- Enrollment
- 609
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Kansas City, MO
University Academy-Upper
Federal NCES profile for University Academy-Upper, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 290002702808Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 53
📋 Attendance 86
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
University Academy-Upper earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of Missouri schools.
- #1 of 20
- high schools in Kansas City · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.8:1
- large classes for Missouri
- 98.7%
- free-lunch eligible
University Academy-Upper has class sizes larger than 78% of Missouri schools. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, University Academy-Upper ranks #1 of 20 high schools in Kansas City, MO.
School address
District: University Academy · Missouri
NCES ID 290002702808 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-17 students YoY
University Academy-Upper shrank from 226 students in 2022-23 to 209 in 2023-24 (-7.5%).
Teacher FTE added 16.9 → 17.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-17 students YoY 290002702808 · Kansas City, MO High · SMALL · CHARTER
237 enr · 14.8:1 · 98.7% lunch · RII 52
Nearest enrollment peer: University Academy-Lower (609 students)
University Academy-Upper shrank from 226 students in 2022-23 to 209 in 2023-24 (-7.5%). Teacher FTE added 16.9 → 17.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Missouri schools → · Find another →
University Academy-Upper in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- University Aca
University Academy-Lower
609 students
- University Aca
University Academy-Middle
265 students
- This school 237
University Academy-Upper
237 students
What this shows University Academy-Upper reports 237 students on the CCD universe file.
How University Academy-Upper compares
University Academy-Upper is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Missouri and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Missouri | Missouri avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.8:1 | ▲ 16% | 12.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 98.7% | ▲ 114% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 237 | top 64% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.8:1
Leaner classes than 49% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
237
Bigger than 24% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
98.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 114% 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
14.8:1
students per teacher
- 16% above state mean
Top 78% in Missouri - lower ratio than 22% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
5.5%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 237 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
23
in-school suspensions + 31 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 22.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 94.1%
White 2.5%
Hispanic or Latino 2.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: African American at 94.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 11.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 11.3, University Academy-Upper is less mixed than the Missouri school average of 31.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 4
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-Upper Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Academy-Lower | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| University Academy-Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to University Academy-Upper's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 265
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Similar high schools in Kansas City
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~237 students)
Frequently asked questions about University Academy-Upper
How many students attend University Academy-Upper?
University Academy-Upper has 237 students enrolled. It is a high school in Kansas City, MO. CCD year-over-year: 226 (2022-23) → 209 (2023-24), down 17.
What is the student-teacher ratio at University Academy-Upper?
The student-teacher ratio at University Academy-Upper is 14.8:1, which is 16% higher than the Missouri average of 12.8:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at University Academy-Upper?
98.7% of students at University Academy-Upper are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of University Academy-Upper?
The largest demographic group at University Academy-Upper is African American at 94.1% of enrollment, in Kansas City, MO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for University Academy-Upper?
University Academy-Upper has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (higher 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-Upper rank among high schools in Kansas City?
By Resource Investment Index, University Academy-Upper ranks #1 of 20 high 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 high schools in Kansas City on the city page.
What other schools are in University Academy?
Besides University Academy-Upper, University Academy also operates University Academy-Lower (609 students) and University Academy-Middle (265 students). See the University Academy district page for the complete list.