Kansas City suburb (Missouri) High Schools (Lee's Summit, Blue Springs: employment, school district, college)

[lookingtorelocate33]

I am looking for some real-life opinions/experiences on the Kansas City (Missouri) suburb high schools. Mainly we are looking at the Lee's Summit, Blue Springs, Grain Valley area (but are open to other areas). I have looked at Niche, U.S News, etc and one site will rank a school high while another ranks it low. There seems to be no consistency at all. Thanks in advance!

[westender]

The Blue Valley district on the KS side, just FYI to the OP.

[lookingtorelocate33]

Thanks! I edited it. We actually looked at the Blue Valley schools but housing prices seemed higher and we didn't like the congestion (especially around Overland Park).

[KC_Retiree]

Of those 3 districts, Lees Summit is probably the best. It's certainly the best in terms of large purely suburban high schools.

That said, Lees Summit to KC (if you are working in KC) will see quite a bit of congestion. Blue Springs would offer a straighter shot to downtown KC.

If you are looking at Missouri burbs, north of the river even within the KC city limits and Liberty would have decent schools as well.

[lookingtorelocate33]

Thanks KC_Retiree. We are still looking for employment (wife is a teacher and I am in finance) so not sure on that aspect yet. Like I said the rating online are really confusing. US News ranks as follows (based nationally):

Blue Springs South - 2,608
Grain Valley - 3,569
Lee's Summit North High - 3,651
Lee's Summit Sr. High - 3,684
Lee's Summit West High School - 4,146
Blue Springs High - 4,294
Liberty North High School - 5,012
Liberty High - 5,964

We have read and heard how good the Lee's Summit schools (especially West) are but obviously the US News rankings don't reflect this. When you compare these to the Blue Valley schools on the Kansas side (between 488 and 2,048 on US News) all the KC schools on the Missouri side disappointing. So what am I missing?

[Okey Dokie]

Check out Park Hill and Park Hill South, and Staley HS in the North Kansas City District.

[lookingtorelocate33]

Thanks! Can anyone explain the huge differences between the US News rankings for the Blue Valley schools compared to some of the KC-Missouri schools (for example the Lee's Summit Schools)?

[westender]

Originally Posted by lookingtorelocate33

Thanks! Can anyone explain the huge differences between the US News rankings for the Blue Valley schools compared to some of the KC-Missouri schools (for example the Lee's Summit Schools)?

The Blue Valley school district is in the top decile in the country. So is the SMSD. Both have had top-ten high schools multiple times in the past 30 years (BVN and SME both have been in the top five, in fact. Top five of all high schools in the country). If getting your kid into an Ivy is what you are looking for, you need to live in those catchments. Or private school, which at that level in KC would include Pembroke Hill or Rockhurst.

BTW, the US News rankings are approximate and tend to skew urban versus suburban. Specific suburban high schools at the true top of the heap tend to get a bit of a downgrade with USN&WR rankings. Other ranking systems are better (specifically, you want to look at premier college admissions).

There are some anti-Kansas voices on these boards, so I try to say these things as nicely as possible. So, saying this politely, IMHO the best high schools in the metro are those two HS mentioned above, both fairly near to State Line Road. The best public school Missouri options are north of the river.