The top reported proficiency rate is 62% in Science. The lowest is 43% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Piper Creek Elementary
Piper Creek Elementary is an upper-elementary school in the Piper-Kansas City district, serving only grades three through five. Located on Leavenworth Road in Kansas City, Kansas, the school sits within a mid-sized city that is part of the larger Kansas City metropolitan area. KCK has a working-class heritage tied to railroads and stockyards, and its neighborhoods are diverse. The school’s grade band is narrow, so families with younger children will look to the district’s primary schools, and those with older students will move on to Piper Middle and the high school.
On state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, Piper Creek posted results that stand out compared with other districts in Wyandotte County. The school’s overall proficiency index, a mean of all reported subject and grade-level rates, placed it in the top quartile among the four districts in the county that had assessment data. This is a strong performance: the school’s composite exceeded the top of the range seen at the district level across the county. In reading and writing, a majority of third, fourth, and fifth graders met the proficient or above benchmark, with each grade hovering in the mid-fifties. Math proficiency was lower overall but rose by grade, from a minority of third graders scoring proficient to just above half of fifth graders. Science, tested only in fifth grade, showed the highest rate, with a solid majority reaching proficiency.
A note on comparability: Kansas changed its cut-score standards for math and reading in this testing cycle, so year-over-year trend data is not yet reliable. Scores from this year establish a new baseline.
The student body numbers about six hundred children. The largest group is white, at roughly half, followed by Hispanic students, Black students, Asian students, and students who identify as two or more races. About three in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a moderate level of economic need. The district does not yet report data on students with individualized education plans or English learners for this school, so those proportions are not available here.
The housing market around the school reflects the broader Kansas City metro. Home values in the area fall moderately above the state median, and rents are comparable to national averages. The estimated monthly mortgage payment and rent are close, suggesting that for many families, buying and renting are similarly priced at current interest rates.
The parent district, Piper-Kansas City, has been growing rapidly. Publicly reported information indicates it is the third-fastest growing district in Kansas, with enrollment increasing annually for two decades. All buildings are operating over their optimal capacity. In 2022, voters approved a bond issue to fund major facility improvements and the construction of a new high school. For families at Piper Creek, this likely means continued enrollment pressure and the possibility of boundary adjustments or classroom changes as the district expands. The bond work may also bring upgrades to the elementary school over time.
Because Piper Creek serves only grades three through five, there are no graduation rate, chronic absenteeism, or course access data to report. The school does not offer the kind of advanced course pathways typical of a high school. What the data does show is an elementary school whose academic results are notably higher than the county district average, set in a district that is investing in growth and facilities. Families who value strong comparative test performance and are comfortable with a school community that is racially and economically diverse may find this a good fit. Those considering the school should also look into how the district’s overcrowding and bond projects affect day-to-day operations and class sizes in the near term.
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