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Pitcher Elementary is a Pre-K through 6th grade school and a part of Kansas City Public Schools. Pitcher Elementary is one of the most diverse schools in Kansas City Public Schools. Students wear a uniform of khaki or navy bottoms and white or navy tops each day. As a part of Kansas City Public Schools students at Pitcher are bussed to school or dropped off by parents each day. -
Dr. Karol Howard is principal of Pitcher Elementary. She has been with Kansas City Public Schools for several years and values the diverse strengths her staff and students bring to school each day. -
In the Pre-K room, students crowd around their teacher to engage her in play during choice time. -
Here, students have chosen centers to practice life skills. In Pre-K, students focus on soft skills like sharing, teamwork, and communication in addition to Kindergarten readiness -
In Pre-K classrooms, students have hooks like these for their book bags and bins for their blankets. -
In Kindergarten, colorful signs and welcoming messages greet students each day. At Pitcher all students are encouraged to come to class each day. Teachers hang signs on their doors daily letting their building principal know if all students came to class. Classes with consistent perfect attendance are rewarded. -
In Kindergarten, students review circle time expectations with their teacher as they begin the day. -
In this Kindergarten classroom, students practice letters and sounds during circle time with their teacher. -
Foster Grandparents like this one partner with teachers at Pitcher Elementary. Foster Grandparents work with specific classrooms for the entire year. They read with students and serve as a source of support for teachers. -
In music class, these first grade students sing and skip to the music. All students go to music once each week. -
In art class, students learn about different mediums of expression and styles of art. All classes go to art once each week. -
In gym class, these first grade students are excited about learning a new game. All classes go to PE weekly. -
In second grade, students are reading silently during Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) time in class. -
While these students work with their teacher in a small group. -
In third grade, support staff assists a student in completing her classwork. -
These two third grade students work in a pair to complete a math assignment. -
At Pitcher, students are encouraged to embrace a growth mindset and view their mistakes as opportunities to learn. Here, a bulletin board hangs outside of third grade with students reflecting on a mistake they made and what they learned from it. -
In upper grades, students no longer have bins for their belongings. They are assigned hooks by their teacher to hang bags and coats each day. -
In all classes, students have reading nooks like this one with soft furniture and books organized by topic. Students can visit their classroom libraries during choice time. -
In fourth grade, these students work on suffixes with their teacher. -
While in this fourth grade classroom, students practice math facts with their teacher. -
In fifth grade, students are editing papers with their teacher. Note there are two teachers in this classroom. The main teacher is seated at the desk and a student teacher is at the front leading the lesson. -
In this fifth grade classroom, students are listening to their teacher explain a social studies lesson. -
Here upper elementary students show off their learning with figurative language. Students made posters of popular idioms. -
In sixth grade, these two students complete a reading assignment with their teacher -
These sixth grade students work on independent projects on their school issued laptops. All students at Pitcher Elementary have access to technology in class. -
In addition to computers in every classroom, students at Pitcher also go to iSparks lab where they learn to code, design solutions to problems, and program computers. -
At Pitcher, the cafeteria is a multi-purpose space. All students have free breakfast and lunch daily. This room is also used for whole school assemblies note the stage at the back of the room. -
Outside, students at Pitcher have a playground that is used by all students during recess. -
In addition to the playground, teachers can take classes outside to this open air patio space.
Pitcher Elementary (PK-6)
Pitcher Elementary
School Leader(s)
Karol Howard, Principal- NO Tuition
- Availability for 2021-2022
- Transportation provided
- Before and After-Care Available
Quick Facts
Our Mission
Each student will become a lifelong learner with the desire to apply knowledge and skills to real life situations.
Points of Pride
- Pitcher is focused on academics. The 2015 MAP scores placed Pitcher as the top performing KCPS elementary schools in math. Pitcher's math MAP scores exceeded the state average. Pitchers ELA MAP scores placed it in the top 4 performing KCPS elementary schools.
- All of the teachers are highly qualified.
- The school building and grounds are beautiful.
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: Information not shared with SMKCS
- Total Enrollment: 268
- Affiliation: KCPS-Neighborhood
- School Type: KCPS-Neighborhood
Feeder Schools
- Middle School: Northeast Middle School
- High School: East High School
Tuition
- Tuition: NO Tuition
Our Demographics
Receive Special Ed Services
English Language Learners
Programs and Features
Specialized Programs
- N/A
Arts Programs
- Band
- Choir
Sports Programs
- N/A
Clubs + Activities
- N/A
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.
- Enrollment Open: Ongoing. More information is available here.
- Kindergarten Cutoff: July 31
- Residence: Students live within Pitcher's boundaries in the East Zone in the KCPS boundaries.
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 to have at least 90% of their students achieve a 90% attendance rate 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
Exceeding
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).