The brief
The top-rated elementary schools in Kansas City for 2026 are Border Star Montessori (8.4/10), Carver Dual Language School (8.4/10), and Winnwood Elementary (8.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 89 elementary schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Kansas City's elementary landscape spans 91 ranked schools, giving families a wide field to evaluate. Hale Cook Elementary leads the pack with a 9.3/10 composite score, followed closely by English Landing, Rising Hill, and Hawthorn — all scoring 8.6 or above. The metro average sits at 6.1/10, which means top-tier options outperform the norm by a significant margin. That gap matters when choosing. Only 25 schools — about 27% of the ranked total — score 7 or higher, so strong performers are real standouts, not the default. The table below covers all 91 schools with scores, enrollment figures, and other key data points. Sort by what matters most to your family: overall rating, school size, or proximity. Hale Cook and the other high scorers are worth a close look, but the right fit depends on more than a single number.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 18.4
- 28.4
- 38.2
- 48.2
- 58.1
- 68.1
- 78.1
- 88.1
- 98.1
- 107.9
All 89 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 89
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Border Star MontessoriKansas City 33students 254student-teacher ratio 14.1:1grades Pre-K–6th
- 2Carver Dual Language SchoolKansas City 33students 455student-teacher ratio 13.0:1grades Pre-K–6th
- 3Winnwood ElementaryNorth Kansas City 74students 251student-teacher ratio 12.0:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 4Northview ElementaryNorth Kansas City 74students 672student-teacher ratio 16.0:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 5Dobbs ElementaryHickman Mills C-1students 330student-teacher ratio 13.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 6Lakewood ElementaryNorth Kansas City 74students 170student-teacher ratio 11.3:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 7Fox Hill ElementaryNorth Kansas City 74students 624student-teacher ratio 17.3:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 8Line Creek Elem.Park Hillstudents 351student-teacher ratio 11.7:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 9Hawthorn Elem.Park Hillstudents 429student-teacher ratio 13.4:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 10Rising Hill ElementaryNorth Kansas City 74students 391student-teacher ratio 13.5:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 11Crestview ElementaryNorth Kansas City 74students 389student-teacher ratio 10.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 12Ravenwood ElementaryNorth Kansas City 74students 330student-teacher ratio 12.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 13English Landing Elem.Park Hillstudents 434student-teacher ratio 13.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 14Prairie Point Elem.Park Hillstudents 437student-teacher ratio 13.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 15Bell Prairie ElementaryNorth Kansas City 74students 742student-teacher ratio 16.1:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 16Southeast Elem.Park Hillstudents 502student-teacher ratio 13.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 17Red Bridge Elem.Center 58students 223student-teacher ratio 10.6:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 18Union Chapel Elem.Park Hillstudents 601student-teacher ratio 15.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 19Boone Elem.Center 58students 259student-teacher ratio 11.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 20Ervin Elementary SchoolHickman Mills C-1students 641student-teacher ratio 14.9:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 21Maplewood ElementaryNorth Kansas City 74students 318student-teacher ratio 11.4:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 22Alfred L. Renner Elem.Park Hillstudents 437student-teacher ratio 13.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 23Compass ElementaryHickman Mills C-1students 332student-teacher ratio 13.3:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 24Frontier School of InnovationcharterFrontier Schoolsstudents 643student-teacher ratio 10.9:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 25Pitcher ElementaryKansas City 33students 261student-teacher ratio 10.9:1grades Pre-K–6th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Missouri education department. Rankings are relative to all public elementary schools in Missouri. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Border Star Montessori
Kansas City 33
254 students · 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–6th
Top 7% in Missouri
- Academics
- 9.1
- Growth
- 7.5
- Environment
- 9.5
- 2
Carver Dual Language School
Kansas City 33
455 students · 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–6th
Top 7% in Missouri
- Academics
- 5.9
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 9.6
- 3
Winnwood Elementary
North Kansas City 74
251 students · 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 10% in Missouri
- Academics
- 7.2
- Growth
- 8.5
- Environment
- 8.7
- 4
Northview Elementary
North Kansas City 74
672 students · 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 10% in Missouri
- Academics
- 9.0
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 3.2
- 5
Dobbs Elementary
Hickman Mills C-1
330 students · 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 11% in Missouri
- Academics
- 6.5
- Growth
- 9.7
- Environment
- 6.4
- 6
Lakewood Elementary
North Kansas City 74
170 students · 11.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 12% in Missouri
- Academics
- 9.0
- Growth
- 7.3
- Environment
- 8.7
- 7
Fox Hill Elementary
North Kansas City 74
624 students · 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 12% in Missouri
- Academics
- 9.1
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 2.4
- 8
Line Creek Elem.
Park Hill
351 students · 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 12% in Missouri
- Academics
- 5.6
- Growth
- 9.6
- Environment
- 8.1
- 9
Hawthorn Elem.
Park Hill
429 students · 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 12% in Missouri
- Academics
- 8.7
- Growth
- 7.5
- Environment
- 8.6
- 10
Rising Hill Elementary
North Kansas City 74
391 students · 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 15% in Missouri
- Academics
- 9.6
- Growth
- 7.4
- Environment
- 6.7
Questions
What is the best elementary school in Kansas City, Missouri?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Border Star Montessori is the top-rated elementary school in Kansas City with a composite score of 8.4/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many elementary schools are in Kansas City, Missouri?
Kansas City has 113 elementary schools, including 20 charter schools. Of these, 110 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average elementary school rating in Kansas City?
Among 110 Kansas City elementary schools with a composite score, the average is 6.2/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Missouri).
How does MySchoolScout rate elementary schools?
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within Missouri, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in Missouri, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the Kansas City elementary school rankings?
Kansas City has 20 charter elementary schools in its directory. Charter schools that meet this ranking's data requirements are included alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.
How should I use this ranking?
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Explore more
- Best middle schools in Kansas City2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in Kansas City2026 rankings and ratings
- All 197 schools in Kansas CityElementary, middle and high
- Missouri schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings