Best Schools in Kansas City, Kansas
63 schools · 40 Elementary · 10 Middle · 12 High · 1 Other
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.7/10
- Median household income
- $54,378
- Median home value
- $134,433
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 20%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 54%
20% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Kansas City compares
Kansas rank
#94 of 140
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.6
below Kansas avg (6.3)
Median household income
$54k
76% of Kansas median
Schools in this city
59
About Schools in Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City, Kansas runs 54 ranked public schools, giving families a wide field to navigate. The city's average school score sits at 5.6 out of 10, which places most buildings in the middle tier of performance. That average tells only part of the story, though — 10 schools, or 19% of the total, score 7 or above, meaning a meaningful slice of options clears a higher bar for families willing to research specific attendance zones.
Elementary options lead the city's strongest performers. Thomas A Edison Elementary tops the rankings at 8.3 out of 10, the highest score in Kansas City, KS. West Park Elementary follows at 8.1, and Junction Elementary rounds out the top three at 8.0. Bertram Caruthers Elementary and New Stanley Elementary both score 7.6, demonstrating that strong elementary options are not limited to a single pocket of the city. All five sit comfortably above the city average, and four of the top ten performers citywide are elementary schools, a pattern worth noting for parents with younger children.
Performance drops off considerably below that top tier. With an average of 5.6 across all 54 schools, families researching middle and high school options should examine individual school scores closely rather than assuming district-wide consistency. A school three blocks away can score several points lower than its neighbor, so address-level research matters more here than broad district reputation.
Practically, parents prioritizing academics should map their address against the attendance zones for Edison, West Park, and Junction first — these three alone account for three of the city's top four scores. If a top-rated elementary is not in-zone, the 19% of schools scoring 7 or above still provides real alternatives worth pursuing through open enrollment or magnet options where available. Plan to cross-reference each school's individual score against the city average of 5.6 to quickly sort which buildings outperform expectations and which fall below. Kansas City, KS rewards parents who research at the school level rather than the district level.
Elementary Schools
40 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 232 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.3 |
| 2 | 541 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.1 |
| 3 | 243 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.0 |
| 4 | 343 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.6 |
| 5 | 224 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.6 |
| 6 | 484 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.6 |
| 7 | 462 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.5 |
| 8 | 232 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.4 |
| 9 | 244 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.1 |
| 10 | 178 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.0 |
| 11 | 659 students · Pre-K–2nd | 6.9 |
| 12 | 610 students · 3rd–5th | 6.9 |
| 13 | 247 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.6 |
| 14 | 244 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.5 |
| 15 | 313 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.2 |
| 16 | 492 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.2 |
| 17 | 417 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.1 |
| 18 | 301 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.1 |
| 19 | 570 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.1 |
| 20 | 567 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.7 |
| 21 | 534 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.5 |
| 22 | 180 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.5 |
| 23 | 220 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.5 |
| 24 | 319 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.5 |
| 25 | 523 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.5 |
Show 15 more elementary schools
| 26 | 283 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.2 | ||
| 27 | 400 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.0 | ||
| 28 | 473 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.9 | ||
| 29 | 378 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.5 | ||
| 30 | 189 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.5 | ||
| 31 | 251 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.5 | ||
| 32 | 294 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.4 | ||
| 33 | 292 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.0 | ||
| 34 | 531 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.0 | ||
| 35 | 1,421 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.1 | ||
| 36 | 7 students · Pre-K–6th | — | ||
| Private Schools 4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | ST PATRICKS SCHOOL
Private
292 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | HOLY NAME SCHOOL
Private
111 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | RESURRECTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Private
270 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | CHRIST THE KING PARISH SCHOOL
Private
244 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 280 students · 6th–6th | 5.8 |
| 2 | 508 students · 6th–8th | 5.7 |
| 3 | 688 students · 6th–8th | 5.6 |
| 4 | 739 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 |
| 5 | 571 students · 7th–8th | 5.2 |
| 6 | 688 students · 6th–8th | 5.1 |
| 7 | 835 students · 6th–8th | 4.8 |
| 8 | 428 students · 6th–8th | 4.5 |
| 9 | 551 students · 6th–8th | 3.8 |
| 10 | 581 students · 6th–8th | 3.8 |
High Schools
12 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,005 students · 8th–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 2 | 188 students · 12th–12th | 5.5 | ||
| 3 | 1,134 students · 6th–12th | 5.5 | ||
| 4 | 72 students · 9th–12th | 5.4 | ||
| 5 | 1,282 students · 9th–12th | 5.0 | ||
| 6 | 800 students · 9th–12th | 4.3 | ||
| 7 | 817 students · 9th–12th | 4.3 | ||
| 8 | 1,841 students · 9th–12th | 3.5 | ||
| 9 | 1,190 students · 9th–12th | 3.4 | ||
| 10 | 11 students · 7th–12th | — | ||
| 11 | 23 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | BISHOP WARD HIGH SCHOOL
Private
309 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 students · Kindergarten–12th | — |
Schools in Kansas City
Kansas City, Kansas · 63 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 11 ZIP codes
Median Income
$54,378
Median Home Value
$134,433
Median Rent
$1,027/mo
Population
161,462
College Educated
20%
Homeownership
54%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
21.1%
Community Profile
Kansas City has a median household income of $54,378. It is a community where 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $134,433, with a median rent of $1,027/month. The area has a poverty rate of 21.1%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Quick Facts
- State
- Kansas
- Total Schools
- 63
- Elementary
- 40
- Middle
- 10
- High
- 12
- Districts
- 5
- Avg Rating
- 5.7/10
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Kansas
Top metros statewide by school count.
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Kansas City, Kansas
How many schools are in Kansas City, Kansas?
Kansas City has 63 schools, including 58 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Kansas City, Kansas?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Kansas City is 5.7 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.
What is the top-ranked school in Kansas City, Kansas?
The top-ranked school in Kansas City on MySchoolScout is Thomas a Edison Elem with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Kansas City, Kansas?
The top-ranked elementary school in Kansas City on MySchoolScout is Thomas a Edison Elem with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Kansas City, Kansas?
The top-ranked middle school in Kansas City on MySchoolScout is Turner Sixth Grade Academy with a composite score of 5.8/10.
What is the best high school in Kansas City, Kansas?
The top-ranked high school in Kansas City on MySchoolScout is Bishop Ward High School with a composite score of 6.8/10.
How many school districts serve Kansas City, Kansas?
Kansas City is served by 5 school districts: School for Blind, Bonner Springs, Kansas City, Piper-kansas City, Turner-kansas City.
What is the education level in Kansas City, Kansas?
According to Census data, 20% of adults in Kansas City have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Kansas City, Kansas?
The median household income in Kansas City is approximately $54,378 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Kansas City, Kansas?
Yes, Kansas City has 5 private schools alongside 58 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Patricks School with a score of 7.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Kansas City, Kansas?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Kansas City is 13.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Kansas City, Kansas?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Kansas Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.