About Us

Home of the Trailblazers!

Welcome to F.P. Tillman Elementary School!  Centrally located in historic Kirkwood, Missouri, Tillman is one of five elementary schools within the Kirkwood School District.

Opened in the fall of 1956, Tillman Elementary School was named to honor Frank P. Tillman, Kirkwood’s superintendent from 1924-1947.  Campus additions and renovations in 1964, 1987, 1993, 2005, 2013, 2018, and 2023 have allowed for enrollment growth and enhanced learning spaces for all students.  Tillman students and staff are known as Trailblazers, and their mascot is Blaze, a green dragon.  

In 2018, Tillman officially celebrated the opening of Project IGNITE, its outdoor learning and play space. This creative initiative, supported by PTO efforts, grants, and district funds, added rain gardens, bioswales, a natural prairie, garden beds, and an inclusive learning pavilion to the campus.  After the passage of Proposition R in 2021, Tillman added new classrooms, a new gymnasium, the Dan Mueller Library/Media Center, and the Andrew Johnson Counseling Center. Garden areas were also enclosed to form a courtyard classroom in the middle of campus.  

Tillman is committed to developing children as good students and as good people, with a persistent focus on academic and social-emotional growth across all grade levels.  Staff, students, and families work together to foster an overarching sense of belonging and a sense of pride in their school.  Staff members develop positive relationships with students, engage children in meaningful learning experiences, and support whole-child growth through a range of extracurricular and leadership opportunities.  Character development centers around Blaze’s Three BEs: Be Safe, Be Kind, and Be Responsible.  Diversity is celebrated as key to a vibrant, inclusive community.  Families are highly engaged, partnering with school staff to promote the success of all students and make Tillman a joyful place to learn and grow.