![As part of the Lafayette community, local youth soccer club Rockwood United SC took part in the annual Homecoming Parade. The club was created by former LHS soccer coaches, Saverio Traversa and Craig Wideman, to provide better quality soccer coaching. We want to make sure that [soccer] is taught right, because when learned correctly its the best sport in the world, Wideman said.](https://lancerfeed.press/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_4632-e1714576359118.jpg)
![Although being only one of the two oboe players in the school, freshman Elise Morton said she will continue playing the instrument throughout high school. “[Playing the oboe] makes me feel special because I know Im playing a rare instrument and I love having a challenge because there’s something to improve on and get even better,” Morton said.](https://lancerfeed.press/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Elise-Morton-Featured-Photo.jpg)
Lafayette ranks nationally, fourth in Missouri
April 15, 2014
U.S. News recently released their 2014 Best High School Rankings.
Lafayette and Marquette were both awarded a silver ranking along with 11 other Missouri public high schools.
U.S. News ranked schools based on their student to teacher ratio, the percentage of student taking AP Exams compared to the passing percentage, and their average proficiency level in Algebra and English. LHS was ranked fourth in state following Metro Academic and Classical High School (first), Clayton High School (second), and Marquette High School (third).
Every public high school in the nation was ranked and compared; LHS ranked as number 568 out of over 19,400 schools.
LHS averages were all above the Missouri average: a 17:1 student to teacher ratio, 47% of students taking AP Exams and 44% passing, 81% of students are proficient in Algebra compared to 19% who are not, and 88% of students are proficient in English compared to 12% who are not.
Lafayette was also rated very highly by the Washington Post, which put all four Rockwood high schools into their top tier of public schools nationwide.
![To determine the Undefined team for next year, junior team captains Evan Sommer and Payton Skipton, along with drama teacher Michael Swindle, hold after school auditions.
“One of the biggest things we look at during auditions is how well they can work with each other,” Skipton said.
Undefined put up flyers with QR codes for interested students, as well as Lafayette’s show choir group, Mic Drop.
With a dance and vocal component for the audition, Mic Drop held mandatory dance clinics after school.
“The actual audition is just a submission,” music teacher Christy Shaffer said.
Mic Drop holds auditions and dance clinics for three consecutive days, according to Shaffer.
“[The dance clinics are held] so they could see it in-person and break down. Then they can take that home to practice and do their recordings.” Shaffer said.
#connectedlancer](https://lancerfeed.press/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
![In order to meet Federal Student Aid application deadlines, many local resources, including Lafayette counselors, are available for one-on-one meetings. Even if you think your college is paid for, we still heavily recommend going ahead and filing the FAFSA so that you dont lose out on any opportunities, College and Career counselor Alex Dusenberry said. A lot of four year universities say you can only get scholarships if you complete the FASFA. [Also], it is a requirement that you complete the FSA in order to get A+ credit.](https://lancerfeed.press/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/FAFSA-graphic-1-600x400.png)
![Sophomore Mary Kirtley holds her Dressember Foundation button. The buttons are passed down to the new STL Spark executive board members each year and they are encouraged to place them on their backpacks to help raise awareness about human trafficking. My sister, [Class of 2020 alumni] Grace Kirtley, started STL Spark when she was in high school and she would have people carry it on after she graduated, Mary said. Last year I got invited to join the board again with my sister, senior Patty Kirtley, and so weve been working on carrying her legacy a bit. Its become somewhat of a family project.](https://lancerfeed.press/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_5696-e1700061260167-600x400.jpg)
