As a public school system dedicated to the education of all children who come to our schools, the School District of Clayton strives to develop in all its children the strength of character, the skills, the knowledge and the wisdom necessary to build creative, productive lives and to contribute to a global society. The District's early childhood center, three elementary schools, middle school and high school serve a diverse student body of approximately 2600 students. As a community, the students, staff, parents and patrons of the School District of Clayton are united in our commitment to student learning. Our mission, vision and core values embody why we are here, what we want our students to become and the principles that guide our work. Mission Statement We inspire each student to love learning and embrace challenge within a rich and rigorous academic culture. Vision Statement We develop leaders who shape the world through independence, creativity and critical thinking. Core Values We model and promote excellence by challenging our students and ourselves to meet the highest expectations of our community. trust by building relationships based on integrity, mutual respect and open communication. inclusiveness by valuing individual differences and the contributions of a diverse student body and staff. innovation by encouraging ideas and practices that foster adaptability. accountability by aligning our actions and resources with our stated objectives and taking responsibility for the outcomes. The School District of Clayton has been ranked as the fourth best school district in the nation for the second consecutive year on Niche K-12's 2018 rankings. The District, Clayton High School, Wydown Middle School and Captain Elementary School also were ranked first in the state in their respective “best schools” rankings. Glenridge Elementary took the second spot in the Missouri ranking, followed closely by Meramec Elementary at number four.