The St. Louis metropolitan area has dozens of independent school districts operating. Public schools within the city of St. Louis are managed by the St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS). SLPS has faced challenges for a long time due to declining academic performance and financial issues, but there have been improvement efforts in recent years.

According to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), SLPS provides educational services to about 120,000 school-age children in the city. In contrast, the school districts in St. Louis County generally have higher academic achievement, with districts like Rockwood, Ladue, Clayton, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, and Parkway being recognized as some of the top districts in Missouri.

Property tax is a major source of funding for education in the St. Louis area. The property tax rates in the city and county of St. Louis vary by area, with a combination of district rates, city/county rates, and fire district rates applied. In Missouri, the assessed value is calculated at about 19% of the market value (for residential properties), and various levy rates are applied to determine the final tax amount.

For example, a home with a market value of $500,000 would have an assessed value of about $95,000, and if the total tax rate is $6 per $100 of assessed value, the annual property tax would be approximately $5,700. The Clayton school district has a relatively high tax rate, but its strong reputation tends to keep property values high as well. Property tax bills are typically assessed as of January 1 each year and are due at the end of the year, with penalties applied for late payments after December 31.

The annual budget for the city of St. Louis is around $1 billion. Major expenditure items include public safety (police and fire), road infrastructure maintenance, parks and recreational facilities, and social services. Due to its status as an independent city, St. Louis does not share resources with the county government, which continues to pose financial challenges. The city's main sources of revenue include property taxes, earnings tax (1% on income earned within the city), sales tax, and various fees. The earnings tax in St. Louis is applied to all personal income earned or received by individuals working or residing in the city, directly impacting the tax burden for many local workers.

The budget for St. Louis County is larger than that of the city, ranging from approximately $800 million to $1 billion annually. The county operates the County Police, Public Health Department, consumer protection, and library systems. The St. Louis County Library operates over 20 local branches and has some materials available in Korean. In terms of education-related budgets, facility improvements are often funded through school bond issuances, with each district having different bond issuance statuses and repayment plans. For Korean families considering a move to the St. Louis area for their children's education, it is helpful to check the recent MSIP (Missouri School Improvement Program) evaluation results and the financial stability of the target school district.

In terms of higher education, St. Louis is home to several excellent universities, including Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis University, the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL), and Webster University, making it a region with a strong educational environment. Washington University, in particular, consistently ranks among the top in the nation in fields such as medicine, law, business, and engineering, significantly impacting the local economy and real estate market. Understanding the educational and financial structure of the St. Louis area can provide practical assistance in choosing a residence and establishing long-term financial plans.