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Average

#1627 of 2,221 schools in MO

Plaza Middle

Middle School · PARK HILL

6501 NW 72ND ST, Kansas City, MO 64151

Enrollment

676

Student-Teacher

12.5:1

Score

5.2

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Missouri schools

#1,627 of 2,221

In Kansas City

#103 of 147

public schools

In district

#14 of 18

PARK HILL

School environment

8.6 / 10

Excellent

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Plaza Middle

5.2/10

Middle School in Kansas City · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Thomas B. Chinn Elem.

4.0/10

0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

St Therese School

5.3/10

0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Plaza Middle

Plaza Middle is a public middle school in Kansas City, MO, part of PARK HILL. Plaza Middle serves approximately 676 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Plaza Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.2 out of 10 and ranks #1,627 of 2,221 schools in MO.

Structured state assessment records for Plaza Middle show 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.2 pts below district
  • This school 5.2 · Average
  • District avg 6.4
  • MO avg 6.1

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress2.9Needs Improvement40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data16
Annual Change-5 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics5.3Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency41.3% (2025 MAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency41.5% (2025 MAP)
Math vs. State Avg-7.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-0.4 pts
Overall Proficiency41% (2025 MAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)52% (model expectation from 2025 MAP)
vs. Expected-10.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile35th
Resources & Environment8.6Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,382
Chronic Absenteeism20.3%

Plaza Middle — Students at Plaza Middle score 41% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 52%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

29.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MO MAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 53.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
47.1% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)
ELA Proficiency 55.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
42.0% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)

Based on 39 test records from MO state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
69%
ELA
66%
2010
Math
71%
ELA
65%
2011
Math
72%
ELA
68%
2012
Math
74%
ELA
68%
2013
Math
71%
ELA
67%
2014
Math
54%
ELA
71%
2015
Math
55%
ELA
70%
2016
Math
51%
ELA
67%
2017
Math
47%
ELA
59%
2018
Math
44%
ELA
52%
2019
Math
44%
ELA
52%
2020*
Math
37%
ELA
51%
2021*
Math
37%
ELA
51%
2022
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2024
Math
51.9%
ELA
41%
2025
Math
41.3%
ELA
41.5%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 2.9/10.

How Plaza Middle Compares

See how Plaza Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.2/10
27th percentile in MO
Academic
5.3/10
Average
Growth
2.9/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
8.6/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
29%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
54 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
20.3%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

6501 NW 72ND ST, Kansas City, MO 64151

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Plaza Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. WALDEN MIDDLE (rated 8.6/10, 2.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is LAKEVIEW MIDDLE (rated 6.7/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, CONGRESS MIDDLE (rated 5.0/10, 1.6 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Kansas City, see our Kansas City schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.5 mi
School Distance Rating
THOMAS B. CHINN ELEM. Kansas City 0.6 mi 4.0
ST THERESE SCHOOL Kansas City 0.6 mi 5.3
ENGLISH LANDING ELEM. Kansas City 0.8 mi 7.8
LAKEVIEW MIDDLE Kansas City 0.9 mi 6.7
PRAIRIE POINT ELEM. Kansas City 1.1 mi 7.8
ALFRED L. RENNER ELEM. Kansas City 1.5 mi 7.4
GERNER FAMILY EARLY ED CTR. Kansas City 1.5 mi 3.2
CONGRESS MIDDLE Kansas City 1.6 mi 5.0
PARK HILL HIGH Kansas City 1.7 mi 5.8
GRADEN ELEM. Parkville 1.7 mi 4.1
SOUTHEAST ELEM. Kansas City 2.1 mi 7.7
WALDEN MIDDLE Kansas City 2.3 mi 8.6
TIFFANY RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHL Kansas City 2.6 mi 6.3
HOPEWELL ELEMENTARY Kansas City 2.2 mi 5.4
CLAY-PLATTE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Kansas City 3.0 mi 8.1
LINE CREEK ELEM. Kansas City 3.0 mi 8.1
PARK HILL SOUTH HIGH Riverside 3.7 mi 6.6
PATHFINDER ELEM. Kansas City 3.3 mi 6.0
HAWTHORN ELEM. Kansas City 3.3 mi 8.1
WEST ENGLEWOOD ELEMENTARY Kansas City 3.5 mi 6.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 64151 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$91,348

Median Home Value

$292,500

Median Rent

$1,333/mo

Population

28,706

College Educated

42%

Homeownership

61%

Avg Commute

22.8 min

Poverty Rate

7.5%

Median Age

39.1

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
FULTON MIDDLE Fulton, MO 5.2
CAMDENTON MIDDLE Camdenton, MO 5.3
MARGARET BUERKLE MIDDLE St. Louis, MO 5.1
MORELAND RIDGE MIDDLE Blue Springs, MO 5.1
BRIDGER MIDDLE Independence, MO 5.4
CONGRESS MIDDLE Kansas City, MO 5.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Plaza Middle

What grades does Plaza Middle serve?

Plaza Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Plaza Middle?

Plaza Middle has an enrollment of approximately 676 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Plaza Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Plaza Middle is 12.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Plaza Middle rank in MO?

Plaza Middle ranks #1,627 of 2,221 schools in MO.

What is Plaza Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Plaza Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.2 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Plaza Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Plaza Middle has 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Plaza Middle a charter school?

No, Plaza Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Plaza Middle a Title I school?

No, Plaza Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Plaza Middle?

29.3% of students at Plaza Middle qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
34 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
22 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
36 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
676
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
54
Free/Reduced Lunch
29.3%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Platte County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
20.3%

District

PARK HILL
District Enrollment
11,915
Schools in District
20
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,382
District Rank
#14 of 18

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