Summary
Center Middle is a public middle school located in Kansas City, Missouri, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 524 students. The school is part of the Center 58 school district, which is ranked 306 out of 367 districts in Missouri and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Center Middle has consistently been ranked in the bottom quartile of Missouri middle schools, with a ranking between 387-410 out of 438-459 schools over the past several years, and has maintained a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.
Center Middle faces significant challenges in terms of academic performance, with proficiency rates on the MAP (Missouri Assessment Program) tests that are consistently well below the state averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2024-2025, the school's proficiency rates in Mathematics ranged from 0.9% to 13.2%, compared to the state averages of 32.7% to 45.5%. Similarly, in English Language Arts, the school's proficiency rates ranged from 21.9% to 30.6%, compared to the state averages of 39.3% to 42.2%. The school's performance is particularly concerning for certain student subgroups, such as African American and Hispanic students, as well as students with disabilities, low socioeconomic status, and gifted and talented students.
When comparing Center Middle to nearby schools, it becomes evident that the school is underperforming compared to its peers. For example, Ewing Marion Kauffman Middle, a public charter school located about 5 miles away, consistently outperforms Center Middle across all academic measures, with proficiency rates that are significantly higher than the state averages. Despite the school's low academic performance, Center Middle's spending per student is relatively high, ranging from $13,090 to $15,956 per student over the past few years, suggesting that the issue may not be a lack of funding, but rather how the resources are being utilized to support student learning and achievement.
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