The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in English language arts. The lowest is 52% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Franklin Smith Elem.
Franklin Smith Elementary is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in the Blue Springs R-IV School District, a large suburban district east of Kansas City. For a family looking at this part of Jackson County, the school presents a picture of strong academic performance in the early and middle elementary years, set within a fast-growing suburban community where housing costs have risen but remain below national averages.
The school’s state assessment results on the Missouri Assessment Program show a clear pattern. In both math and English language arts, the third and fourth grade cohorts achieved proficiency at levels that place the school in a strong position relative to other elementary schools across the district and county. Fourth grade English language arts results were particularly high. Fifth grade math proficiency was lower, and fifth grade science proficiency was also below the school’s own marks in earlier grades. English language arts results for fifth grade were suppressed and not reported, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about that cohort’s performance. Overall, the school’s combined proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile among elementary schools in Jackson County, a strong signal of consistent instruction.
The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial share of students who identify as Black or Hispanic, and a notable number of multiracial students. Just under half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a moderate level of economic diversity. The school is neither a charter nor a magnet, and it serves a neighborhood attendance zone within the larger Blue Springs district.
Blue Springs itself is a growing residential suburb. The city has seen steady population growth over the past decade and markets itself to families with an emphasis on affordable housing relative to the broader Kansas City metro. Housing values in the school’s ZIP code sit above the state median but below the national median, and rents have been rising. The community is car-dependent, with most daily errands requiring a drive. The city’s Main Street corridor serves as a civic center, but the overall layout is suburban, with schools and commercial areas spread across the city.
At the district level, the most notable development is the creation of a new Career Innovation Center, housed in the former high school freshman center. This facility offers profession-based learning programs in fields such as aviation, health sciences, business, and technology. While this change primarily benefits older students who will eventually attend the district’s middle and high schools, it signals a district-level investment in career pathways that families of current Franklin Smith students may want to keep in mind for the future. The district also operates under a 2023-2028 strategic plan, though the specific priorities of that plan were not detailed in the available materials.
Data on special education services and English learner support was not available in the records reviewed. A parent with a child who has an Individualized Education Program or who is an English learner should contact the school directly to understand the available resources. Discipline data, staffing ratios, and chronic absenteeism rates were also absent from the available records, so those areas remain open questions for a family making a closer look.
For a family weighing this school, the core takeaway is that Franklin Smith delivers strong academic foundations in the early elementary grades, with a dip in fifth grade math that is worth investigating. The school sits in a growing, family-oriented suburb with housing costs that are manageable compared to much of the country, though they have been rising. The district is making a noticeable investment in career-oriented learning at the secondary level, which may appeal to families planning ahead. The main gaps in available information relate to student support services and school climate data, so a direct visit and conversation with the principal would be a reasonable next step for anyone seriously considering this school.
See more original research from School Decision →