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 52 percent of third graders in the wealthier neighboring district scored proficient or higher on the Communication Arts test, less than 18 percent of Kansas City students met the same bar. Additionally, less than half of the graduating class from Kansas City goes on to attend college.
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. According a recent report card on the district from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 23 percent of third or fourth graders scored proficient or higher on the math section of the Missouri Assessment Program test, while only seven percent of seventh and eighth graders and two percent of 10th and 11th graders scored proficient or higher in math.
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 concerted effort to increase students’ academic performance. In addition, Kansas City schools have been supportive about partnering with Teach For America in this endeavor. Members of the Kansas City 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 |
| 64% African-American |
| 14% Caucasian |
| 19% 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% |
Placements |
| 56% elementary |
| 44% secondary |
| 98% teach at a school with another corps member or alumnus |
Our corps members
Placement regions
Corps and Alumni
