What to know about the two Kansas City schools set to close at the end of the year
Kansas City Public Schools released a proposal Wednesday night to close two elementary schools at the end of this academic year — far fewer than the 10 schools it proposed closing in October.
If the new plan is approved later this month, Longfellow Elementary and Troost Elementary will be shuttered this summer.
James Elementary, Central High School, Northeast High School and the five other schools on the district’s list will remain open for now. They’ll have the chance to improve metrics like attendance, academic performance and enrollment before the district makes a decision about their fate in future years.
Parents expressed relief Wednesday night about the new plan, which the school board will vote on on Wednesday, Jan. 25. Here are some of the basics about the two elementary schools that are slated to close.
Longfellow Elementary School
This small school sits in the quiet, mostly residential Longfellow neighborhood of midtown at 2830 Holmes St. KCPS Interim Superintendent Jennifer Collier said that while student achievement has improved at Longfellow Elementary, the building’s condition is the worst in the district.
The school, for example, temporarily closed this fall after a carbon monoxide leak sent several students to the hospital. The school has low enrollment, with 235 students, and $6.5 million in deferred maintenance costs.
Longfellow Elementary’s student population is 76% Black, according to Show Me KC Schools, a local education nonprofit. Just under 60% of its students attend school at least 90% of the time.
The organization also reports that 16% of students scored “proficient” or “advanced” on state standardized tests for English, while only 10% received these scores for math.
Longfellow parent Steffany Kerr told Show Me KC Schools that the school provides “extensive support to autistic students” and “many opportunities for parent involvement,” also complimenting the dedication of the school’s teachers.
The school also has extracurricular activities including basketball, soccer, Science Olympiad, robotics and visual arts.
Troost Elementary School
True to its name, Troost Elementary is located just off Troost Avenue at 1215 E. 59th St. near Brookside. District officials have noted that with just 250 students, the school is under capacity, and enrollment is dwindling. The district hopes to keep the building for future use.
Troost Elementary’s student population is 86% Black, according to Show Me KC Schools. The organization reports that less than half the student population attends school at least 90% of the time.
The organization also reported that 11% of students scored “proficient” or “advanced” on state standardized tests for English, while only 6% received these scores for math.
The school’s support services include a school counselor, social worker, therapist, learning support specialists and a school nurse. The school also offers connections to dental and vision services.
What’s next for KCPS?
By relocating students from Longfellow and Troost to other elementary schools, the district anticipates being able to save money on building maintenance and operations.
Officials say that the change and money saved by closing these two buildings will ensure more students have access to science labs, art and music teachers, and extracurricular activities.
Anticipated upgrades include expanding curriculum and extracurriculars, modernizing classrooms, implementing career-readiness programs, adding world language classes, plus ensuring all of the high schools once again have bands and football teams.
The district plans to put a bond on the ballot in 2024 to help pay for further improvements to district schools.
Do you have questions about schools around Kansas City? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com
