M. L. King, Jr. Elementary (K-6)
- NO Tuition
- Availability for 2020-2021
- Transportation provided
- Before and After-Care Available
Quick Facts
Our Mission

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School is an exciting, positive community of lifelong learners engaged in an accountable, respectful, and nurturing environment to foster academic success.
Points of Pride
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School is fortunate to have veteran classroom teachers who have a passion for serving K-6 scholars.
- Our commitment to increase student achievement and to engage every learner, every day is evident in our practice.
- We welcome the voice and support of parents and community stakeholders as we work to change the narrative of Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School.
School Hours
- School Hours: 8:20 am - 3:20 pm
- Before Care Hours Start: 7:00 am
- After Care Hours End: 6:00 pm
School Details
- Year Established: 2010
- Total Enrollment: 604
- Affiliation: KCPS-Neighborhood
- School Type: KCPS-Neighborhood
Feeder Schools
- Middle School: Central Middle School
- High School: Central Academy of Excellence
Tuition
- Tuition: NO Tuition
Our Demographics
Receive Special Ed Services
English Language Learners
Programs and Features
Specialized Programs
- N/A
Arts Programs
- Band
- Instrumental Music
Sports Programs
- Basketball (Boys)
- Basketball (Girls)
- Soccer (Boys)
- Soccer (Girls)
- Track and Field (Boys)
- Track and Field (Girls)
- Volleyball (Girls)
Clubs + Activities
- Chess Club
- Gay-Straight Alliance
- Journalism/Newspaper
- Math Team
- Robotics
- Student Government
Family Engagement
- Evening Family Events
Application Process
Application Details
Although many schools have application deadlines, most continue to accept applications for available seats on an ongoing basis.
- Application Open: December 5, 2019
- Kindergarten Cutoff: July 31, 2020
- Offer Date: March 1, 2021
- Residence: Students live within King's boundaries in the Central Zone
How to Apply
Enroll online on the KCPS website
Applications for signature and neighborhood schools open on December 14, 2020
The initial round of applications deadline is February 15, 2021
The week of March 1st, initial seats will be offered, and parents will need to complete the registration form.
You can still apply after the deadline, seats will be offered at a later date.
Submit applications online or in person at the Board of Education building, 2901 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO 64109. Applications CANNOT be submitted at schools.
Student Performance
Standardized Test Results
English
Math
Why It Matters
Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) tests are scored (or graded) according to four achievement levels: Below Basic, Basic, Proficient, and Advanced. The number shown here is the percentage of students who scored Proficient or Advanced. When comparing scores between years, please remember that the test Missouri gives has changed several times.
Please note that private schools are not required to participate in these exams.
In 2019, the average English score in Missouri was 48.7%; the average Math score was 41.9%, source
Attendance Rate 90/90
Why It Matters
Schools strive for students to have at least 90% of their students have 90% attendance because kids learn best when they’re IN school.
In 2019, 87.3% of Missouri students were in attendance at least 90% of the time, source.
Third Grade Reading Scores
Why It Matters
Third grade is the important time when kids switch from learning to read to reading to learn and is an important benchmark for a student’s educational development.
In 2019, the average 3rd grade reading score in Missouri was 48.7%, source
Student Growth
English Language Arts
Exceeding
Why It Matters
This data determines if individual students, compared to their peers, are making achievement gains over time in English Language Arts.
There are three categories possible: Floor (minimum), On Track (doing just fine), and Exceeding (outperforming their peers).
Mathematics
Floor
Why It Matters
This data determines if individual students, compared to their peers, are making achievement gains over time in Mathematics.
There are three categories possible: Floor (minimum), On Track (doing just fine), and Exceeding (outperforming their peers).
Parent Perspective
Alkesha Donahue, Parent
My name is Alkesha Donahue. I have two students at King Elementary. For the 2015 – 2016 school year, the Kansas City school district switched my Kindergartner to King Elementary. At the time I was not happy with the idea. Once I attended a parent teacher conference, I was very pleased. The teacher he had was very involved. He was anxious to learn and was willing to teach his brother what he had learned at school for the day.
At the end of the 2016 school year my children attended summer school. I was informed by their father that he had found teachers that the boys could really benefit from. After meeting with their teachers for the 2016 -2017 school year, I was very impressed. It makes a difference when you have teachers involved in your children’s learning. The teachers showed that they cared about their students and their education.
I am pleased with the curriculum at King elementary. I like the fact that the teachers keep me informed of my child’s progress before there’s a conference with the parents. I am constantly blown away by the learning technique that is used to keep the children engaged in learning. I have noticed that a lot has changed since I was in school. I was introduced to the computer my 9th grade year of high school. Today they are introduced by the first grade. I was introduced to Algebra my 9th year and by first grade they are introduced. The kindergartners will already know how to spell, read, and write before first grade. The effort the teachers put into my children’s education it shows. They are excited about learning and they constantly want to learn more. As a parent it makes me very pleased.
Some of the things I like most at King Elementary is that I am always greeted with a smile. The school smells fresh and clean. I love to look at the walls to see the work of the children on display. The boys and I would read quotes or look at pictures and I ask them to explain what is meant by the quotes or the pictures.
I have been blessed to have summer school and the LINC before and after-school care program offered. Because of these programs I am not stressed out about childcare. The workers are very involved with the student’s education as well. They provide them with worksheets to complete while in the program along with making sure that the homework is complete majority of the time. As a parent I double check the homework and we review what was taught that day at school. It makes things so much easier after a day at work.
I can honestly say that I am pleased with King Elementary.