The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in Math. The lowest is 28% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Ewing Marion Kauffman Middle
Ewing Marion Kauffman Middle serves grades five through eight as a charter school in Kansas City, Missouri. It is part of the Ewing Marion Kauffman School, a charter district that operates under a performance contract with the Missouri Charter Public School Commission. Because it is a charter, admission is determined by lottery rather than by attendance zone, though families living in six specific Kansas City zip codes receive a geographic enrollment preference that raises their odds of getting a seat. The school’s charter was renewed for an extended term, providing families with a clear operational horizon.
Kauffman Middle sits within Kansas City, a major urban center that is the largest city in Missouri by both population and land area. The city grew as a railroad and livestock hub and today is known for its barbecue, jazz heritage, and an extensive parks and boulevard system. Much of the city is car-dependent, but concentrated walkable pockets exist downtown, in the River Market, and along the Country Club Plaza. Housing values in the school’s immediate zip code area are moderate, close to the statewide typical home value and below the national median, and rents have been rising at a pace that broadly reflects the regional market. The city has seen modest but steady population growth in recent years, with downtown residential development and streetcar expansion reshaping parts of the core.
On state assessments, Kauffman Middle’s academic results follow a notable pattern. In mathematics, the share of students scoring proficient or above starts at a modest level in fifth grade and then climbs steadily through sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, ending at a substantially higher level for eighth graders. English language arts results follow a similar upward trajectory, with fifth and sixth grade proficiency starting low and then improving, particularly in eighth grade where the share of proficient students is markedly higher than in earlier grades. Science results are available for fifth and eighth grades; eighth grade science proficiency is notably higher than fifth grade. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s average proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to districts in Jackson County, which includes roughly thirty school districts. This is a clear academic strength, indicating that Kauffman Middle’s overall performance beats most of its county peers, even though early elementary outcomes lag behind later grades.
The student body is comparatively small for a middle school serving four grades. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a measure of economic need. The racial and ethnic composition is predominantly Black, with a smaller share of Hispanic students and a very small proportion of white students, along with small numbers of Asian, multiracial, and Native American students. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source materials; a parent seeking this information would need to contact the school directly.
Because Ewing Marion Kauffman Middle does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report. The school’s district has publicly reported that its inaugural classes of fifth graders, admitted when the school opened, have since graduated from college, providing an early validation of the college-preparatory model that the charter emphasizes. For families considering this school, the central academic story is one of growth: proficiency rates tend to rise substantially as students move through the grade levels, and the school’s overall performance is strong when measured against a broad field of Jackson County districts. The charter lottery system and the geographic preference for certain zip codes mean that enrollment priority is tied to where a family lives, so parents researching housing options should note which zip codes are included. The school’s location in a large, economically diverse urban setting, with moderate housing costs relative to national averages, may suit families looking for a public charter option with a demonstrated record of later-grade academic gains.
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