Kansas City
Schools
Student achievement is drastically lower in Kansas City, MO than in more affluent neighboring schools. Approximately 80 percent of Kansas City Missouri School District (KCMSD) students qualify for free and reduced lunch. Additionally, the Missouri Assessment Program results show a far different picture for KCMSD students than their peers just 30 minutes away, where only 10 percent of students are considered low-income. While 53 percent of third graders in the wealthier neighboring district scored proficient or higher on the Communication Arts test, less than 29 percent of Kansas City students met the same bar. Perhaps even more tellingly, while students’ proficiency levels tend to increase in higher grade levels in wealthier school districts, Kansas City students show steadily lower levels of proficiency as they progress through school, and less than half of the graduating class from Kansas City go on to attend college.
However, area schools are implementing plans to close this achievement gap, and have been supported by recently increased state spending in education. Many schools are focusing their energy on upgrading instructional personnel and developing a more structured core curriculum in a concentrated effort to increase students’ academic performance. In addition, Kansas City schools have expressed enthusiasm about partnering with Teach For America in this endeavor in 2008. Members of the Kansas City charter corps will have the opportunity to play a dynamic role in the city’s education reform movement and to profoundly affect the educational experiences of some of the nation’s most disadvantaged students.
At a Glance
| Ethnic Breakdown-Student Population |
| 65% African-American |
| 14% Caucasian |
| 20% Latino/Hispanic |
| 2% Asian-American |
| <1% Native American |
| Ethnic Breakdown-Kansas City, MO |
| 31% African-American |
| 61% Caucasian |
| 7% Latino/Hispanic |
| 2% Asian-American |
| <1% Native American |
| <1% Other |
| Percentage of Students Qualifying for Free/Reduced-Price Lunch |
81% |
Our corps members
Placement regions
Corps and Alumni
