Best Public Schools in Kansas City, KS

The Kansas City, Kansas school district encompasses 57 schools, including 35 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, 11 high schools, and 1 alternative school, spread across the Kansas City and Turner-Kansas City school districts. The data reveals a stark contrast in academic performance, with standout schools like Sumner Academy of Arts & Science and Piper High ranking among the top in the state, while several schools in the Kansas City district, such as John Fiske Elementary, Wyandotte High, and Washington High, rank in the bottom 5% of Kansas schools.

The data highlights the significant challenges faced by many schools in the Kansas City, Kansas area, particularly those with high rates of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Several schools have free/reduced lunch rates exceeding 90%, and student-teacher ratios as high as 74.8 at John Fiske Elementary. While per-student spending varies widely, from $7,504 at Piper Prairie Elementary to $34,027 at Bridges/Wyandot Academy, the higher-spending schools do not necessarily have the best academic outcomes.

The data reflects the diversity of the Kansas City, Kansas community, with schools exhibiting a wide range of racial compositions. Ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, have access to high-quality education should be a top priority for the district. The stark performance gap between the top-performing and lowest-performing schools suggests the need for a more equitable distribution of resources and support to address the underlying issues and provide all students with the opportunity to succeed.