2023 Niche Standout High Schools in the Kansas City Area

• Kansas City School District, MO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  422 reviews

Junior: Lincoln College Preparatory Academy is an excellent school. The athletics here are truly the best, especially when it comes to our football and cross country/track and field teams. We are some of the best in the league (high school-wise). We also have interesting clubs for the students to participate in like the film club and art club. The academics here are much better than the rest of the ones in the Kansas city school district. The only problem I have with Lincoln is the people teaching, we've had our fair share of creepy teachers or teachers who just can't teach at all. Other than that, the classes we get to choose have always been interesting and engaging.... Read 422 reviews

• grade A

• Students 974

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Free or reduced lunch 100%

• Kansas City Kansas Public Schools, KS•

• 8-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  499 reviews

Senior: I have overall had a very good experience here! After 5 years, the school has changed a lot, however I am more than happy to soon be an alumni. The food has always been a problem, however spending time with classmates more than makes up for it. The sociability within the school is great, as there is a very good balance of socializing and curriculum being implemented. There is always a push to take higher difficulty courses, which has been made easier with the different levels of difficulty being provided. However, the many changes that IB is undergoing is detrimental to the curriculum, as it remains to be consistently changing and causing difficulties for students.... Read 499 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,123

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Free or reduced lunch 78%

• North Kansas City School District, MO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  303 reviews

Senior: North Kansas City High School is a very diverse and inclusive school. When people start high school, they’re usually so excited like I was. They can’t wait to experience everything that comes with being in high school, I mean who wouldn’t? Everyone says that high school is the best four years of your life. Now that I’m months away from graduating, I can’t say they were my best years, but I can say they were my most educational years, of course I wouldn’t say that they weren’t fun because they were. When I say educational, I mean I’ve learned so much about myself and so much about life during my time at North Kansas City High School. I learned what the words family, love, betrayal, law, and life meant. All these events changed me, and I’m glad they happened because I wouldn’t have learned all these lessons. My personality changed to this shy self-centered kid, to this open confident human being, thanks to North Kansas City High School inclusivity and diversity I can be proactive.... Read 303 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,597

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Free or reduced lunch 61%

• Independence School District, MO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  154 reviews

Sophomore: William Chrisman is an exceptional high school with a variety of courses and academy pathways a student can fit into for their career-related goals. The teachers, in my experience, have all been generous and teach outside just the subject. What I like most about my high school experience is the artistic options that William Chrisman has to offer; ceramics, drawing, painting, architectural drafting, visual arts, interior design, graphic design, etc...... Read 154 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,461

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Free or reduced lunch 71%

• Independence School District, MO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.58 out of 5  195 reviews

Senior: There is a lack of consistency between teachers at this school. While there are some very great, helpful, and effective teacher at this school, there is an equal amount of uncaring and unmotivated ones as well. Some of them blatantly dislike teaching and seem to just sit in their rooms with little teacher-student interaction, causing students to struggle with having to learn the content in their own time along with assigned homework. Being an older building there is often problems with the functioning of certain facilities, but there is not a lot to be done as there is a clear lack in funding. This school currently (as of 2019-20) has a future employment-based program, which is interesting and provides students the chance to explore occupations prior to graduation/entering the work force.... Read 195 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,562

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Free or reduced lunch 53%

• University Academy, MO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  84 reviews

Parent: I love the academics for this school. I truly believe that the high school students are challenged at a level where they will be prepared for college. I think the administration in the high school should allow the upper classmen to implement more ideas that they what to see done in the school. Also the administration should be evaluated on how they handle conflicts between students and teachers. Other than that the school has great academics and sports.... Read 84 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 227

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Free or reduced lunch 52%

• Frontier School of Innovation, MO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  25 reviews

Sophomore: Frontier Stem High School is a school with great gratitude and pride. Their main focus is for their students to succeed in pursuing their dreams and goals. With the help of teachers, students from Frontier STEM get the motivation to continue what they are doing for a positive cause. They are mainly focused on STEM learning that help their students achieve this type of academic .... Read 25 reviews

• grade B

• Students 367

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Free or reduced lunch 82%

• Belton School District #124, MO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.46 out of 5  219 reviews

Senior: Belton High School has been a wonderful place to attend High School. The teachers there care immensely for their students and do as much as they can to help them with anything they need. The administration there is very well organized and is extremely helpful. The janitors do an amazing job of keeping the school clean, and I love it!... Read 219 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,397

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Free or reduced lunch 33%

• Raytown C-II School District, MO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  216 reviews

Alum: I attended Raytown High School all four years of high school (9-12). There was not a day that passed by that I did not enjoy waking up and looking forward to having such a great day at this school. From the amount of activities to be involved in to the teachers great teaching ethics this school was great. Throughout my years if attending this school, I had all of the resources that I needed from receiving an education to being counseled my senior year when applying fr colleges. The amount of support from administration and staff was out of this world. They were always big on pushing students to be their best. I personally feel that if it wasn't for the staff pushing me to be great and guiding me down the right path, I would not be on my 3rd year of college. To this day I still communicate with some of the staff because they are just that great. These are some of the people who have inspired me to want to pursue a career in education. All around I would rate my old high school 10/10!... Read 216 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,457

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Free or reduced lunch 62%

• North Kansas City School District, MO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.85 out of 5  155 reviews

Junior: Ever since I first stepped foot in Winnetonka, I have been very pleased with my experience. The diversity is splendid, the teachers are great, and the students are all very accepting, respectful people. I enjoy the community that has been built at Tonka, and while our school has its flaws like any other, I feel very proud to be a Winnetonka griffin.... Read 155 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,185

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Free or reduced lunch 64%

• Ewing Marion Kauffman School, MO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  10 reviews

Junior: Honestly, strongly recommend to parents! If you want to help your student/child be prepared for college this is your school! They help you and teach you skills for ACT and other skills in your English, Math, & Science classes!... Read 10 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 414

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Free or reduced lunch 61%