M. L. King Elementary

Summary:

M. L. King Elementary is a public elementary school in Kansas City, Missouri, serving 665 students in grades PK-6. The school is part of the Kansas City 33 school district, which is ranked 338 out of 386 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

M. L. King Elementary faces significant challenges in serving its high-poverty student population. The school consistently performs well below the state and district averages on standardized tests, with only 1.4% of 3rd graders proficient or better in Math, compared to 20.3% for the district and 40.8% for the state. The school also has extremely high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 47.0% to 72.2% over the past few years. Additionally, over 99% of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high-poverty student population.

While M. L. King Elementary spends relatively high amounts per student, ranging from $19,282 to $21,645 over the past few years, this has not translated into improved academic outcomes. Nearby schools, such as Carver Dual Language School, Faxon Elementary, and Foreign Language Academy, generally perform better on academic measures, despite also serving high-poverty student populations. Some nearby charter schools, like Academie Lafayette Cherry Elementary, have even stronger academic performance, suggesting that more comprehensive strategies may be needed to address the complex needs of the M. L. King Elementary community.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

4848 Woodland Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64110-2138

(816) 418-2475

District: Kansas City 33

SchoolDigger Rank:
875^th of 906 Missouri Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $19,282

Students who attend M. L. King Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Central Middle School
High:	Central High School

Student/teacher ratio: 18.6

Number of students: 746

Racial breakdown:

African American:

75.1%

Hispanic:

13.8%

White:

4.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details M. L. King Elementary ranks worse than 96.6% of elementary schools in Missouri. It also ranks 16^th among 20 ranked elementary schools in the Kansas City 33 School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 5.6. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details M. L. King Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Kansas City 33 School District. Racial makeup is: African American (75.1%), Hispanic (13.8%), two or more races (4.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Kansas City 33 School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at M. L. King Elementary is 18.6, which is the highest among 21 elementary schools in the Kansas City 33 School District! (See more...)

Compare M. L. King Elementary employs 40 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at M. L. King Elementary is $19,282. 15 elementary schools in the Kansas City 33 School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

M. L. King Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks M. L. King Elementary 875^th of 906 Missouri public elementary schools. (See M. L. King Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

African American students:

Kansas City 33:

SchoolDigger ranks Kansas City 33 338^th of 386 Missouri school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for M. L. King Elementary

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Rank History for all students at M. L. King Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MO State Percentile
2011	8.76	1034^th	1088	5.0%
2012	1.85	1075^th	1085	0.9%
2013	5.30	1070^th	1108	3.4%
2014	2.48	1077^th	1089	1.1%
2015	2.50	1051^st	1058	0.7%
2016	1.95	860^th	865	0.6%
2017	3.67	1001^st	1032	3.0%
2019	4.33	1017^th	1052	3.3%
2021	6.54	852^nd	901	5.4%
2022	6.05	879^th	908	3.2%
2023	6.50	858^th	898	4.5%
2024	5.60	875^th	906	3.4%

See the entire list of Missouri Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at M. L. King Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MO State Percentile
2019	8.78	876^th	907	3.4%
2021	16.97	519^th	574	9.6%
2022	15.54	502^nd	532	5.6%
2023	14.84	567^th	611	7.2%
2024	11.99	597^th	625	4.5%

See the entire list of Best Missouri Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at M. L. King Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	8.96	247^th	251	1.6%
2019	11.96	273^rd	302	9.6%

See the entire list of Best Missouri Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for African American students at M. L. King Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MO State Percentile
2019	23.29	205^th	250	18.0%
2021	35.49	108^th	163	33.7%
2022	26.79	157^th	184	14.7%
2023	32.69	134^th	185	27.6%
2024	29.22	151^st	191	20.9%

See the entire list of Best Missouri Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Data source: test scores: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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Enrollment information for M. L. King Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2009	2	200	0	7	0	n/a	n/a	209
2010	2	237	0	10	0	n/a	n/a	249
2011	9	276	1	9	0	0	0	295
2012	25	602	3	15	0	0	0	645
2013	23	526	2	20	0	0	2	573
2014	21	426	2	15	3	0	6	473
2015	17	754	6	37	3	4	19	840
2016	21	742	4	31	2	0	14	814
2017	24	559	2	35	1	0	13	634
2018	31	548	0	31	3	0	12	625
2019	26	612	0	43	1	3	9	694
2020	22	538	1	26	0	3	13	603
2021	24	408	0	23	0	10	10	475
2022	19	387	2	32	1	11	6	458
2023	28	515	3	78	0	18	23	665
2024	34	560	3	103	1	11	34	746

