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Excellent

#161 of 2,216 schools in MO

Top 7% in state

Walden Middle

Middle School · PARK HILL

4701 NW 56TH STREET, Kansas City, MO 64151

Enrollment

745

Student-Teacher

13.5:1

Score

8.4

Grades

6th – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Kansas City

#7 of 137

public schools

Missouri middle schools

#18 of 390

In district

#4 of 18

PARK HILL

Academic growth

9.8 / 10

Exceptional

About Walden Middle

Walden Middle is a public middle school in Kansas City, MO, part of the PARK HILL. The school serves approximately 745 students in grades 6th – 8th with a student-teacher ratio of 13.5:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.4/10, placing it in the 92.8th percentile among MO schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 45% proficiency in math and 48% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.8/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $91,348, where 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a large city setting.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.8Exceptional40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change+4 pts/yr
Data Period2021–2022
TrendImproving
Academics7.4Very Good35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency50%
Reading/ELA Proficiency46%
Overall Proficiency48%
Expected (poverty-adj.)48%
vs. Expected-0.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile62th
Resources & Environment7.7Very Good25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,846

Walden Middle — Students at Walden Middle score 48% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

30.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MO EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 44.5%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 47.5%
School
State
N/A

Based on 4 test records from MO state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

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

2021*
Math
39%
ELA
49%
2022
Math
50%
ELA
46%

* 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: 9.8/10.

How Walden Middle Compares

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

Overall Score
8.4/10
93th percentile in MO
Academic
7.4/10
7.4/10
Growth
9.8/10
Above average
Environment
7.7/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
30%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
55 teachers

Location

4701 NW 56TH STREET, Kansas City, MO 64151

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Walden Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. LAKEVIEW MIDDLE (rated 8.6/10, 1.8 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is CONGRESS MIDDLE (rated 8.2/10, 3.9 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, PLAZA MIDDLE (rated 7.8/10, 2.3 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Kansas City, see our Kansas City schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.9 mi
School Distance Rating
SOUTHEAST ELEM. Kansas City 0.2 mi 6.2
PARK HILL SOUTH HIGH Riverside 1.4 mi 6.3
LINE CREEK ELEM. Kansas City 1.5 mi 5.9
CLAY-PLATTE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Kansas City 1.5 mi 8.1
THOMAS B. CHINN ELEM. Kansas City 2.0 mi 6.1
ENGLISH LANDING ELEM. Kansas City 1.8 mi 8.8
LAKEVIEW MIDDLE Kansas City 1.8 mi 8.6
HOPEWELL ELEMENTARY Kansas City 2.0 mi 7.5
PLAZA MIDDLE Kansas City 2.3 mi 7.8
WEST ENGLEWOOD ELEMENTARY Kansas City 1.9 mi 7.2
ST THERESE SCHOOL Kansas City 2.3 mi 5.3
GRADEN ELEM. Parkville 2.8 mi 8.0
PRAIRIE POINT ELEM. Kansas City 3.2 mi 4.9
Bridges/Wyandot Academy Kansas City 3.8 mi
BRIARCLIFF ELEMENTARY Kansas City 3.2 mi 7.7
Quindaro Elem Kansas City 3.8 mi 4.4
ALFRED L. RENNER ELEM. Kansas City 3.8 mi 6.9
GERNER FAMILY EARLY ED CTR. Kansas City 3.8 mi 5.1
CONGRESS MIDDLE Kansas City 3.9 mi 8.2
PARK HILL HIGH Kansas City 3.9 mi 6.7

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

Community Profile

The community surrounding Walden Middle has a median household income of $91,348. It is a well-educated community where 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $292,500, with a median rent of $1,333/month. The local poverty rate of 7.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
HIXSON MIDDLE St. Louis, MO 8.3
JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL Columbia, MO 8.5
MONETT MIDDLE Monett, MO 8.3
OAK RIDGE INTERMEDIATE Camdenton, MO 8.5
LAKEVIEW MIDDLE Kansas City, MO 8.6
CONGRESS MIDDLE Kansas City, MO 8.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Walden Middle

What grades does Walden Middle serve?

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

How many students attend Walden Middle?

Walden Middle has an enrollment of approximately 745 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Walden Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Walden Middle is 13.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Walden Middle rank in MO?

Walden Middle is ranked #161 out of 2,216 schools in MO.

What is Walden Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Walden Middle has a composite rating of 8.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Walden Middle?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Walden Middle has 44.5% math proficiency and 47.5% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Walden Middle a charter school?

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

Is Walden Middle a Title I school?

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

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

30.2% of students at Walden 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
10 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
19 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
14 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (6,241/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Kansas City). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
745
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
55
Free/Reduced Lunch
30.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Platte County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

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

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 methodology

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