Kansas City Public Schools

Listed by NCES as Kansas City 33 (district ID 2916400)

Public school district · Jackson County · Missouri · NCES district ID 2916400

Kansas City Public Schools spent $18,743 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, more than 97% of the other Missouri districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 (median $11,885). Its 31 schools enrolled 15,079 students in 2024-25; 3.7% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $19,265 per student, up 2.8% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 78% (Missouri: 89.3%).

Spending per student among Missouri districts of similar size

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Kansas City Public Schools in enrollment (11,976 to 17,775 students) and Kansas City Public Schools itself.

Current spending per student, Missouri districts closest in size to Kansas City Public Schools, FY23Kansas City Public Schools $18,743; Park Hill $15,382; Parkway Schools $13,983; Hazelwood $13,977; Lee's Summit R-7 $13,841; Fort Zumwalt $13,648; Liberty Public School District 53 $13,179; Blue Springs $12,950; Francis Howell $12,462; Independence School District 30 $12,302; State median, 1,000+ students $11,885.10k12.5k15k17.5k20kKansas City Public Schools$18,743Park Hill$15,382Parkway Schools$13,983Hazelwood$13,977Lee's Summit R-7$13,841Fort Zumwalt$13,648Liberty Public School District…$13,179Blue Springs$12,950Francis Howell$12,462Independence School District 30$12,302State median, 1,000+ students $11,885
Current spending per student, Missouri districts closest in size to Kansas City Public Schools, FY23Kansas City Public Schools $18,743; Park Hill $15,382; Parkway Schools $13,983; Hazelwood $13,977; Lee's Summit R-7 $13,841; Fort Zumwalt $13,648; Liberty Public School District 53 $13,179; Blue Springs $12,950; Francis Howell $12,462; Independence School District 30 $12,302; State median, 1,000+ students $11,885.10k12.5k15k17.5k20kKansas City Public Schools$18,743Park Hill$15,382Parkway Schools$13,983Hazelwood$13,977Lee's Summit R-7$13,841Fort Zumwalt$13,648Liberty Public School District 53$13,179Blue Springs$12,950Francis Howell$12,462Independence School District 30$12,302State median, 1,000+ students $11,885
Current spending per student, Missouri districts closest in size to Kansas City Public Schools, FY23Kansas City Public Schools $18,743; Park Hill $15,382; Parkway Schools $13,983; Hazelwood $13,977; Lee's Summit R-7 $13,841; Fort Zumwalt $13,648; Liberty Public School District 53 $13,179; Blue Springs $12,950; Francis Howell $12,462; Independence School District 30 $12,302; State median, 1,000+ students $11,885.10k15k20kKansas City Public Schools$18,743Park Hill$15,382Parkway Schools$13,983Hazelwood$13,977Lee's Summit R-7$13,841Fort Zumwalt$13,648Liberty Public School District 53$13,179Blue Springs$12,950Francis Howell$12,462Independence School District 30$12,302State median, 1,000+ students $11,885
Current spending per student, Missouri districts closest in size to Kansas City Public Schools, FY23Kansas City Public Schools $18,743; Park Hill $15,382; Parkway Schools $13,983; Hazelwood $13,977; Lee's Summit R-7 $13,841; Fort Zumwalt $13,648; Liberty Public School District 53 $13,179; Blue Springs $12,950; Francis Howell $12,462; Independence School District 30 $12,302; State median, 1,000+ students $11,885.10k15k20kKansas City Public Schools$18,743Park Hill$15,382Parkway Schools$13,983Hazelwood$13,977Lee's Summit R-7$13,841Fort Zumwalt$13,648Liberty Public School District 53$13,179Blue Springs$12,950Francis Howell$12,462Independence School District 30$12,302State median, 1,000+ students $11,885

Where the money came from

$329,712,000 in revenue: 3.7% state, 76.7% local and 19.6% federal. Total spending including $11,168,000 of capital outlay was $292,110,000, or $20,267 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

Kansas City Public Schools revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $12,217,000; Local $252,759,000; Federal $64,736,000; total $329,712,000.
  • State$12,217,000 4%
  • Local$252,759,000 77%
  • Federal$64,736,000 20%

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 176 districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).