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at M. L. King Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2009	209	20.4	10.2	90.4
2010	249	21.1	11.8	95.2
2011	295	25.0	11.7	99
2012	645	39.4	16.3	86
2013	573	33.9	16.9	0
2014	473	29.1	16.2	90.9
2015	840	52.0	16.1	100
2016	814	54.0	15.0	99.6
2017	634	44.2	14.3	100
2018	625	40.1	15.5	100
2019	694	43.6	15.9	99.6
2020	603	50.1	12.0	99.5
2021	475	49.2	9.6	99.4
2022	458	28.4	16.1	99.3
2023	665	38.3	17.3	99.5
2024	746	40.0	18.6	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio M. L. King Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2009	209	20.4	10.2	90.4
2010	249	21.1	11.8	95.2
2011	295	25.0	11.7	99
2012	645	39.4	16.3	86
2013	573	33.9	16.9	0
2014	473	29.1	16.2	90.9
2015	840	52.0	16.1	100
2016	814	54.0	15.0	99.6
2017	634	44.2	14.3	100
2018	625	40.1	15.5	100
2019	694	43.6	15.9	99.6
2020	603	50.1	12.0	99.5
2021	475	49.2	9.6	99.4
2022	458	28.4	16.1	99.3
2023	665	38.3	17.3	99.5
2024	746	40.0	18.6	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for M. L. King Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$4,084 (19.2%)	$17,200 (80.8%)	$21,284
2020	$4,746 (23.2%)	$15,723 (76.8%)	$20,469
2021	$4,919 (22.7%)	$16,726 (77.3%)	$21,645
2022	$3,226 (16.7%)	$16,056 (83.3%)	$19,282

Data source: Missouri Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on M. L. King Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 1017^th of 1052 Elementary schools	Ranks 858^th of 898 Elementary schools	1.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
4th Grade Mathematics (M. L. King Elementary)	19.7	6.6	13.1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Kansas City 33)	22.1	18.3	3.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Missouri)	46.8	43.8	3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (M. L. King Elementary)	16.1	8	8.1%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Kansas City 33)	22	16.6	5.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Missouri)	49.3	45.9	3.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (M. L. King Elementary)	10.9	12.2	1.3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Kansas City 33)	20.8	14.7	6.1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Missouri)	40.3	39.1	1.2%
5th Grade Science (M. L. King Elementary)	12.4	10.5	1.9%
5th Grade Science (Kansas City 33)	22.8	15.5	7.3%
5th Grade Science (Missouri)	42.5	40.9	1.6%
5th Grade English Language Arts (M. L. King Elementary)	9.6	17.8	8.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Kansas City 33)	22.8	18.1	4.7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Missouri)	47.1	44.1	3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	694	665	4.2%
African American	612	515	15.8%
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	0	3
Hispanic	43	78	81.4%
Pacific Islander	3	18	500%
White	26	28	7.7%
Two or More Races	9	23	155.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	99.6%	99.5%	0%

