Ridgeway Elementary School
| Type | Elementary School |
|---|---|
| Year Opened | 1922 |
| Principal | Marsha Baclesse |
| Address | 107 East Sexton Road |
| Phone Number | 573-214-3550 |
| Website | N/A |
| Student Capacity | 231 |
| Students Enrolled | 230 |
| Number of Teachers | N/A |
| Number of Trailers | N/A |
| Enrolled in Lunch Program | 31 |
| White Population | 175 |
| Black Population | 40 |
| Hispanic Population | 3 |
| Asian Population | 13 |
| American Indian Population | 0 |
| MAP Score Math | N/A |
| MAP Score Communication Arts | N/A |
MATTHEW ZIMMERMAN
news@columbiamissourian.com
Students at Ridgeway Elementary have made a name for themselves through works of art.
According to a previous Missourian report, art programs are possible because Ridgeway puts “emphasis on individually guided education,” allowing students to work at the pace that best suits them individually. Such programs started under Susan Fales, who served as Ridgeway’s principal for 30 years before stepping down. With current Principal Marsha Baclesse in charge, Ridgeway continues to stand out, with classrooms in which students from multiple grades participate in learning together.
According to a previous Missourian report, each of the grades from kindergarten to fifth grade pairs up, with the two youngest in the same classroom, the second and third grades sharing, and the fourth and fifth graders learning simultaneously. The school has been this way since becoming a magnet school in the early 1970s.
Because of Ridgeway’s popularity, a lottery is held to determine who is admitted each year.
