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Whittier Elementary

Q: Is Whittier Elementary a good school?

Whittier Elementary ranks in the bottom 0.7% of Missouri elementary schools.

Q: How many students attend Whittier Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 550 students attended Whittier Elementary.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Whittier Elementary?

Students at Whittier Elementary are 43% Hispanic, 41% African American, 10% Asian, 5% White.

Q: What schools do graduates of Whittier Elementary attend?

Students who attend Whittier Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : Northeast Middle School High : Northeast High

Public Grades PK, KG-6

894^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 900 Missouri Elementary Schools

Better than 1% of Missouri elementary schools

Summary

Whittier Elementary is a public elementary school in Kansas City, Missouri, serving 528 students in grades PK-6. The school is part of the Kansas City 33 school district, which is ranked 305 out of 367 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Whittier Elementary consistently ranks in the bottom 10-20% of Missouri elementary schools, with proficiency rates in MAP tests significantly lower than state and district averages across all grade levels and subjects. For example, in 2024-2025, only 5.9% of 3rd graders at Whittier were proficient in math, compared to 41.4% statewide and 18.9% in the Kansas City 33 district. The school also has extremely high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 28.7% to 55.0% in recent years. Additionally, Whittier has a very high percentage of students (99-100%) eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high-poverty student population.

While the nearby schools in the Kansas City 33 district also perform poorly, with rankings and proficiency rates similar to or slightly better than Whittier Elementary, the two charter schools in the area (KIPP Endeavor Academy and Scuola Vita Nuova Charter) have even lower academic performance, with proficiency rates in the single digits for many grade levels and subjects. Despite the high spending per student at Whittier Elementary, the school's academic performance remains very low, suggesting that the additional funding may not be effectively translated into improved student outcomes.

550

Students ?

11.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,535

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1012 Bales
Kansas City, MO 64127-1529

(816) 418-3850

District: Kansas City 33

Students who attend Whittier Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Northeast Middle School
High:	Northeast High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

42.5%

African American:

40.7%

Asian:

10.4%

See top rated Missouri elementary schools

Compare Whittier Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 6th percentile in 2015 → 1st in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Missouri average (6% vs 42% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (1st percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 5 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school6%

District avg19%

Missouri avg42%

894^th of 900

Missouri public elementary schools ?

Bottom 1%▼ down 6 pts since 2015

From bottom 6% (2015) to bottom 1% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Missouri Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

21^st of 21Elementary Schools in the Kansas City 33

305^th of 367Kansas City 33 among Missouri districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	3.8	894 of 900	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	4.3	891 of 906	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	5.0	872 of 898	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	10.2	823 of 908	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	11.2	805 of 901	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	11.3	959 of 1052	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	28.4	787 of 1045	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	50.9	521 of 1032	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	15.5	763 of 865	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	8.2	992 of 1058	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	13.7	990 of 1089	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	21.0	967 of 1108	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	10.3	1011 of 1085	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	7.0	1048 of 1088	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	12.4	1000 of 1066	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	6.7	1012 of 1053	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	10.0	1037 of 1084	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	11.9	1026 of 1080	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	10.7	1027 of 1074	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	21.7	168 of 190	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	41.4	94 of 163	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	29.4	190 of 250	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	39.1	155 of 243	36.2%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	16.2	65 of 65	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	13.4	54 of 54	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	18.2	47 of 50	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	40.4	34 of 52	34.6%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	14.6	63 of 63	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.3	40 of 40	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	37.8	24 of 45	46.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	19.4	40 of 42	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	29.4	96 of 120	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	61.9	26 of 105	75.2%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	8.0	632 of 638	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	9.0	611 of 625	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.2	587 of 611	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	25.2	429 of 532	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.5	444 of 574	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	21.0	809 of 907	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	41.9	555 of 887	37.4%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

African American (2025)12th percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)1st percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2025)<1st percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)<1st percentile~ school

By subject vs Missouri (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts9%-34 vs state

