Below Average
#1775 of 2,221 schools in MO
Thomas J. Ultican Elem.
Elementary School · Blue Springs R-iv · Blue Springs, MO
A Blue Springs R-iv elementary school where students score 4 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1812 NW VESPER, Blue Springs, MO 64015
- Math 40% vs MO 48% (2025)
- Reading 43% vs MO 48% (2025)
- 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Thomas J. Ultican Elem. score 42% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
2025 MAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MO average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 18 points since 2021, to 42% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 16 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 60% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 56% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 40 test records from MO state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
44.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Thomas J. Ultican Elem. sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Kansas City map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 51Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 41Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,686/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Blue Springs), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$81,242
Median home value
$249,500
Median rent
$1,148/mo
College educated
34.4%
Homeownership
71.9%
Poverty rate
6.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 64015; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St John Lalande SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.3private | PK–8 | 0.7 mi | 174 | Compare → |
| Franklin Smith Elem.Enrollment path unverified | 9.6 | K–5 | 1.2 mi | 420 | Compare → |
| Plaza Heights Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.3private | PK–12 | 1.2 mi | 212 | Compare → |
| James Walker Elem.Enrollment path unverified | 8.1 | K–5 | 1.4 mi | 447 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Blue Springs R-iv
- Schools in district
- 21
- Rank in district
- #18 of 20
- District spending per student
- $12,950NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 7.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Thomas J. Ultican Elem. is listed in BLUE SPRINGS R-IV; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Thomas J. Ultican Elem.
Thomas J. Ultican Elem. is a public elementary school in Blue Springs, MO, part of Blue Springs R-iv, serving approximately 430 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 out of 10 and ranks #1,775 of 2,221 schools in MO.
State assessment records show 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 56% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Thomas J. Ultican Elem.
What grades does Thomas J. Ultican Elem. serve?
Thomas J. Ultican Elem. serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Thomas J. Ultican Elem.?
Thomas J. Ultican Elem. has an enrollment of approximately 430 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomas J. Ultican Elem.?
The student-teacher ratio at Thomas J. Ultican Elem. is 15.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Thomas J. Ultican Elem. rank in MO?
Thomas J. Ultican Elem. ranks #1,775 of 2,221 schools in MO.
What is Thomas J. Ultican Elem.'s MySchoolScout rating?
Thomas J. Ultican Elem. has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 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 Thomas J. Ultican Elem.?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Thomas J. Ultican Elem. has 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 56% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Thomas J. Ultican Elem. a charter school?
No, Thomas J. Ultican Elem. is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Thomas J. Ultican Elem. a Title I school?
No, Thomas J. Ultican Elem. is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Thomas J. Ultican Elem.?
44.2% of students at Thomas J. Ultican Elem. qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 430
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 28
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Jackson County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 16.7%
- Phone
- (816) 874-3710
- Area population (ZIP 64015)
- 31,814
- Area average commute
- 25.6 min
- Area median age
- 38.4
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MAP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MAP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- State assessments · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 64015; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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