The top reported proficiency rate is 9% in English language arts. The lowest is 4% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Kipp: Endeavor Academy
KIPP: Endeavor Academy is a charter school district based in Kansas City, Missouri, that serves students from pre-kindergarten through grade 11, with publicly reported information indicating it has recently expanded to offer a grade 12 option, creating a continuous K-12 pathway within the same network. The district operates two schools: KIPP Endeavor Academy, which covers pre-kindergarten through grade 8, and KIPP KC Legacy High School for grades 9 through 12. A parent considering this district should understand it is a single charter network, not a traditional geographic school district, meaning enrollment is open to eligible students across a wider area rather than being tied to a specific neighborhood attendance zone.
The student body is composed predominantly of Black and Hispanic students. State assessment data from the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) is available for grades 3 through 8. Proficiency rates across all tested subjects are low. In math, the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced ranges from a low of about two percent in fifth grade to a high of about nine percent in sixth grade. In English language arts, the rates are similarly low, spanning from about five percent in third grade to about fifteen percent in sixth grade. Science proficiency is also below ten percent in the tested grades of five and eight. When compared to other districts in Jackson County, overall proficiency is in the bottom quartile. A parent may want to discuss with the school what academic interventions and supports are in place for students who are not meeting grade-level benchmarks.
The chronic absenteeism rate is high, landing in the bottom quartile among the county's districts. This is a metric worth investigating further, as high absence rates can affect continuity of instruction and student progress. The district's per-pupil current spending falls in the upper half of the middle range compared to other Jackson County districts, indicating a relatively solid investment per student.
A notable governance change occurred when the district's authorizer transferred from the University of Missouri-Columbia to the Missouri Charter Public School Commission. This shift, which took effect in 2021, changed the body that oversees the charter's renewal and accountability. The current contract with the commission is set to expire in June 2027, giving the district a defined window of operation that families may want to keep in mind.
No information was available on graduation rate, as the district does not yet have a full four-year cohort to report through standard metrics. The district brief notes that the addition of 12th grade is recent, and Legacy High School provides a dedicated high school campus for the community. Data on free and reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education enrollment, and English learner status were not available in the provided records. A parent seeking a fuller picture of the student support landscape may wish to ask the school directly about these populations and the services offered.
This is a district that serves a high-need student population and reports low academic proficiency metrics. It operates as a charter network with a defined oversight structure, and it has recently extended its grade span to include a full high school program. For a family weighing this option, it offers a single-school pathway from elementary through high school within the KIPP network's educational model, but the academic results on state assessments and the absenteeism rate are areas that merit close conversation with school leaders.
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