Kansas City School District
School District · Kansas City, Kansas
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
43
28 elem, 7 mid, 7 high
Enrollment
21,132
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
43
28 elem, 7 mid, 7 high
Enrollment
21,132
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
Evaluating Kansas City?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Kansas City as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Emerson Elem
Kansas City · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Frank Rushton Elem
Kansas City · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Whittier Elem
Kansas City · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Kansas rank
#218 of 279
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.7
below Kansas avg
Per-pupil spending
$17,613
+$2,359 vs Kansas median
District size
21,132 students
Much larger than Kansas median
The short answer
Kansas City ranks #218 of 279 Kansas districts by overall school rating. Kansas City's schools with real test data average 5.8/10 across 41 schools. Its top-rated schools are Emerson Elem (8.7/10), Frank Rushton Elem (7.9/10), and Whittier Elem (7.7/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.4/10 despite 63% 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 rating using only schools with real test data (41 of 43). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emerson Elem | 8.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Frank Rushton Elem | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Whittier Elem | 7.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Mark Twain Elem | 7.7 / 10 |
| 5 | New Stanley Elem | 7.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Sumner Academy of Arts & Science | 7.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Lowell Brune Elementary School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Claude a Huyck Elem | 7.0 / 10 |
| 9 | M E Pearson Elem | 6.8 / 10 |
| 10 | Thomas a Edison Elem | 6.8 / 10 |
See all 43 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Kansas City
Kansas City is a Kansas City, Kansas school district serving 43 schools.The district educates 21,132 students with a student-teacher ratio of 15:1. District-level spending was $17,613 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.7/10, Kansas City demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Emerson Elem, which has a composite score of 8.7/10.
In standardized testing, Kansas City students show an average math proficiency of 24.8% and ELA proficiency of 29.0%.
The district includes 28 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 7 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Kansas City, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Kansas City with test data.
Schools in Kansas City
43 schoolsElementary Schools28
Middle Schools7
High Schools7
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- Kansas
- City
- Kansas City
- Total Enrollment
- 21,132
- Teachers (FTE)
- 1,411
- District spending per student
- $17,613NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 21.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Kansas City?
Kansas City has 43 schools in total — 28 elementary, 7 middle, and 7 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Kansas City?
The average composite rating for Kansas City is 5.7/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Kansas City?
Kansas City's district-level spending was $17,613 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Kansas City?
The average student-teacher ratio in Kansas City is 15:1.
What is the top-rated school in Kansas City?
Emerson Elem is the highest-rated school in Kansas City with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What are the test scores in Kansas City?
Across schools in Kansas City with test data, the average math proficiency is 24.8% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 29.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Kansas City compare to other districts in Kansas?
Kansas City has an average school rating of 5.7/10 across 43 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Kansas by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 24.8%
- ELA Proficiency
- 29.0%
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 rateOther School Districts in KS
Compare Kansas City with neighboring districts in the state.
- Wichita (87)
- Olathe (52)
- Shawnee Mission Pub Sch (45)
- Blue Valley (37)
- Topeka Public Schools (27)
- Garden City (18)
- Lawrence (18)
- Geary County Schools (15)
- Manhattan-ogden (14)
- De Soto (13)
- Derby (13)
- Salina (13)
- Goddard (12)
- Maize (12)
- Andover (11)
- Dodge City (11)
- Gardner Edgerton (11)
- Spring Hill (11)
- Hutchinson Public Schools (10)
- Auburn-washburn (9)
- Haysville (9)
- Arkansas City (8)
- Emporia (8)
- Leavenworth (8)
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.
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