The Breese/Beckemeyer District is a rural community located fifty miles east of St. Louis, Missouri. Elementary District 12 serves two communities in Clinton County: Breese and Beckemeyer, as well as the surrounding rural area. A majority of the land in the district is used for farming. Many of the residents in both towns commute to other areas for their employment. Two major interstates are accessible within a twenty-mile radius. Some parents commute as far as 50 miles to their places of employment.

Between 650 and 700 students attend the three school buildings and are served by 42 teachers, teachers' 17 aides two administrators and numerous support staff. In the Fall of 2000 the district gained a new building, or a new section of the Breese building that changed the population make up of each of the schools in the district. The school in Beckemeyer that previously housed one section of kindergarten and fourth through eighth grade now houses students pre-k through fourth grade that reside in closer vicinity to Beckemeyer. The older portion of the Breese building now hosts students pre-k through second grade. The new portion of the Breese building houses third through eighth grade.

In the late 1800's both Breese and Beckemeyer were mining communities. When the mines were active, both communities reaped the benefits of having a large employer in the town. Small businesses thrived in both towns, and residents of both communities could have most of their needs met by the businesses in the towns. When the mines closed in the 1950's and 60's, the benefits of having a large employer in town left with the mining companies.

Breese Location	Beckemeyer Location