The top reported proficiency rate is 25% in English language arts. The lowest is 17% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Crossroads Charter Schools
Crossroads Charter Schools is a charter school district in Jackson County, Missouri, serving students from preschool through twelfth grade. It operates three schools: Crossroads - Central Street, Crossroads - Quality Hill, and Crossroads Preparatory Academy. The district’s enrollment is modest in size, and the student body is diverse: Black students make up the largest share, followed by Hispanic students, White students, and a smaller number of students who identify with two or more races. Asian and American Indian students are also represented but in very small numbers. Data on free or reduced-price meal eligibility, special education, and English learner status was not available, so a fuller picture of economic and support needs is not possible from the information provided.
Academically, the district participates in Missouri’s state assessments (MAP) for grades three through eight. Across the tested grades, proficiency rates in math and English language arts vary but are generally modest. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above ranges from the mid-teens to the high twenties across grades three through eight. In ELA, proficiency rates are similar, with the highest rate in eighth grade and the lowest in sixth grade. Science results, available for fifth and eighth grades, also show a modest proportion of students reaching proficiency. When compared with other districts in Jackson County, the district’s overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint, meaning its performance is stronger than roughly half of the county’s districts. Still, for most tested subjects and grades, the majority of students are not yet meeting proficiency, which is a fact families will want to weigh.
Chronic absenteeism is a notable soft spot. The district’s rate of chronic absenteeism falls in the bottom quartile among county districts, meaning a higher share of students miss substantial school time. This is the kind of pattern a parent may want to explore further with the school—asking about attendance supports, health services, and engagement strategies. Per-pupil spending is in the middle range, upper half of the county, which may reflect the district’s charter status and program investments.
On the strength side, the district has secured a high-quality charter designation from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, along with a charter renewal, which publicly reported information describes as providing long-term operational stability. The district’s sponsorship recently changed to Kansas City Public Schools, following KCPS’s full accreditation. Crossroads also offers what it calls Real World Learning pathways, including internships with local companies, an Early College Academy that allows students to earn an associate degree before high school graduation, and vocational training programs in areas such as welding, robotics, culinary arts, and cosmetology. These pathways are designed to give students marketable skills and post-secondary options, and they are a distinctive feature of the district’s upper grades.
Because the district spans all grade levels, families considering Crossroads will find early childhood classes, elementary and middle school grades, and a high school program with career-focused options. The district’s relatively small size may appeal to those looking for a more close-knit setting, though the absenteeism data suggests some students may need extra support to stay engaged. No information was available on discipline, staffing ratios, or Advanced Placement or dual-credit course access beyond the mentioned early college and vocational programs, so those areas remain a gap. The absence of a graduation rate in the data also means that high school completion outcomes cannot be assessed here.
Overall, Crossroads Charter Schools presents a mixed academic picture: it is not among the highest-performing districts in Jackson County, but it does better than a number of its neighbors. Its strongest draws are the charter stability, the career and early college pathways, and the range of grade levels served under one district umbrella. Families will want to look closely at the elementary and middle school achievement patterns and the chronic absenteeism rate, and they should ask the schools directly about support services and classroom conditions that the available data did not cover.
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