The A+ Schools program is a comprehensive school-improvement initiative established by Missouri’s Outstanding Schools Act of 1993. The program is raising academic standards and opening new doors to higher education.

The program provides financial incentives for local high schools to:

• reduce the dropout rate

• raise academic expectations and offer challenging well defined courses

•  provide better "career pathways" information for all students

• work more closely with business and post-secondary education leaders.

The key goal of the A+ Schools Program is to assure that all students, when they graduate, are well prepared to pursue advanced education, employment, or both. To date 231 Missouri public high schools have been designated as A+ Schools by the State Board of Education.  More than 33,000 students from around the state have qualified for the tuition assistance available through the program. In the fall of 2007, Lutie High School began the process to become an A+ designated school.

The class of 2010 will be the first class to qualify.