Described in this report are the problems faced by the St. Louis public schools. Financing difficulties, the poverty of about 70 percent of public school pupils, the inadequacy of state aid, the shortage of well-qualified teachers, the exodus of whites to the suburbs, and the concentration of Negroes in the inner city are some of the issues which are noted. However, it is pointed out that Federal aid, legislative efforts for additional support, foundation grants, and some innovative programs are helping to improve educational quality in the schools. St. Louis is also trying to integrate faculties and classrooms by teacher assignment policies and by busing and free choice transfer programs for students. (NH)