The Best School Districts in Kansas City Area

December 31, 2021

If you’re looking to move to Kansas City and want to know about the best Kansas City schools?  The quality of education is a big factor in determining which area of the city or which suburb you want to settle down in. Even if you don’t have kids yet and plan to, you will be using the school system someday and therefore want to be settled in by the time that happens. Good Kansas City schools raise property values, too, so even if you don’t plan on having kids, it’s always a good idea to live in an area with top-rated schools. Partnering with a local moving company that knows the KC area inside and out is also a great idea.

Best Kansas City Public and Private School Districts in the Year 2022

The Blue Valley Unified School District in Johnson County has been ranked #1 among local public schools, while The Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City, MO was ranked the top private school, according to 2022 rankings list released by Niche. They analyze reviews and public data to create rankings and report cards for area schools, colleges and neighborhoods. The top 15 public school districts in the KC area for 2022 are:
  1. Blue Valley Unified School District
  2. Blue Springs R-IV School District
  3. Lee’s Summit R-VII School District
  4. DeSoto Unified School District
  5. Olathe Public Schools
  6. Park Hill School District
  7. North Kansas City School District
  8. Liberty School District
  9. Shawnee Mission School District
  10. Grain Valley R-V School District
  11. Piper-Kansas City Unified School District
  12. Gardner-Edgerton Unified School District
  13. Smithville R-II School District
  14. Basehor-Linwood Unified School District
  15. Ewing Marion Kauffman School
kansas-city-school-districts The top 15 private schools in the KC for 2022 area:
  1. The Pembroke Hill School
  2. The Barstow School
  3. Notre Dame de Sion School for Girls
  4. Rockhurst High School
  5. St. Teresa’s Academy
  6. Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy
  7. Kansas City Christian School
  8. St. James Academy
  9. Whitefield Academy
  10. St. Thomas Acquinas High School
  11. Faith Christian Academy
  12. Maranatha Academy
  13. Bishop Miege High School
  14. Blue Ridge Christian School
  15. The Lutheran High School of Kansas City
Researching the school system in the neighborhoods you’re looking in is key. Ask your real estate agent about the best schools in your target area, look online at reviews, and once you have narrowed down your search, take tours of a few schools to determine the best fit for your child.

Finding a Good School When Moving

From discipline and safety to test scores and student-to-teacher ratios, it’s time to start drilling down so you can settle on a school. Here are some tips.

1.     Get Recommendations

Ask for recommendations from friends, family members, community members, coworkers and teachers. If you’re moving within the same school system but will be at a different school, the teachers at your child’s current school should be able to tell you which location is best suited to your child. Your real estate agent is another key person to ask. They know how important school ratings are to their home buyers, which means they’ll likely have all the information you need to know about all local schools. They can supply you with facts, statistics, and details. kansas-city-school-districts-private-school

2.     Go Online

Do some research online location and compare schools. Use websites like:
  • The National Center for Education Statistics: You’ll be able to view data for each school district in the KC area.
  • GreatSchools: This is a national non-profit website that displays test scores and information for both public and private schools. You can check school ratings, programs, and parent reviews.
  • SchoolDigger: Get info on school rankings, test scores, student/teacher ratios and district boundaries.

3.     Take Tours

The only way you can really get a good feel for the culture and vibe of the school is to visit it in person with your child. This way, you can narrow down your choices. Just call the school to schedule a tour, where you can see the facilities, meet the administrators, visit classrooms, and watch how the teachers and parents interact. Ask detailed questions while on the tour, such as:
  • How many students are in each classroom?
  • What is your mission statement or philosophy?
  • What type of curriculum do you offer?
  • How much homework is assigned each night?
  • What kinds of projects do students do?
  • What resources are available to students?
  • How does the school measure progress?
  • Is there a gifted students program?
  • What about extra help?
  • What support do you provide special needs students?
  • What extracurricular activities and after-school clubs are available?
  • Is there a dress code?
  • How do you handle discipline, safety, and bullying?
  • Is there bus transportation, and if so, what does it cost?
moving-proz-movers-truck Another great resource to get advice is to talk to other parents. Meet at the gates to the school, contact PTA members, post questions on the school’s Facebook page, and more. It may even be possible to speak to some students about their experiences too. Ask their parents for permission. This will give you a big-picture view of what it’s actually like to go to that particular school. Once you have settled on a school in KC for your child, you can progress with your moving plans. With that one big stressor off your shoulders, you can move ahead with a clear mind, booking movers, making plans, and sticking to your timeline.

Contact Moving Proz

Get a free moving quote for your upcoming move to the KC area. We offer many services to make sure your move goes smoothly, whether you’re moving during winter break, summer or any other time of the year. From packing to piano moves, we have the best rates in KC and beyond for services you can count on.