Education - Education And Child Care

St. Louis was the site of the country’s first public kindergarten in 1873, and it has long been a leader in education. Many of the current institutions were “firsts,” including the first educational facility, medical school, and advanced degree program offered west of the Mississippi River. Today the region includes more than 100 school districts and 300 private schools. The post-secondary educational scene is rife with well-respected colleges, universities, technical schools, and community colleges, which attract students from around the world. With all of this cultural diversity and educational opportunities, it’s odd that St. Louis remains a region that is absolutely fascinated by its high schools. Newcomers and visitors are often greeted with the question, “So—where did you go to high school?” by unwitting locals who don’t know that the out-of-towners are, well, from out of town. Many attribute the question to nosy locals trying to figure out what economic situation you were born into, while others see it as a way of trying to figure out if you have mutual friends or acquaintances. Whatever the reason, it’s always a good opening line or a way to break the ice with a stranger in a business or social setting. St. Louisans remain loyal to their beloved alma maters as well, with Friday night often set aside as high school football nights in many current and former high school households.