Best Schools in Kansas City, Kansas
63 schools · 40 Elementary · 10 Middle · 12 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Kansas City?
Use this page to compare every school in Kansas City by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Emerson Elem
Elementary · Kansas City. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Junction Elementary
Elementary · Turner-kansas City. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Frank Rushton Elem
Elementary · Kansas City. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Kansas City for 2026 are Emerson Elem (8.7/10), Junction Elementary (8.5/10), and Frank Rushton Elem (7.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 50 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
63
58 public · 5 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$134,433
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Schools
63
58 public · 5 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$134,433
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Rates 8.7/10 despite 89% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.7 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Kansas City schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Kansas City
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (50 of 63). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emerson Elem | 8.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Junction Elementary | 8.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Frank Rushton Elem | 7.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Mark Twain Elem | 7.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Whittier Elem | 7.7 / 10 |
| 6 | New Stanley Elem | 7.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Piper Prairie Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Sumner Academy of Arts & Science | 7.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Piper Creek Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Turner Elem | 7.4 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.9/10
- Median household income
- $54,378
- Median home value
- $134,433
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 20%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 54%
25% 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
#90 of 140
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.5
below Kansas avg (6.4)
Median household income
$54k
76% of Kansas median
Schools in this city
59
Education Snapshot
Kansas City, KansasKansas City, Kansas enrolls approximately 29,364 students across 63 schools — 40 elementary, 10 middle, and 12 high schools operated by 5 separate districts. MySchoolScout's composite rating averages 5.9/10 across 59 scored schools, half a point below the Kansas state average of 6.4/10. The city's economic profile aligns with that rating gap: median household income stands at $62,452, running 17% below the Kansas state median of $75,592. Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher make up 20% of the population. Five distinct districts serving the same city mean school quality varies considerably by neighborhood; the 5.9 composite spans a wide range of individual scores. Families evaluating options here should compare specific school ratings alongside district context rather than relying on the aggregate — the list below shows exactly where each school lands relative to peers.
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 | 180 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.7 |
| 2 | 243 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.5 |
| 3 | 319 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.9 |
| 4 | 220 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.7 |
| 5 | 473 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.7 |
| 6 | 224 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.6 |
| 7 | 659 students · Pre-K–2nd | 7.5 |
| 8 | 610 students · 3rd–5th | 7.4 |
| 9 | 570 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.4 |
| 10 | 462 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.1 |
Show all 40 elementary schools in Kansas City
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 280 students · 6th–6th | 6.7 |
| 2 | 688 students · 6th–8th | 5.7 |
| 3 | 508 students · 6th–8th | 5.3 |
| 4 | 739 students · 6th–8th | 5.3 |
| 5 | 428 students · 6th–8th | 4.9 |
| 6 | 835 students · 6th–8th | 4.8 |
| 7 | 551 students · 6th–8th | 4.4 |
| 8 | 581 students · 6th–8th | 4.2 |
| 9 | 571 students · 7th–8th | 3.9 |
| 10 | 688 students · 6th–8th | 3.8 |
High Schools
12 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,005 students · 8th–12th | 7.4 |
| 2 | 72 students · 9th–12th | 5.2 |
| 3 | 1,282 students · 9th–12th | 4.1 |
| 4 | 1,841 students · 9th–12th | 3.9 |
| 5 | 800 students · 9th–12th | 3.9 |
| 6 | 817 students · 9th–12th | 3.9 |
| 7 | 1,134 students · 6th–12th | 3.7 |
| 8 | 1,190 students · 9th–12th | 3.6 |
| 9 | 188 students · 12th–12th | 2.7 |
| 10 | 11 students · 7th–12th | — |
Show all 12 high schools in Kansas City
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
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.
Schools by Level
- State
- Kansas
- Elementary
- 40
- Middle
- 10
- High
- 12
- Other
- 1
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Kansas
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently 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 5.9 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Kansas City, Kansas?
The top-ranked school in Kansas City on MySchoolScout is Emerson Elem with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Kansas City, Kansas?
The top-ranked elementary school in Kansas City on MySchoolScout is Emerson Elem with a composite score of 8.7/10.
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 6.7/10.
What is the best high school in Kansas City, Kansas?
The top-ranked high school in Kansas City on MySchoolScout is Sumner Academy of Arts & Science with a composite score of 7.4/10.
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 built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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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.