Moving from LA to KC (Kansas City, Lee's Summit: apartments, houses, purchasing)

[ChicagoRefugee]

For all the Missouri boosters on this thread who say

Quote:
Park Hill and Lee's Summit districts both scored higher on standardized tests than any school on the Kansas side.

Or the schools are just as good on the Missouri side: where are you getting your data? Can you give me a link? I'm not trolling here, I sincerely want to know 'cause the only reliable source I've found (Standard & Poor's SchoolMatters.com) says that Lee Summit's best elementary school - Cedar Creek - has scores of 67% reading and 70.5% math. Johnson county scores are much higher.

I have no axe to grind or vested interest here. I am neither a Kansas nor a Missouri resident, just someone contemplating a possible move to KC, but to all you Missouri school boosters: put up or shut up! Show me the scores, or stop lying (and possibly yourselves?) about your wonderful schools.

[gonefishingw2boys]

I am moving from OH to KC sometime this summer. I spoke to the MO State Board of Education yesterday. (I did not call in KS but hope to today). They did assure me that each state has different tests and methods. He said MO was one of 4 states that is as stringent as the National Testing. He was very clear that JOCO has good schools. That being said, he also was VERY clear that you cannot compare test scores, it was apples and oranges.
Hope that helps. Wish the testing in the same city was the same, but not possible to really compare. Should we then compare Honor Roll? Grades? How many kids go on to college? I am not sure but I will be call KS school board next.

[northbound74]

Originally Posted by gonefishingw2boys

I am moving from OH to KC sometime this summer. I spoke to the MO State Board of Education yesterday. (I did not call in KS but hope to today). They did assure me that each state has different tests and methods. He said MO was one of 4 states that is as stringent as the National Testing. He was very clear that JOCO has good schools. That being said, he also was VERY clear that you cannot compare test scores, it was apples and oranges.
Hope that helps. Wish the testing in the same city was the same, but not possible to really compare. Should we then compare Honor Roll? Grades? How many kids go on to college? I am not sure but I will be call KS school board next.

In case you haven't seen it, here's a good link for school information.

www.kansascity.com | Making the Grade

[RjRobb2]

Standardized testing is a joke. I use to make pictures with my scan sheet or just fill-in all C and I know tons of students that did the same thing. Not to mention, I dont think testing is a very good way of measuring schools. I would never use that to determine where to put my kids.

[gonefishingw2boys]

Thanks northbound! I will check that out.

robb, I am trying to keep a very open minded about the test scores. My kids are 2 & 4, so the whole shopping for schools is a new thing for me. So, where to start? I guess with the test scores! But I am asking questions on this forum, calling the schools in KCMO and KCKS. Also have called the state school boards and have contacted mom's groups out there to get more information. It is so tough to figure this stuff out in another state! What other things do you suggest I investigate to find the good schools?

THanks for any and all help!

[ChicagoRefugee]

Thank you northbound and gonefishing for the info!

[mercedes1]

www.kansascity.com | Rating the 'Burbs

[RjRobb2]

Originally Posted by gonefishingw2boys

Thanks northbound! I will check that out.

robb, I am trying to keep a very open minded about the test scores. My kids are 2 & 4, so the whole shopping for schools is a new thing for me. So, where to start? I guess with the test scores! But I am asking questions on this forum, calling the schools in KCMO and KCKS. Also have called the state school boards and have contacted mom's groups out there to get more information. It is so tough to figure this stuff out in another state! What other things do you suggest I investigate to find the good schools?

THanks for any and all help!

Honestly, I think it is very difficult to measure schools. It is difficult to do this but I think the best way to talk to parents that have kids going to the schools and parents that have gone to the schools.

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by RjRobb2

Honestly, I think it is very difficult to measure schools. It is difficult to do this but I think the best way to talk to parents that have kids going to the schools and parents that have gone to the schools.

exactly.

Relax about the schools, most are just fine.

Top disticts in the metro are in no order:

Missouri:
Blue Springs
Lee's Summit
Oak Park
North KC
Liberty

Kansas:
Blue Valley
Olathe


Districts on the fringe suburbs that offer good schools but have growing pains as they go from rural to suburban districts and don't tend to offer as much as the larger suburban districts:
Missouri:
Smithville
Grain Valley
RayPec
Platte
Kansas:
Desoto
Gardner
Bonner Springs / Edwardsville

Districts that are still very good, but more "diverse" in incomes and race:
Raytown
Independence
Fort Osage
Grandview
Kansas:
Turner
Shawnee Mission

Districts that are having more "urban" problems that you should avoid

Missouri:
KCMO
Center
Hickman Mills

Kansas:
KCK

So, if you are really really woried about schools and want THE BEST schools in the City.

Go with

Lee's Summit, Liberty, Park Hill and possibly Blue Springs on the MO side
Blue Valley, Olathe and possibly Shawnee Mission on the KS side.

[gonefishingw2boys]

ChicagoRefugee, a contact from a mom's group in Liberty passed along this info- thought I would share.

"Liberty schools are not to be confused with Kansas City schools, they are both obviously Missouri schools but they are polar opposites. I think as a whole Missouri schools may have lower scores, but Liberty is a blue ribbon district and leads the state in that area. Below is an excerpt I have taken from the district website:


"Liberty Public Schools has been named a 'High Performing School District" by the state of Missouri for five consecutive years. “High Performing” is the highest accreditation ranking given to a Missouri school and recognizes Liberty as one the state’s best school districts. Liberty students consistently score above state and national norms on standardized tests. Liberty High School’s ACT scores rank it among the areas best, and the high school continues to graduate a high number of Bright Flight Scholars National Merit Scholarship winners. Liberty's graduation rate is 89 percent, and the dropout rate is under three percent."

The district site is helpful, here is the link:
District Facts — Liberty Public School District

Hope that helps with your research as it has helped me! I research on....