Photo: Rowen Hansen · CC BY-SA 4.0Sugar Creek’s public schools score below 65% of Missouri districts on tests and graduation
28% of students in Sugar Creek’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Missouri average (39%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Sugar Creek, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Missouri, not nationally.
From Missouri state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% 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.
Sugar Creek’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 615 Missouri towns with household incomes within a quarter of Sugar Creek’s, its schools beat 26%, lower than their 35% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2022, 35% of tested students were proficient in reading and 28% in math, against 43% and 39% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
90% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 89% across Missouri. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
Fort Osage R-I spends $13,905 per student and Independence 30 $12,949, against $14,569 across Missouri (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
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.
What’s behind Sugar Creek’s grade
C+: better than 35% of Missouri school districts, #190 of 247 Missouri towns. Graduation is above the Missouri average; test scores are below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Sugar Creek, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Sugar Creek
Sugar Creek Elem.
Grades PK–1 · 134 students · 15:1 students per teacher
Kindergarten in Sugar Creek
Sugar Creek Elem.
Grades PK–1 · 134 students · 15:1 students per teacher
1st grade in Sugar Creek
Sugar Creek Elem.
Grades PK–1 · 134 students · 15:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in Sugar Creek
Abraham Mallinson Elementary
Grades 2–5 · 282 students · 14:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in Sugar Creek
Abraham Mallinson Elementary
Grades 2–5 · 282 students · 14:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Sugar Creek
Abraham Mallinson Elementary
Grades 2–5 · 282 students · 14:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Sugar Creek
Abraham Mallinson Elementary
Grades 2–5 · 282 students · 14:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Sugar Creek · depends on your address
Clifford H. Nowlin Middle
Grades 6–8 · 902 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Independence
Bridger Middle
Grades 6 · 744 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Independence
Fire Prairie Middle
Grades 5–6 · 713 students · 14:1 students per teacher · in Independence
Sugar Creek runs its own schools through grade 12 (Fort Osage R-I School District). From grade PK, students attend the Independence 30 School District, shared with Independence. Its middle school is in Independence. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Sugar Creek
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well below the state in reading
Sugar Creek vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Missouri towns that share Sugar Creek’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar Creek | C+ | Fort Osage R-I PK–12 · Independence 30 PK–12 |
| Independence | C+ | Independence 30 PK–12 · Fort Osage R-I PK–12 |
| Kansas City | C+ | North Kansas City 74 PK–12 · Kansas City 33 PK–12 |
| River Bend | — | Fort Osage R-I |
2 of the 3 neighbors share Fort Osage R-I with Sugar Creek for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Sugar Creek
10 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Missouri’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Questions about Sugar Creek’s schools
Are Sugar Creek’s schools good?
On Missouri’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Sugar Creek children attend score below 65% of Missouri’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #190 of 247 Missouri towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 26%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Sugar Creek in?
Two districts: Fort Osage R-I School District runs grades PK–12, and Independence 30 School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Independence.
Where do Sugar Creek kids go to high school?
One of 4 high schools, depending on your address: Truman High, Fort Osage High, William Chrisman High and Van Horn High.
What is Sugar Creek’s graduation rate?
90% of the class of 2023 in Independence 30 School District graduated in four years, against 89% across Missouri.
How much does Sugar Creek spend per student?
$13,905 in Fort Osage R-I School District and $12,949 in Independence 30 School District (FY2024), against $14,569 across Missouri. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Sugar Creek families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Sugar Creek → 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 Missouri. Stars are from neighbors.