ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The state of Missouri was justified in taking over long-troubled St. Louis Public Schools, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Cole County Circuit Judge Richard Callahan sided with the state on all counts in his 61-page ruling. The suit was filed by the elected city school board, which continues to exist but lost power last year when a three-person appointed board took control of the district.

It wasn't immediately clear if the elected board would appeal. A phone message was left with the board's attorney, Ken Brostron.

A spokesman for Attorney General Jay Nixon, whose office argued the case for the state, declined comment.

The State Board of Education stripped the district of accreditation in March, citing a long history of poor academic performance, low graduation rates and financial problems. The special advisory board took control in June.

The three-member state board consists of one member each appointed by Gov. Matt Blunt, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and St. Louis Aldermanic President Lewis Reed. Blunt appointed homebuilder Rick Sullivan to head the board. Slay chose Melanie Adams, who was the first executive director of Teach for America when it came to St. Louis and now is managing director for the Missouri Historical Society. Reed chose insurance broker and former school board president Richard Gaines.

Veronica O'Brien, a member of the elected school board, said she approved of the state takeover. But she said the new board's work so far has been disappointing.

"I think for the special advisory board to be effective, they're going to have to make some major changes," O'Brien said. "At this point, I don't believe they've accomplished anything. Everything is status quo."

The St. Louis district, with about 32,000 students, is the largest in Missouri and just one of three unaccredited districts in the state. The others are the small Wyaconda district in northeast Missouri and Riverview Gardens in north St. Louis County.

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On the Net:

St. Louis Schools: http://www.slps.org

State Education Department: http://www.dese.mo.gov

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)