Enrollment rose from 2022-23 to 2024-25

14,413 students in 2022-23, 14,694 students in 2023-24, 15,079 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.

Kansas City Public Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 14,413, 2023-24: 14,694, 2024-25: 15,07905k10k15k20k2022-2314,4132023-2414,6942024-2515,079
Kansas City Public Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 14,413, 2023-24: 14,694, 2024-25: 15,07905k10k15k20k2022-2314,4132023-2414,6942024-2515,079
Kansas City Public Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 14,413, 2023-24: 14,694, 2024-25: 15,07905k10k15k20k2022-2314,4132023-2414,6942024-2515,079
Kansas City Public Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 14,413, 2023-24: 14,694, 2024-25: 15,07905k10k15k20k2022-2314,4132023-2414,6942024-2515,079

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-2314,4131084.113.3
2023-2414,6941106.813.3
2024-2515,0791068.814.1

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.

$70,466,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $4,889 per student

Kansas City Public Schools booked $70,466,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 1,164 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $60,514 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 87 in 100 Missouri districts with a figure (state median $50,410, 484 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Missouri teacher salary at $52,481 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).

ProgramTeacher salariesShare
Regular programs$49,214,00069.8%
Special education$6,942,0009.9%
Vocational$1,625,0002.3%
Other programs$12,685,00018.0%

Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $3,742 in 2018-19, $3,977 in 2019-20, $4,432 in 2020-21, $4,722 in 2021-22, $4,889 in 2022-23.

Kansas City Public Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,742, 2019-20: $3,977, 2020-21: $4,432, 2021-22: $4,722, 2022-23: $4,88902k4k6k2018-19$3,7422019-20$3,9772020-21$4,4322021-22$4,7222022-23$4,889
Kansas City Public Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,742, 2019-20: $3,977, 2020-21: $4,432, 2021-22: $4,722, 2022-23: $4,88902k4k6k2018-19$3,7422019-20$3,9772020-21$4,4322021-22$4,7222022-23$4,889
Kansas City Public Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,742, 2019-20: $3,977, 2020-21: $4,432, 2021-22: $4,722, 2022-23: $4,88902k4k6k2018-19$3,7422019-20$3,9772020-21$4,4322021-22$4,7222022-23$4,889
Kansas City Public Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,742, 2019-20: $3,977, 2020-21: $4,432, 2021-22: $4,722, 2022-23: $4,88902k4k6k2018-19$3,7422019-20$3,9772020-21$4,4322021-22$4,7222022-23$4,889

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).

State test results, 2021-22

In 2021-22, the students tested in Kansas City Public Schools scored proficient or above: 23% in reading and 18% in math, against 43.2% in reading and 39.2% in math across Missouri. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within Missouri, not across states.

Students proficient or above, 2021-22
SubjectThis districtMissouriStudents tested
Reading and language arts23%43.2%6,653
Math18%39.2%6,839

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.

Graduation rate, class of 2023

78% of the 1,109 students in Kansas City Public Schools' class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 89.3% across Missouri. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.

Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, class of 2023
This districtMissouri
Four-year graduation rate78%89.3%
Students in the class1,10967,017

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.

