The top reported proficiency rate is 25% in English language arts. The lowest is 19% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Brookside Charter Middle Schl
Brookside Charter Middle School is a middle school serving grades six through eight in Kansas City, Missouri. As a charter school, it operates under a five-year charter renewal that runs through 2028, providing a measure of stability for families considering enrollment. The school has a small enrollment, serving a student body that is primarily Black, with small shares of students who identify as two or more races, Hispanic, or other racial groups. Every student at the school qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic context of the families it serves.
The school is located in Kansas City, a major urban center that is the largest city in Missouri by population and land area. Kansas City is known for its barbecue, jazz heritage, and an extensive network of fountains and boulevards. The city is largely car-dependent, though walkable pockets exist downtown, along the Country Club Plaza, and in the Crossroads Arts District. The downtown area has seen significant residential and commercial development in recent years, with a modern streetcar line connecting key districts. The school sits in a neighborhood with a median home value well below both the state and national benchmarks, and rents are relatively affordable in a national context.
On state assessments, Brookside Charter Middle School’s proficiency rates are below the midpoint compared to other districts in Jackson County. In mathematics, roughly a fifth to a quarter of students scored at the proficient level across grades six through eight. English language arts results are similar, with about a quarter of sixth graders and a fifth of seventh graders meeting the proficiency standard; eighth-grade ELA data was suppressed. In eighth-grade science, fewer than one in five students were proficient. A single-year trend line does not give a trajectory, and multi-year data was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school about its progress in moving these numbers.
The school contributes to a network of charter schools in Kansas City, which also includes a Brookside Charter elementary school. A recent enrollment-related contract amendment was executed in 2024, indicating a formal change to how families apply and are admitted. Families should confirm current enrollment policies directly with the school.
Because this is a middle school only, it does not report a graduation rate, which is expected for a school that does not serve high school grades. Data on chronic absenteeism and staffing were not available, which limits a fuller picture of the school environment. The school’s disciplinary record and course access information were also missing. A parent may want to ask the school for its attendance patterns, staff qualifications, and discipline practices.
This is a small charter middle school in an urban setting, serving a population where every student receives meal support and state test scores are low relative to the county’s other districts. It offers the structure of a charter school with a recent renewal that extends its operational horizon. For a family, the fit depends on whether the school’s academic approach and support systems match what a child needs. The available data does not show program offerings such as art, music, or extracurriculars, which a parent may want to investigate on their own visit.
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