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Best Elementary Schools in Kansas City, MO


At a glance
92
Schools
37,979
Students
27
Districts
3
5-star schools
Top rankedShoal Creek Elementary49th of 900 Missouri elementary schools
Biggest riser
John T. Hartman Elementary up 330 spots statewide this year
Smallest classes
Hope Leadership Academy 8 students per teacher
Newly ranked this year
Border Star Montessori and 1 more
SchoolDigger ratings
4★
3★
2★
1★
0★
4 schools without a SchoolDigger rating (too few tested students)
Summary:

The city of Kansas City, Missouri is home to 97 elementary schools serving students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade, with a mix of public, public charter, and magnet school options. The data reveals a complex landscape, with significant disparities in academic performance and student outcomes across the schools in this area.

A few schools stand out as top performers, including Shoal Creek Elementary, Rising Hill Elementary, and Nashua Elementary, all of which are ranked among the top 50 elementary schools in Missouri and have 5-star ratings from SchoolDigger. These high-performing schools demonstrate exceptional results in both mathematics and English language arts, with over 60% of students proficient or better across multiple grade levels.

In contrast, many schools in the area face significant challenges, with chronic absenteeism rates as high as 73.4% and large gaps in academic achievement. For example, in 3rd grade mathematics, M.L. King Elementary had only 2.5% of students proficient or better, compared to 65% at Shoal Creek Elementary. These disparities suggest that students in certain parts of Kansas City are not receiving the same educational opportunities and resources as their peers in other areas of the district.

Ranking:
Map legend
E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private





Cities Near Kansas City

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





Diagnostics