St. Louis, MO  (KTRS)  St. Louis isn’t making the grade when it comes to premature birth rates.

The 8th annual March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card was released Thursday.  St. Louis was given an “F” for its premature birth rate of 12.5 percent.  Among the nation’s top 100 cities with the most births, St. Louis ranked 94 out of 100 cities.

Missouri was given a “C.” Meanwhile, Springfield, Missouri scored high, earning an “A” for its premature birth rate of 7.5 percent.

For the first time ever, rates and grades for major cities or counties in each state, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are included in the annual report card.  This year’s report card  also provides preterm birth rates by race and ethnicity for each state and reveals persistent racial and geographical disparities within and among states.

The full report is available online at www.marchofdimes.org/reportcard.