Mathematics5%-37 vs state

Science2%-40 vs state

★

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Schools Near Whittier Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MAP Mathematics (2025)						MAP Science (2025)		MAP English Language Arts (2025)						MAP Algebra I (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MAP Mathematics 6th Grade	MAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MAP Mathematics 8th Grade	MAP Science 5th Grade	MAP Science 8th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	MAP Algebra I End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Whittier Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	1012 Bales	Kansas City	64127	Jackson County	Kansas City 33	No	No	No	Yes	(816) 418-3850	550	48	11.4	100.0%	25 (4.5%)	224 (40.7%)	234 (42.5%)	57 (10.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.9%)	5 (0.9%)	3.8	894^th of 900 public elementary schools	0.7%		4.3	891^st of 906 public elementary schools	1.7%	3	5.9	5.6	2.0	5.4			2.0		12.0	6.0	8.0	7.8				$17,535	$2,478	$15,056
KIPP Endeavor Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	2700 E 18th St	Kansas City	64127	Jackson County	Kipp: Endeavor Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(816) 241-3994	665	68	9.7	100.0%	5 (0.8%)	536 (80.6%)	85 (12.8%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (5.1%)	4.5	882^nd of 900 public elementary schools	2.0%		3.7	896^th of 906 public elementary schools	1.1%	14	3.6	4.7	2.0	9.2	2.8	3.3	8.0	8.3	5.2	9.3	8.0	14.7	8.2	9.9		$17,064	$1,878	$15,186
Garfield Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	436 Prospect Blvd	Kansas City	64124	Jackson County	Kansas City 33	No	No	No	Yes	(816) 418-3605	531	42	12.7	100.0%	33 (6.2%)	236 (44.4%)	159 (29.9%)	75 (14.1%)	2 (0.4%)	8 (1.5%)	18 (3.4%)	7.7	843^rd of 900 public elementary schools	6.3%		7.3	857^th of 906 public elementary schools	5.4%	14	13.7	17.4	11.5	12.1			9.1		11.4	11.4	17.9	9.5				$19,503	$2,478	$17,025
Scuola Vita Nuova Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	535 Garfield Ave	Kansas City	64124	Jackson County	Scuola Vita Nuova	Yes	No	No	Yes	(816) 231-5788	363	24	15.1	100.0%	32 (8.8%)	155 (42.7%)	159 (43.8%)	13 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.1%)	23.7	710^th of 900 public elementary schools	21.1%		24.8	696^th of 906 public elementary schools	23.2%	14	25.0	30.0	25.0	35.0	54.0		17.5	31.2	22.5			25.7	29.8		48.3	$17,732	$1,179	$16,553
Guadalupe Centers Elementary	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	5123 E Truman Road	Kansas City	64127	Jackson County	Guadalupe Centers Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(816) 994-0396	801	74	10.8	66.2%	14 (1.7%)	11 (1.4%)	772 (96.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.4%)	5	879^th of 900 public elementary schools	2.3%		6.9	863^rd of 906 public elementary schools	4.7%	16	9.4	8.6	6.6				8.4		6.9	11.0	8.3					$23,584	$2,243	$21,342
Phillis Wheatley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2415 Agnes Ave	Kansas City	64127	Jackson County	Kansas City 33	No	No	No	Yes	(816) 418-4825	386	34	11.4	100.0%	17 (4.4%)	150 (38.9%)	194 (50.3%)	4 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	19 (4.9%)	10.5	817^th of 900 public elementary schools	9.2%		11.1	822^nd of 906 public elementary schools	9.3%	5	16.1	18.8	4.8	20.8			11.7		16.2	24.7	12.0	12.4				$22,394	$3,071	$19,323
Gladstone Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	335 N Elmwood	Kansas City	64123	Jackson County	Kansas City 33	No	No	No	Yes	(816) 418-3285	406	34	12.0	100.0%	32 (7.9%)	103 (25.4%)	194 (47.8%)	65 (16.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)	8 (2.0%)	16.5	763^rd of 900 public elementary schools	15.2%		18.3	746^th of 906 public elementary schools	17.7%	17	24.2	16.4	25.1	21.4			27.2		20.6	19.0	26.2	10.5				$21,191	$2,614	$18,577
Wendell Phillips Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2400 Prospect	Kansas City	64127	Jackson County	Kansas City 33	No	No	No	Yes	(816) 418-3755	324	23	14.3	100.0%	17 (5.2%)	223 (68.8%)	60 (18.5%)	8 (2.5%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	14 (4.3%)	11.2	808^th of 900 public elementary schools	10.2%		12	813^th of 906 public elementary schools	10.3%	5	13.1		8.6	13.6			14.9		18.8	20.1	27.8	11.2				$20,655	$2,914	$17,741
James Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	5810 Scarritt	Kansas City	64123	Jackson County	Kansas City 33	No	No	No	Yes	(816) 418-3650	328	22	14.6	100.0%	21 (6.4%)	49 (14.9%)	224 (68.3%)	29 (8.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.2%)	10.2	820^th of 900 public elementary schools	8.9%		15.9	770^th of 906 public elementary schools	15.0%	50	6.3		17.9	26.9			6.8		9.4	8.9	24.5	10.9				$20,443	$2,480	$17,964
Trailwoods Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	6201 E 17th St	Kansas City	64126	Jackson County	Kansas City 33	No	No	No	Yes	(816) 418-3250	388	29	13.3	100.0%	23 (5.9%)	60 (15.5%)	294 (75.8%)	6 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.0%)	5.6	868^th of 900 public elementary schools	3.6%		14	789^th of 906 public elementary schools	12.9%	79	14.6	10.8	2.2	9.2			10.3		9.8	9.5	13.2	5.4				$19,653	$2,478	$17,175

Frequently Asked Questions about Whittier Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Whittier Elementary?

Students at Whittier Elementary are 43% Hispanic, 41% African American, 10% Asian, 5% White.

What schools do graduates of Whittier Elementary attend?

Students who attend Whittier Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Northeast Middle School
High : Northeast High

What district is Whittier Elementary in?

Kansas City 33

How many students attend Whittier Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 550 students attended Whittier Elementary.

Is Whittier Elementary a good school?

Whittier Elementary ranks in the bottom 0.7% of Missouri elementary schools.

Rate Whittier Elementary!

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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.