The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in English language arts. The lowest is 20% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Turner Middle School
Turner Middle School, part of the Turner-Kansas City district, serves seventh and eighth graders in Kansas City, Kansas. The school sits in a diverse, working-class section of the metropolitan area, a city historically tied to railroads and stockyards that is now part of the broader Kansas City metro. Turner Middle is a traditional public school, not a charter or magnet, and its enrollment lands in a typical range for a two-grade middle school in the region.
On state assessments, results are low. Across math, English language arts, and science, the share of students reaching the proficient or advanced level falls below a third in every tested grade and subject. Compared with other middle-level schools in Wyandotte County, Turner Middle School’s overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint of the six districts in the county. The pattern is consistent: in seventh and eighth grade math, in seventh and eighth grade reading, and in eighth grade science, the proportion of students meeting the state’s bar is modest. These are the most recent state test results available, though the state made changes to its cut scores in both math and English in recent years, which complicates direct year-over-year comparisons. A parent considering this school may want to ask the school directly about specific efforts to raise achievement, such as targeted tutoring, intervention programs, or curriculum support.
The student body reflects the surrounding community’s economic reality. A very large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a signal of widespread low household income. The student population is majority Hispanic, with a significant White enrollment and smaller shares of Black students, multiracial students, and Asian students. The school did not report counts for students with disabilities or English learners in the available data, so it is unclear how those populations are served or what supports exist. That gap is worth noting; families of children with individualized education plans or those learning English should follow up with the school to understand staffing and programming.
Housing in the area is moderately priced. Typical home values and rents in the ZIP code are below national averages, making the neighborhood more accessible for a range of incomes. The economic context shows a national unemployment rate that has been stable, but local economic conditions were not provided beyond the national frame.
No data on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, staffing ratios, or program offerings such as music, art, athletics, or advanced coursework was available. The district’s recent public record shows no major changes in curriculum, boundaries, or referendums that would affect families in the near term.
Turner Middle School is a high-poverty school where academic proficiency is below the county average. For families who live in the attendance area, the school may be the default option; those with choice or enrollment options elsewhere will want to weigh the low test scores and the lack of publicly available enrichment program information. The school’s core job is to educate seventh and eighth graders in a challenging economic context, and the available evidence suggests that its students, as a group, are not yet reaching state learning targets at a rate comparable to peers in other Wyandotte County districts. A direct conversation with the principal about academic supports, class sizes, and elective offerings would be a reasonable next step for any family considering enrollment.
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