The top reported proficiency rate is 17% in Math. The lowest is 13% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Holliday Montessori
Holliday Montessori is a public elementary school serving pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in Kansas City, part of the Kansas City 33 school district. The school follows the Montessori educational model, which emphasizes self-directed learning, mixed-age classrooms, and hands-on materials. For families choosing a Montessori approach, this school represents that pedagogy within a public school setting, eliminating the tuition cost of a private Montessori program. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and is located on a residential street in Kansas City.
The student body is primarily Black, with a substantial White enrollment and smaller shares of Hispanic, multiracial, Asian, and Native American students. Every student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a high level of economic need. The school enrolls a modest total number of students for its grade band, with a notably large pre-kindergarten program that accounts for a significant portion of the total. The elementary grades taper off, and middle school grades are not served here. Families should note that the school does not offer grades beyond sixth, so the transition to a secondary school will come at the end of this program.
Academic performance on Missouri’s state assessments is well below typical levels. In the most recent testing year, proficiency rates in both math and English language arts were low across the tested grades, and some grade-level results were suppressed due to small group sizes. In science, data was also suppressed. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages results across all tested subjects and grades, places it in the bottom quarter among districts in Jackson County. This is a significant soft spot, and a parent may want to discuss with the school how the Montessori curriculum aligns with state standards and what academic supports are in place. The school serves only through sixth grade, so there is no graduation rate to consider, and data on chronic absenteeism was not available for this school.
No program offerings were listed in the available data, and staffing and discipline information were also absent, so a parent may want to follow up with the school directly about course access, enrichment programs, and teacher qualifications.
The school sits within Kansas City, a large, predominantly car-dependent urban center with walkable cores in downtown, the River Market, and the Country Club Plaza. Housing values in the school’s zip code are more affordable than state and national medians, and rents are moderate. The broader metro area has seen modest growth, with downtown residential development and a streetcar line contributing to renewed street life in some districts. The city’s civic anchors include a well-known parks and boulevard system, a historic library, and major cultural institutions.
For the district, a notable recent change is that Kansas City Public Schools regained full accreditation from the state in 2022, ending a five-year period of provisional status. That shift signals improved oversight and may matter to families who previously had concerns about district stability. The district has maintained its accredited status since then.
Holliday Montessori offers a specific educational philosophy in a high-need urban setting. The academic results on standard assessments are low, and the school serves a student population facing considerable economic challenges. Families drawn to the Montessori approach may find this a worthwhile option, particularly given that it is tuition-free, but they should also explore how the school addresses academic growth and prepares students for the transition to middle school.
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