Annual Report

One of the KCKPS Board of Education’s primary Strategic Framework principles is to be “Good Stewards of Resources and Financial Accountability.” 

Following this principle, KCKPS budgets and budget breakdowns are published annually on the district website. Here, you will find a quick analysis of the past three years of budgeting. 

“On behalf of the finance team, I thank you for taking the time to review a snapshot of our budget. We are pleased to offer full transparency in the district’s finances and encourage you to see this link to access all of the budget documents on our website.”
- Tracy Kaiser, Executive Director of Business & Finance/District Treasurer

16 KCKPS schools have achieved commendable success by meeting their improvement goals and exiting KSDE State School Improvement Lists. This significant accomplishment is a testament to the collective efforts of teachers, school administrators, support staff, and educational partners. 

The following schools have demonstrated resilience and exemplify dedication, innovation, and perseverance: 

• Bertram Caruthers 
• Claude Huyck 
• Eugene Ware 
• Frances Willard 
• Hazel Grove 
• John F Kennedy 
• John Fiske 
• Lindbergh
• M.E. Pearson 
• Mark Twain 
• New Stanley 
• Noble Prentis 
• Stony Point North 
• Stony Point South 
• Thomas A Edison 
• Rosedale 

These schools are committed to adapting and supporting diverse student needs through comprehensive needs assessments, root cause analyses, and strategic and purposeful instructional planning. Planning and delivering rigorous, evidence-based Tier I instruction and intervention plans that address all students’ academic and social-emotional learning needs have been pivotal in achieving these milestones. 

The accomplishments of these schools not only celebrate academic achievements but also reflect the unwavering commitment of educators, students, families, and the community toward ensuring the educational success of each student. 

F.L. Schlagle High School 

• $32 Million in Scholarships 
• 171 Graduates 

J.C Harmon High School 

• $40 Million in Scholarships 
• 305 Graduates 

Sumner Academy of Arts & Science 

• $108 Million in Scholarships 
• 225 Graduates 

Washington High School 

• $36 Million in Scholarships 
• 212 Graduates 

Wyandotte High School 

• $57 Million in Scholarships 
• 353 Graduates 

J.C. Harmon High School 

Kamahni Jackson

 

• 3rd Place finish at the KSHSAA 5A-6A Girls State Wrestling Championship

F.L. Schlagle High School 

Emily Velasquez

• First F.L. Schlagle female wrestler to qualify for the KSHSAA State Wrestling Championship 
• 2nd Place finish at regionals. 

Braxton Burnau

• Selected as 1st Team All Meadowlark Conference 
• Qualified for the KSHSAA State Bowling Tournament 

Sumner Academy of Arts and Science 

Speech and Debate Team 

• 2023 Debate State Champions 

Washington High School 

K’lynn Lawrence 

• 5th Place finish at the KSHSAA 5A State Track and Field Championship in 300m Hurdles 

Wyandotte High School 

Jacky Perez-Vela

• 3rd place finish in the KSHSAA 6A State 400 Meter Run

• 
  2023 brought many outstanding fine arts and physical education programs and opportunities to Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. In February, the All City Children’s Chorus was invited to perform at the Kansas Music Educators Association state conference. This auditioned group comprises students from all over the district and represents students in grades 4, 5, and 6. The students traveled to Wichita, Kansas, to perform for their peers and educators from all over Kansas.

• 
  J.C. Harmon High School was chosen as the Latin Grammy Foundation Grant recipient. The music department was awarded $20,000 toward preserving Latin American music in the school. The music department used the money to purchase new instruments for the Mariachi program that Harmon is working to revitalize.

• 
  Hazel Grove Elementary School was awarded the ESPN Honor Roll Special Olympics Unified Champion School. Hazel Grove is the first elementary school in Kansas to receive this award. ESPN chose Hazel Grove due to its commitment to inclusion and unity by meeting the ten standards of excellence laid out by the Special Olympics Unified Sports.

An intrigued crowd gathered at Gloria Willis Middle School in Kansas City, Kansas, to learn about the dangers of Fentanyl. The public meeting featured members of the Kansas City Kansas Police and Fire Departments, but one speaker stood out the most. Andy Burris of Lansing, Kansas, would share a personal story that evening. 

Burris started his presentation by introducing his 15-year-old son to the audience. Cruz Burris was a typical teenager with lots of friends and was loved by everyone. But his tone and demeanor quickly changed as he recalled the day his son died from Fentanyl overdose. 

Burris, holding back tears, recounted the morning of January 8. He candidly talked about performing CPR on his son Cruz, only to realize he was already dead. That was his sobering way of saying that fentanyl is a dangerous drug and that everyone should take it seriously. 

Captain John Diaz of the KCK Police Department, who many consider an expert on the dangers of fentanyl, provided more background on how lethal the drug can be. A lethal dose is just one-sixteenth the size of a penny. 

KCK Firefighter and member of the Hazmat Team Josh Magaha talked about the increased number of emergency calls he and his crews have responded to due to more people using fentanyl. 

Both Diaz and Magaha reiterated in their presentations that One Pill Can Kill. The slogan is part of a national awareness campaign. 

Thankfully, there are resources available to help. There are Behavioral Health Social Workers in every school in the KCKPS district. They are trained in mental health interventions, including substance abuse. Those individuals can also connect students and families to substance abuse resources. And it’s all done confidentially.

Dive Deeper

One Pill Can Kill. How a nationwide surge in fake perscription pills is driving harm, violence, and overdoses across the U.S. 

KCKPS appreciates partnerships supporting the district’s mission, vision, and priorities focused on academic excellence across all grade levels. 

The Foundation for Excellence annually awards scholarships to high school seniors ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. The funds are used for tuition, room and board, books, and fees at the community college, university, or trade school of choice. For the 2022-23 school year, the foundation empowered USD 500 students by accomplishing the following: 

• The Golf Tournament raised $124,919.50, an increase of $9,374.50. 
• Thirty Five scholarship were awarded. 
• The Foundation increased the scholarship amount from $3,000 to $5,000. 
• Four hundred thirty students were celebrated at two Excellence in Education events. 
• Over 1,900 students attended the Wyandotte County Back-to-School Fair. 
• Awarded $500 each to two top Teacher of the Year and two Horizon Winners for Elementary and Secondary. 
• The Foundation recognized 90 nominees for the Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year from participating school buildings in the district. 

The Foundation’s goal is to continue to help fund programs that support the Kansas City, Kansas School District’s objectives for: 

• Academic Achievement 
• Building Human Capital 
• Social and Emotional Support 
• Equity and Inclusion 

 

Learn more about the KCK Schools Foundation for Excellence