The top reported proficiency rate is 64% in English language arts. The lowest is 54% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Highland Park Elem.
Highland Park Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District, a suburban Kansas City commuter city that has grown steadily since World War II and is now the sixth most populous city in Missouri. The school sits within a district that families will find well-resourced and stable. Voters recently approved a substantial no-tax-increase bond issue for safety, technology, and facility upgrades, and the board passed a balanced operating budget with no tax increase, holding property tax rates steady even as assessed values climbed. The district also expanded Pre-K access by opening a new early childhood campus and added a fourth middle school, drawing new attendance lines that may affect Highland Park’s feeder patterns.
The student body of about that size for an elementary school is predominantly white, with smaller shares of students who are two or more races, Hispanic, Black, and Asian. A small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a notably low rate compared to many schools in the area. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet.
On state assessments, Highland Park’s achievement is strongest in English language arts, where proficiency rates are well above typical levels for a Missouri elementary school. Fourth grade reading stands out as particularly high, and fifth grade reading is solid as well. Math proficiency rates are more mixed, with third grade math below the school’s own reading results while fourth and fifth grade math land at a moderate level. Fifth grade science results sit in a similar middle range. Looking at the broader picture across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency places it in the top quartile relative to other districts in Jackson County. This is a strong academic profile for an elementary school, particularly in reading.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate. Chronic absenteeism data was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school about attendance patterns directly. No information was reported on the share of students receiving special education services or English learner support; families with children who have an IEP or are learning English may wish to inquire with the school about how those services are structured.
A few other gaps are worth noting. No discipline data or staffing ratios were available in the source material. Course access data does not apply at this grade level. The source file did not include information on programs such as gifted offerings, art, music, or after-school activities, so those should be explored through the school’s website or a visit.
Lee’s Summit is largely a single-family-home, auto-oriented suburb with a walkable historic downtown that hosts festivals, an art walk, a farmers market, and an Amtrak stop. Much of the city’s civic life centers there, while school campuses are spread across residential neighborhoods. The home values and rents in the area around Highland Park are above the Missouri state average, consistent with a district that has seen sustained investment and growth.
For a family looking at this school, the picture is defined by strong elementary reading results, a district with stable finances and recent capital investments, and a low rate of economic disadvantage among the student population. The math results are decent but not at the same level as reading, so a parent focused on math instruction may want to ask about the school’s approach in the primary grades. The mix makes Highland Park a good fit for families who prioritize a high-performing literacy program and are comfortable with the suburban, low-poverty setting of a growing Kansas City suburb.
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