Schools Near M. L. King Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MAP Mathematics (2024)						MAP Science (2024)		MAP English Language Arts (2024)						Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MAP Mathematics 6th Grade	MAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MAP Mathematics 8th Grade	MAP Science 5th Grade	MAP Science 8th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
M. L. King Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	4848 Woodland Avenue	Kansas City	64110	Jackson County	Kansas City 33	No	No	No	Yes	(816) 418-2475	746	40	18.6	100.0%	34 (4.6%)	560 (75.1%)	103 (13.8%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	11 (1.5%)	34 (4.6%)	5.6	875^th of 906 public elementary schools	3.4%		6.5	858^th of 898 public elementary schools	4.5%	17	1.4		9.6	5.5			15.1		4.1	2.9	14.2	10.1			$19,282	$3,226	$16,057
Hogan Preparatory Academy Elementary	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	2803 E 51st St	Kansas City	64130	Jackson County	Hogan Preparatory Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(816) 444-5010	418	36	11.7	100.0%	5 (1.2%)	374 (89.5%)	20 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.1%)	3.6	898^th of 906 public elementary schools	0.9%		5.4	869^th of 898 public elementary schools	3.2%	29	4.9	7.1		3.7			7.1		9.6	4.8	7.2	5.5			$12,644	$3,653	$8,991
Genesis School Inc.	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	3800 E 44th St	Kansas City	64130	Jackson County	Genesis School Inc.	Yes	No	No	Yes	(816) 921-0775	209	18	11.4	98.6%	6 (2.9%)	180 (86.1%)	13 (6.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.3%)	10.3	828^th of 906 public elementary schools	8.6%		7.9	846^th of 898 public elementary schools	5.8%	18	5.0			27.3	14.4	22.3	4.5	3.8			13.1	13.7	19.1	26.0	$19,095	$3,106	$15,989
Carver Dual Language School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-6	4600 Elmwood Ave	Kansas City	64130	Jackson County	Kansas City 33	No	Yes	No	Yes	(816) 418-4925	455	35	12.9	100.0%	9 (2.0%)	95 (20.9%)	332 (73.0%)	5 (1.1%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.4%)	20.6	728^th of 906 public elementary schools	19.6%		15.9	768^th of 898 public elementary schools	14.5%	40	26.8	23.3	19.7				28.1				22.2	17.2			$18,443	$3,621	$14,823
Lee A. Tolbert Community Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	3400 Paseo Blvd	Kansas City	64109	Jackson County	Lee A. Tolbert Community Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(816) 561-0114	422	34	12.4	99.3%	1 (0.2%)	391 (92.7%)	13 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.9%)	12 (2.8%)	5.5	878^th of 906 public elementary schools	3.1%		8.4	840^th of 898 public elementary schools	6.5%	38	4.9	13.3		5.9	15.5	2.6		2.6	7.4		9.4	14.8	15.5	17.2	$16,796	$823	$15,973
Brookside Charter Elementary	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	1815 East 63rd Street	Kansas City	64130	Jackson County	Brookside Charter School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(816) 531-2192	508	54	9.3	99.0%	13 (2.6%)	425 (83.7%)	28 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (8.3%)	16.5	765^th of 906 public elementary schools	15.6%		20.1	738^th of 898 public elementary schools	17.8%	27	28.7	21.3	12.0				22.5		23.4	19.3	21.2				$14,443	$3,293	$11,150
Allen Village Elementary Academy	Public, Charter	3-5	706 W 42nd St	Kansas City	64111	Jackson County	Allen Village	Yes	No	No	Yes	(816) 931-0177	102	8	12.3	89.2%	6 (5.9%)	26 (25.5%)	65 (63.7%)	3 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.0%)	10.9	826^th of 906 public elementary schools	8.8%		9.8	821^st of 898 public elementary schools	8.6%	5	14.4	21.7	5.9				20.7		14.4	19.0					$14,167	$2,023	$12,144
Allen Village Primary Academy	Public, Charter	K-2	706 W 42nd St.	Kansas City	64111	Jackson County	Allen Village	Yes	No	No	Yes	(816) 931-0177	74	6	12.7	94.6%	6 (8.1%)	20 (27.0%)	46 (62.2%)	2 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)															$14,108	$2,337	$11,771
Allen Village Preschool	Public, Charter	PK	706 West 42nd Street	Kansas City	64111	Jackson County	Allen Village	Yes	No	No	No	(816) 931-0177	12	0		75.0%	1 (8.3%)	10 (83.3%)	1 (8.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Academie Lafayette Cherry Elementary	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	3421 Cherry St	Kansas City	64109	Jackson County	Academie Lafayette	Yes	No	No	Yes	(816) 888-7400	474	23	20.6	31.9%	235 (49.6%)	99 (20.9%)	55 (11.6%)	6 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	78 (16.5%)	74	205^th of 906 public elementary schools	77.4%		71.3	228^th of 898 public elementary schools	74.6%	23	56.6	46.7	65.0				61.8		41.8	54.7					$11,431	$373	$11,058

Frequently Asked Questions about M. L. King Elementary

What schools do graduates of M. L. King Elementary attend?

Students who attend M. L. King Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Central Middle School
High : Central High School

What is the racial makeup of M. L. King Elementary?

Students at M. L. King Elementary are 75% African American, 14% Hispanic, 5% White, 5% Two or more races, 1% Pacific Islander.

How many students attend M. L. King Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 746 students attended M. L. King Elementary.

Is M. L. King Elementary a good school?

M. L. King Elementary ranks in the bottom 3.4% of Missouri elementary schools.

What district is M. L. King Elementary in?

Kansas City 33

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.