does School Teacher Experience matter?
All students deserve to be taught by excellent and engaged teachers. While there are certainly effective teachers who are in their early years of teaching, and ineffective teachers with many years of experience, research shows that teacher experience is correlated with student achievement gains and student school attendance. Schools with more veteran teachers are shown to provide benefits to teachers themselves, such as greater gains in teaching effectiveness. Schools with high shares of their teaching workforce with less experience in teaching may have problems attracting more experienced teachers, and may also be failing to develop and retain teachers.
Which Calls to Action from the Ferguson Commission report are linked with this indicator?
The Ferguson Commission made the following calls to action related to teachers:
In particular, the Innovative Education Hub would focus on attracting, developing and retaining the most effective district/school leadership and teacher workforce in America.
Questions for further investigation
- Why is there a racial disparity in Teacher Experience?
- What can St. Louis do to reduce racial disparities in Teacher Experience?
- What initiatives are currently underway to reduce racial disparities in Teacher Experience?
How can I learn more about this issue?
Since 2015, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has developed Educator Equity Plans, which report on the racial disparities in access to teachers who are experienced, qualified, and have subject expertise.
St. Louis has a higher percentage of schools predominantly staffed by new teachers compared to peer districts in Missouri. According to the Missouri Equity Lab, among high-poverty, high-minority ("urban") school districts across the state, 21% of teachers have less than three years’ experience. There are only nine schools in St. Louis that have less than 21% teachers with less than three years’ experience, eight of which are in the St. Louis City Public School District.