21 elementary schools, 8,912 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
M. L. King Elementary76815.0100.0%Schoolwide program
Foreign Language Academy59413.0100.0%Schoolwide program
Rogers Elementary59213.6100.0%Schoolwide program
Whittier Elementary55011.4100.0%Schoolwide program
Garfield Elementary53112.8100.0%Schoolwide program
Primitivo Garcia Elementary49415.1100.0%Schoolwide program
B. Banneker Elementary48714.9100.0%Schoolwide program
Carver Dual Language School46814.1100.0%Schoolwide program
Gladstone Elementary40612.1100.0%Schoolwide program
Trailwoods Elementary38813.3100.0%Schoolwide program
Phillis Wheatley Elementary38611.5100.0%Schoolwide program
Ac Prep Elementary36612.6100.0%Schoolwide program
The other 9 elementary schools
SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
John T. Hartman Elementary36015.9100.0%Schoolwide program
Holliday Montessori36014.9100.0%Schoolwide program
Hale Cook Elementary34413.4100.0%Eligible, no program
George Melcher Elementary34114.1100.0%Schoolwide program
James Elementary32814.6100.0%Schoolwide program
Wendell Phillips Elementary32414.3100.0%Schoolwide program
Faxon Elementary32211.5100.0%Schoolwide program
Pitcher Elementary25211.5100.0%Schoolwide program
Border Star Montessori25114.7100.0%Eligible, no program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

3 middle schools, 1,565 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Northeast Middle School60712.8100.0%Schoolwide program
Lincoln College Academy Middle58319.5100.0%Eligible, no program
Central Middle School37512.8100.0%Schoolwide program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

6 high schools, 4,570 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
East High School1,15515.7100.0%Schoolwide program
Lincoln College Prep.99720.0100.0%Eligible, no program
Northeast High73214.8100.0%Schoolwide program
Paseo Acad. of Performing Arts66911.5100.0%Schoolwide program
Central High School51914.6100.0%Schoolwide program
Southeast High School49815.4100.0%Schoolwide program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

1 other school, 32 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Contract32not reported90.6%Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

2 more schools on file: small, closed or in an earlier directory

These records carry fewer federal fields than a full school page needs, so each is summarized here with what NCES reports.

Troost Elementary

School in Kansas City; 251 students; 10.5 students per teacher.

Longfellow Elementary

School in Kansas City; 231 students; 12.4 students per teacher.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 and earlier directories: the last year each school was listed, its students and its teachers.

Contact Kansas City Public Schools

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.

What to look at next about Kansas City Public Schools

  1. Missouri districts by spending per studentKansas City Public Schools ranks 6 of 176 Missouri districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($18,743).#6 of 176
  2. Every school district in MissouriKansas City Public Schools is the number 13 by size of 558 Missouri districts, with 14,413 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#13 of 558
  3. Blue Springs School DistrictThe next larger Missouri district: 14,595 students in fall 2022, $12,950 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$12,950
  4. Independence School District 30The next smaller Missouri district: 14,406 students in fall 2022, $12,302 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$12,302
  5. Compare Kansas City Public Schools with Blue Springs School DistrictEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. East High School, its largest high school1,155 students in 2024-25, 15.7 per teacher.1,155
  7. Teacher salary spending across MissouriKansas City Public Schools spent $60,514 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $50,410); spending, not a salary.$60,514
  8. Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.

Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).

Questions about Kansas City Public Schools

  1. How many schools and students are in Kansas City Public Schools?
    31 schools were open in 2024-25 (21 elementary, 3 middle, 6 high, 1 other), enrolling 15,079 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does Kansas City Public Schools spend per student?
    $18,743 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the Missouri median for districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $11,885 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $19,265 per student, up 2.8% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does Kansas City Public Schools' money come from?
    $329,712,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 3.7% state, 76.7% local and 19.6% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in Kansas City Public Schools live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 7,674 of the 30,130 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 25.5%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.
  5. How much does Kansas City Public Schools spend on teacher salaries?
    $70,466,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $4,889 per student. Divided by the 1,164 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $60,514 per teacher, more than 87 in 100 Missouri districts (state median $50,410). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Missouri teacher salary at $52,481 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
  6. How do students in Kansas City Public Schools do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in Kansas City Public Schools scored proficient or above: 23% in reading and 18% in math, against 43.2% in reading and 39.2% in math across Missouri. Missouri's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.
  7. What is the graduation rate in Kansas City Public Schools?
    78% of the 1,109 students in Kansas City Public Schools' class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 89.3% across Missouri. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.
  8. What is Kansas City Public Schools' NCES district ID?
    2916400. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.

Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.

Sources

Every federal file behind this record
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
  • Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
  • EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
  • EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25