Kansas City, KS - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Kansas City

Kansas City USD is a large, unified PK-12 district based in Wyandotte County, serving the city of Kansas City, Kansas. The district is one of the larger systems in the county, with an enrollment that is heavily concentrated among students who identify as Hispanic, followed by Black students, with smaller shares of White and Asian students. This is a high-needs, urban district, an academic environment where state assessment results point to widespread challenges. Proficiency rates on the Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) across math, reading, and science are consistently low in every grade level tested. Across elementary and middle school grades, the share of students scoring at a proficient or advanced level in math and English language arts is in the teens and low twenties, with math proficiency particularly thin. Science results follow the same pattern. Parents should know that the state adjusted its cut scores for what counts as proficient for the 2024-25 school year, so direct comparisons to prior years are not reliable; even so, the current proficiency picture is one of low attainment. The district's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among Wyandotte County's school districts, a signal of systemic difficulty rather than a few weak grades. A parent looking at these numbers will want to talk directly with the district and its individual schools about the specific academic interventions and supports in place.

The district has more than four dozen school buildings, including a few dozen elementary schools, several middle schools, and multiple high schools. The list includes a magnet program called Sumner Academy of Arts & Science, a school with a selective-admission reputation that sits inside the district and draws students from across the city. There are also several alternative or special-purpose schools on the roster, such as Bridges/Wyandot Academy, Alfred Fairfax Academy, and 500 Reach, which serve students in specialized or credit-recovery settings. The sheer variety means the experience a student has can vary enormously from one building to another.

On student behavior and the learning environment, the data shows a chronic absenteeism rate that sits below the midpoint among Wyandotte County's districts, but at a level that still affects a large portion of the student population. This is a soft spot that families may want to ask about at their child’s particular school, since chronic absence undermines academic progress and is often concentrated in certain buildings or grade bands.

The district's spending per pupil is well above the county median, a reflection of the higher costs of serving a population with significant needs. This spending is not matched, at a districtwide level, by strong academic outcomes, a gap parents may want to probe.

In the community context, the district sits in Wyandotte County, which is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. Housing values across the district's zip codes span a wide range, from more affordable older neighborhoods to pricier newer developments on the western edge. Typical home values are below the state median, and rent levels are moderate relative to incomes. The housing market has seen modest appreciation over the past year.

The district recently passed what was publicly reported as the largest bond referendum in its history, approved by voters in 2022. The bond is funding facility improvements, safety upgrades, and technology across the district. This is a major capital commitment that will shape the physical condition of schools and may affect property taxes for years.

Academic pathway information, such as the availability of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or career and technical education programs, was not provided, nor were staffing ratios or course access data. A parent evaluating options within this district will want to research the specific program offerings at each high school and whether the magnet or alternative schools align with their child’s needs. The district is large and diverse in its school types, but the aggregate numbers make clear that this is a system where academic recovery work is ongoing, and a family’s experience will depend heavily on which school a child attends.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

21,132

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 57%

Black 22%

White 9%

Asian 7%

Two+ 4%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 1%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

24%

29%

Gr 4

22%

34%

Gr 5

27%

38%

Gr 6

16%

22%

Gr 7

18%

16%

Gr 8

17%

25%

Math

Gr 3

15%

21%

Gr 4

19%

18%

Gr 5

22%

20%

Gr 6

11%

13%

Gr 7

Gr 8

10%

13%

Science

Gr 5

19%

20%

Gr 8

14%

Schools in this District

43 schools are officially reported under this district.

Bertram Caruthers Elem

Carl B. Bruce Middle School

Argentine Middle

Rosedale Middle

Sumner Academy of Arts & Science

D D Eisenhower Middle

McKinley Elementary School

Bridges/Wyandot Academy

Alfred Fairfax Academy

500 Reach

Gloria Willis Middle School

Lowell Brune Elementary School

West Park Elementary School

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

16%

Grade 3

19%

Grade 4

22%

Grade 5

12%

Grade 6

Grade 7

11%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

25%

Grade 3

24%

Grade 4

29%

Grade 5

17%

Grade 6

17%

Grade 7

19%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

19%

Grade 5

10%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$210,389

Year-over-year change+1.9%

Range across 9 ZIP codes$127K to $335K

vs. state typical0.85x

vs. national typical0.57x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (9 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
66104	Kansas City	$171K	+2.1%	23.7%
66109	Kansas City	$335K	+3.3%	15.8%
66102	Kansas City	$155K	+0.4%	15.0%
66111	Kansas City	$258K	+2.2%	7.9%
66112	Kansas City	$242K	+1.2%	7.4%
66106	Kansas City	$208K	+1.2%	6.9%
66103	Kansas City	$207K	-0.7%	6.9%
66101	Kansas City	$127K	+0.2%	4.8%
66105	Kansas City	$128K	+8.5%	4.4%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,301/mo

Year-over-year change+3.5%

Range across 8 ZIP codes$1,069 to $1,461/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (8 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
66104	Kansas City	$1,291	—	23.7%
66109	Kansas City	$1,452	-4.1%	15.8%
66102	Kansas City	$1,171	+11.2%	15.0%
66111	Kansas City	$1,421	—	7.9%
66112	Kansas City	$1,069	+2.4%	7.4%
66106	Kansas City	$1,461	—	6.9%
66103	Kansas City	$1,293	+5.7%	6.9%
66101	Kansas City	$1,203	—	4.8%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,062/mo

Home price / national median income2.5x

Annual rent / national median income18.6%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$240/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$246,369 (+3.7% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.