Ewing Marion Kauffman School

The Ewing Marion Kauffman School district in Missouri operates two public charter schools: Ewing Marion Kauffman Middle and Ewing Marion Kauffman High. These schools serve a predominantly African American student population, with over 80% of students identifying as such at both the middle and high school levels.

While the middle school has seen steady improvement in its statewide ranking over the past few years, the high school has experienced a decline, dropping from a top 5% ranking in 2018-2019 to the top 50% in 2022-2023. Both schools face socioeconomic challenges, with a high percentage of students (73.67% at the middle school and 66.75% at the high school) qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The middle school's academic performance, as measured by test scores, is generally below the state average in Math, Science, and English Language Arts across all grade levels.

Despite the relatively high spending per student at both schools (over $16,000 per student), the impact of this funding does not appear to be translating into improved academic outcomes, particularly at the middle school level. This suggests a need to investigate the factors contributing to the declining performance at the high school and implement strategies to address the academic challenges faced by the middle school students. Addressing these issues and ensuring equitable access to high-quality education for all students in the Ewing Marion Kauffman School district will be crucial for the long-term success of these institutions.