- Enrollment
- 265
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Kansas City, MO
University Academy-Lower
Federal NCES profile for University Academy-Lower, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 290002702915Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 39
📋 Attendance 78
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
University Academy-Lower earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of Missouri schools.
- #11 of 55
- schools in Kansas City · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.9:1
- large classes for Missouri
- 99.5%
- free-lunch eligible
University Academy-Lower has class sizes larger than 79% of Missouri schools. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, University Academy-Lower ranks #11 of 55 schools in Kansas City, MO.
School address
District: University Academy · Missouri
NCES ID 290002702915 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-12 students YoY
University Academy-Lower held near 605 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-12 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 41.0 → 40.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-12 students YoY 290002702915 · Kansas City, MO Other · MID · CHARTER
609 enr · 14.9:1 · 99.5% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: University Academy-Middle (265 students)
University Academy-Lower held near 605 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-12 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 41.0 → 40.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Missouri schools → · Find another →
University Academy-Lower in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
University Academy-Lower
609 students
- University Aca
University Academy-Middle
265 students
- University Aca 237
University Academy-Upper
237 students
What this shows University Academy-Lower reports 609 students on the CCD universe file.
How University Academy-Lower compares
University Academy-Lower held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Missouri and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Missouri | Missouri avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.9:1 | ▲ 16% | 12.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.5% | ▲ 116% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 609 | top 14% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.9:1
Leaner classes than 48% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
609
Bigger than 73% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
99.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 116% above the Missouri average of 46.1%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.9:1
students per teacher
- 16% above state mean
Top 79% in Missouri - lower ratio than 21% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
8.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$15,199
per pupil, district-wide
- above Missouri avg of $14,087
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 305 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
101
in-school suspensions + 23 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 16.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 20.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 93.6%
White 3.0%
Hispanic or Latino 2.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 93.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 12.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 12.2, University Academy-Lower is less mixed than the Missouri school average of 31.0.
Programs
District finance for University Academy reports $15,199 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How University Academy-Lower Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Academy-Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| University Academy-Upper | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to University Academy-Lower's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 237
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Similar other schools in Kansas City
3 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~609 students)
Frequently asked questions about University Academy-Lower
How many students attend University Academy-Lower?
University Academy-Lower has 609 students enrolled. It is a public school in Kansas City, MO. CCD year-over-year: 617 (2022-23) → 605 (2023-24), nearly flat (-12).
What is the student-teacher ratio at University Academy-Lower?
The student-teacher ratio at University Academy-Lower is 14.9:1, which is 16% higher than the Missouri average of 12.8:1 and 5% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at University Academy-Lower?
99.5% of students at University Academy-Lower are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of University Academy-Lower?
The largest demographic group at University Academy-Lower is African American at 93.6% of enrollment, in Kansas City, MO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for University Academy-Lower?
University Academy-Lower has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does University Academy-Lower rank among schools in Kansas City?
By Resource Investment Index, University Academy-Lower ranks #11 of 55 schools in Kansas City, MO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Kansas City on the city page.
What other schools are in University Academy?
Besides University Academy-Lower, University Academy also operates University Academy-Middle (265 students) and University Academy-Upper (237 students). See the University Academy district page for the complete list.