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Schools in Kansas City · Kansas City Unified School District 500, Piper-Kansas City Unified School District 203

Kansas City’s public schools score below 96% of Kansas State districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in Kansas City’s districts is 14%, below the Kansas State average (29%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Kansas City, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Kansas State, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Kansas state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
17%
▼ 15 pts vs KS 32%
2021–22
Math proficiency
14%
▼ 15 pts vs KS 29%
2021–22
Graduate on time
73%
▼ 15 pts vs KS 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$20.1K
▲ 35% vs KS $15.0K
FY2024 · Kansas City Unified School District 500
Students per teacher
15.2
KS 13.3 · larger classes
Schools in town
60
24,373 students on the public path
In brief

Kansas City’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 17% of tested students were proficient in reading and 14% in math, against 32% and 29% statewide; 96% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

73% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Kansas State. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Kansas City Unified School District 500 spends $20,150 per student and Piper-Kansas City Unified School District 203 $13,535, against $14,966 across Kansas State (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Resurrection Catholic School (private), Christ the King Parish School (private), Our Lady of Unity School (private) and Holy Name School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Kansas City’s grade

D− Test scoresD− Graduation

D−: better than 4% of Kansas State school districts, #150 of 151 Kansas State towns. Both inputs trail the Kansas State average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Kansas State school districts we grade (283)Better than 4%
Lower resultsHigher results
Kansas State towns with similar household incomes (830)Better than 3%
D−DA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 11,508 test results and a graduating class of 1,600 could put Kansas City anywhere from D− to D. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of Kansas City’s students in the tested grades sat them (12,016 in math, 11,000 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Kansas City, with each school’s own grade.

30 schools teach K in Kansas City’s district. Which one depends on your address. Their grades range from D− to C+, so check the specific school.
Silver City Elem
Elementary · Grades PK–5
D
1,495 studentsRate it →
Piper Prairie Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–2
644 students18:1Rate it →
M E Pearson Elem
Elementary · Grades PK–5
D
606 students14:1Rate it →
Chelsea Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D−
557 students17:1Rate it →
Hazel Grove Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
537 students16:1Rate it →
West Park Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C
534 students15:1Rate it →
Welborn Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
504 students15:1Rate it →
Whittier Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
502 students14:1Rate it →
Frances Willard Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
C−
434 students13:1Rate it →
Lowell Brune Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C−
432 students14:1Rate it →
John F Kennedy Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
419 students17:1Rate it →
Bertram Caruthers Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
C
364 students16:1Rate it →
Frank Rushton Elem
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
359 students15:1Rate it →
Quindaro Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D−
325 students14:1Rate it →
Claude A Huyck Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
304 students16:1Rate it →
Stony Point North
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
300 students11:1Rate it →
Grant Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D−
289 students14:1Rate it →
John Fiske Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D−
287 students14:1Rate it →
Douglass Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D−
285 students11:1Rate it →
Banneker Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D−
268 students13:1Rate it →
New Stanley Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
251 students12:1Rate it →
Stony Point South
Elementary · Grades K–5
C
247 students15:1Rate it →
Thomas A Edison Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
C
244 students11:1Rate it →
McKinley Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
D−
243 students11:1Rate it →
Eugene Ware Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
242 students12:1Rate it →
Mark Twain Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
C
222 students12:1Rate it →
Lindbergh Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
216 students12:1Rate it →
Noble Prentis Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
C−
193 students12:1Rate it →
Emerson Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
C+
171 students10:1Rate it →
Bridges/Wyandot Academy
Grades K–12
15 students4:1Rate it →
The path, start to finish
K–530 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD− to C+
6–89 middle schoolsDepends on your addressD− to B−
9–128 high schoolsDepends on your addressD− to B+

Kansas City runs its own schools through grade 12 (Kansas City Unified School District 500). From grade PK, students attend the Piper-Kansas City Unified School District 203. Parts of Kansas City (14% and 6% of its land) are served by Turner Unified School District 202 and Bonner Springs Unified School District 204 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Kansas City

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Kansas City Unified School District 500Grades PK–12 · 43 schools · 21,538 students · 15.2 per teacher (KS 13.3)
$20,150KS $14,966 · FY2024
D−
Piper-Kansas City Unified School District 203Grades PK–12 · 4 schools · 2,835 students, up 11% since 2020–21 · 15.3 per teacher (KS 13.3)
$13,535KS $14,966 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Kansas City Unified School District 50014%
State average 32.5% · 9628 students tested
Math · PK–12, Kansas City Unified School District 50010%
State average 29.4% · 10586 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Piper-Kansas City Unified School District 20341%
State average 32.5% · 1372 students tested
Math · PK–12, Piper-Kansas City Unified School District 20343%
State average 29.4% · 1430 students tested

Kansas City vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Kansas State towns that share Kansas City’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Kansas CityD−Kansas City Unified School District 500 PK–12 · Piper-Kansas City Unified School District 203 PK–12
EdwardsvilleCBonner Springs Unified School District 204
Bonner SpringsCBonner Springs Unified School District 204
Lake QuiviraA−Shawnee Mission Public Schools Unified PK–12 · Turner Unified School District 202 PK–12
DelawareA−Lansing Unified School District 469
FairmountABasehor-Linwood Unified School District 458
Roeland ParkA−Shawnee Mission Public Schools Unified
ShawneeADe Soto Unified School District 232 PK–12 · Shawnee Mission Public Schools Unified PK–12
BasehorABasehor-Linwood Unified School District 458

Kansas City, MO, Parkville, MO and Riverside, MO border Kansas City but are graded on their own state’s tests, so they’re left out.

