With one month until students are filling seats in Hazelwood school buildings, the Hazelwood School District has been named "What Parents Want."

SchoolMatch, a national firm specializing in rating public schools, recognized the Hazelwood School District (HSD) as one of 29 Missouri districts to receive the “What Parents Want” award.

Locally, this is an honor only 13 school districts received this year including Ladue, Ferguson-Florissant, Rockwood, Pattonville, Brentwood, Clayton, Kirkwood, Lindbergh, Parkway, St, Charles R-VI, University City and Webster Groves.

Last year, HSD was one of 28 schools throughout the state which won the award.

The SchoolMatch website states that 16 percent of the nation’s public school districts meet the “What Parents Want” expectations and are recognized for meeting the needs of families choosing schools.

The SchoolMatch surveys states the criteria used for award selection include:

• Competitiveness in academic test scores and academically solid
• Accredited
• Recognized for excellence by a national foundation or the U.S. Department of Education
• Competitive in teacher salaries
• Above average in instructional expenditures on a national basis
• Above average in expenditures for library/media services on a national basis
• Small class size

The Columbus, Ohio-based firm ranks school systems in a national percentile format, making it possible for parents, homebuyers, corporate leaders, policymakers, educators and realtors using its services to compare school districts.

SchoolMatch also has conducted more than 1000 educational effectiveness audits of school systems throughout the country, according to its website which also states that the company maintains information on every public school system throughout the nation.

SchoolMatch has recognized HSD for 16 years. The first time the district made the ranks was in 1992. The district has consecutively placed since 1998.

HSD has about 19,000 students attending 32 school sites throughout Hazelwood, Florissant and St. Louis.