Located in South County Lemay Missouri, Hancock High School is getting visitors from all across the state of Missouri. Visitors coming from other high schools and even universities are coming just to get the inside scoop on how HHS has greatly improved in not only academic scores but behavioral issues as well. 

“What I’ve been told, our school has one of the most mature and authentic models of personalized competency based education that some experts have seen anywhere in the country,” Principal David Williams said. 

HHS has had a dramatic improvement and schools are coming from all around the state just to learn from them on how they did it.

 “In a very short amount of time we’ve had a miraculous transformation,” Williams said. “Our total discipline referrals are down by 80%, school culture has improved dramatically, attendance and tardies have improved, our failure rate has gone way down, and now we’re even seeing increases in test scores in every single area.” 

Affton High School science teacher Breana Wagner was one of the educators who visited on September 25.

“My experience was very positive,” Wagner said. “I really enjoyed talking to all the staff and students and having ample opportunity to ask questions to everyone!”

Wagner has been impressed by the positive school culture here at HHS.  “That does not happen by accident,” she said. “I also really liked how many of the major culture pieces were co-designed with students instead of just for them. That incorporation of student thoughts and opinions was huge enough to me that it actually made it into my lesson plan the very next day I was in my classroom and has already started to change the culture of my classroom.”

Pattonville School District Assistant Superintendent Cara  Hiripitiyage also one of the educators who visited Hancock High School.

“I had a great experience,”  Hiripitiyage said. “I was impressed by how hard everyone worked and how committed everyone is to doing what is best for students. I was most impressed by the students themselves– their skills and abilities to share about Hancock and their pride in themselves and the school.” 

Not only does Hancock have visitors from other schools coming to observe them, but they also have a film crew coming in and out throughout the school year preparing for a documentary about this miraculous improvement this school had undergone. 

“When they were filming they came here to interview me, several teachers, and several students about our experience transitioning from a traditional model of school,” Williams said.