Every school in Kansas City

60 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Kansas State’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Kansas Cityby address
Silver City Elem
Elementary · Grades PK–5
D
1,495 studentsRate it →
Piper Prairie Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–2
644 students18:1Rate it →
M E Pearson Elem
Elementary · Grades PK–5
D
606 students14:1Rate it →
Frank Rushton Elem
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
359 students15:1Rate it →
Chelsea Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D−
557 students17:1Rate it →
Hazel Grove Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
537 students16:1Rate it →
West Park Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C
534 students15:1Rate it →
Welborn Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
504 students15:1Rate it →
Whittier Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
502 students14:1Rate it →
Frances Willard Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
C−
434 students13:1Rate it →
Lowell Brune Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C−
432 students14:1Rate it →
John F Kennedy Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
419 students17:1Rate it →
Bertram Caruthers Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
C
364 students16:1Rate it →
Quindaro Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D−
325 students14:1Rate it →
Claude A Huyck Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
304 students16:1Rate it →
Stony Point North
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
300 students11:1Rate it →
Grant Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D−
289 students14:1Rate it →
John Fiske Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D−
287 students14:1Rate it →
Douglass Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D−
285 students11:1Rate it →
Banneker Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D−
268 students13:1Rate it →
New Stanley Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
251 students12:1Rate it →
Stony Point South
Elementary · Grades K–5
C
247 students15:1Rate it →
Thomas A Edison Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
C
244 students11:1Rate it →
McKinley Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
D−
243 students11:1Rate it →
Eugene Ware Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
242 students12:1Rate it →
Mark Twain Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
C
222 students12:1Rate it →
Lindbergh Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
216 students12:1Rate it →
Noble Prentis Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
C−
193 students12:1Rate it →
Emerson Elem
Elementary · Grades K–5
C+
171 students10:1Rate it →
Bridges/Wyandot Academy
Grades K–12
15 students4:1Rate it →
Piper Creek Elementary
Elementary · Grades 3–5
A
598 students15:1Rate it →
Carl B. Bruce Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
D−
821 students15:1Rate it →
Gloria Willis Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
D−
737 students19:1Rate it →
Central Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
D−
687 students17:1Rate it →
Piper Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
680 students14:1Rate it →
D D Eisenhower Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
D−
634 students17:1Rate it →
Argentine Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
D−
519 students14:1Rate it →
Rosedale Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
D−
501 students14:1Rate it →
Arrowhead Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
D
412 students14:1Rate it →
Sumner Academy of Arts & Science
High · Grades 8–12
B+
1,045 students17:1Rate it →
Wyandotte High
High · Grades 9–12
D−
1,903 students19:1Rate it →
J C Harmon High
High · Grades 9–12
D−
1,285 students18:1Rate it →
Washington High
High · Grades 9–12
D−
1,180 students18:1Rate it →
Piper High
High · Grades 9–12
C
913 students15:1Rate it →
F L Schlagle High
High · Grades 9–12
D−
841 students16:1Rate it →
Alfred Fairfax Academy
High · Grades 9–12
C
52 students7:1Rate it →
500 Reach
High · Grades 12
76 studentsRate it →
Other public schools in Kansas Cityrun by other districts or the state
School for Blind High
High · Grades 6–12
Special Education
27 students5:1Rate it →
Delaware Ridge Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B−
378 students13:1Rate it →
Junction Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B+
234 students12:1Rate it →
Oak Grove Elem
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C+
532 students15:1Rate it →
Turner Elem
Elementary · Grades PK–6
C+
560 students14:1Rate it →
Turner High
High · Grades 9–12
D−
1,147 students15:1Rate it →
Midland Trail
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
495 students13:1Rate it →
Turner Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
D
585 students14:1Rate it →
Turner Sixth Grade Academy
Middle · Grades 6
C−
299 students15:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Resurrection Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
304 students13:1Rate it →
Christ the King Parish School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
195 students14:1Rate it →
Our Lady of Unity School
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Catholic
182 students13:1Rate it →
Holy Name School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
130 students12:1Rate it →

Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (School for Blind Elementary and Beyond the Bell).

Questions about Kansas City’s schools

Are Kansas City’s schools good?

On Kansas State’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Kansas City children attend score below 96% of Kansas State’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 3%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Kansas City in?

Two districts: Kansas City Unified School District 500 runs grades PK–12, and Piper-Kansas City Unified School District 203 runs grades PK–12.

Where do Kansas City kids go to high school?

One of 8 high schools, depending on your address: Wyandotte High, J C Harmon High, Washington High, Sumner Academy of Arts & Science, Piper High, F L Schlagle High, Alfred Fairfax Academy and Bridges/Wyandot Academy.

What is Kansas City’s graduation rate?

73% of the class of 2023 in Kansas City Unified School District 500 graduated in four years, against 88% across Kansas State.

How much does Kansas City spend per student?

$20,150 in Kansas City Unified School District 500 and $13,535 in Piper-Kansas City Unified School District 203 (FY2024), against $14,966 across Kansas State. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Kansas City?

Yes: Resurrection Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 304 students), Christ the King Parish School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 195 students), Our Lady of Unity School (Catholic, grades K–8, 182 students) and Holy Name School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 130 students).

Parents talk

What Kansas City families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Kansas City → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Kansas State. Stars are from neighbors.