Enrollment FAQs
Sections:
Students and Enrollment
Kauffman Scholars and the Kauffman Foundation
Academics and Other Course Offerings
Questions about the Kansas City, Missouri School District and Other Charters
Students and Enrollment
Kauffman Scholars and the Kauffman Foundation
Academics and Other Course Offerings
Questions about the Kansas City, Missouri School District and Other Charters
Residency
A: As a public charter school, the Kauffman School is free and open to all students residing within the district boundaries of the Kansas City Public Schools. The Kauffman School begins with fifth grade and that is the primary age at which the school will accept enrollments. Limited enrollments are accepted in sixth through eighth grades.
As a public charter school, the Kauffman School cannot selectively admit students based on academic aptitude, race, ethnicity, income level, special education needs, prior school record, or almost any other personal characteristic. The school will admit students until its enrollment threshold is met. In the event there are more applications than seats, the school will use a lottery process to give every applicant an equal chance of admission.
The Kauffman School will provide a geographical enrollment preference to students living in six zip codes: 64123, 64124, 64127, 64128, 64130, and 64132. The school will also provide an enrollment preference to siblings of enrolled students and children whose parents work at the school and also reside within the district boundaries of the Kansas City Public Schools.
Q: Why have an enrollment preference based on geography?
A: The Kauffman School’s geographic enrollment preference reflects its desire to reach many students residing in areas of the city with the fewest quality education options from which to choose.
Q: How many new students will the school enroll?
A: The school anticipates enrolling 100+ fifth-grade students each year. Limited students are enrolled in the sixth through eighth grades.
Q: How does the lottery process work?
A: The Kauffman School will establish and announce an initial enrollment period beginning in December of each year and lasting until March. If fewer than the targeted number of students entering fifth grade and residing within the district boundaries of KCPS submit enrollment forms during the initial enrollment period, all students are enrolled and the school continues to enroll students until the enrollment target is met. If the school receives more than its target number of enrollment forms for students entering fifth grade and also residing within the boundaries of KCPS, the school conducts an enrollment lottery. All students who submit enrollment forms during the initial enrollment period are assigned numbers and are randomly selected for admittance. Students who are not randomly selected in the first lottery selections, and students who submit enrollment forms outside the initial enrollment window, are placed on a waiting list and will be offered seats as they become available prior to the start of school.
Parents/guardians of enrolled and waiting list students are contacted following the lottery with information regarding their enrollment status.
Some students receive priority in the enrollment lottery process: student living within the school’s geographical preference area (ZIP codes 64123, 64124, 64127, 64128, 64130, 64132), have siblings already attending the Kauffman School, or have parents/guardians who work at the school and reside, like the student, within the boundaries of KCPS. Students living within the six zip code preference area are selected via lottery first, and all other students are selected via the same process described above in a separate lottery as necessary.
Q: How can students enroll in the Kauffman School?
A: The parent/guardian of a rising fifth-through-eighth-grader (i.e. a student who will be in fifth-through-eighth grade in the subsequent school year) can:
Students and Enrollment
Q: Who can attend the Kauffman School?A: As a public charter school, the Kauffman School is free and open to all students residing within the district boundaries of the Kansas City Public Schools. The Kauffman School begins with fifth grade and that is the primary age at which the school will accept enrollments. Limited enrollments are accepted in sixth through eighth grades.
As a public charter school, the Kauffman School cannot selectively admit students based on academic aptitude, race, ethnicity, income level, special education needs, prior school record, or almost any other personal characteristic. The school will admit students until its enrollment threshold is met. In the event there are more applications than seats, the school will use a lottery process to give every applicant an equal chance of admission.
The Kauffman School will provide a geographical enrollment preference to students living in six zip codes: 64123, 64124, 64127, 64128, 64130, and 64132. The school will also provide an enrollment preference to siblings of enrolled students and children whose parents work at the school and also reside within the district boundaries of the Kansas City Public Schools.
Q: Why have an enrollment preference based on geography?
A: The Kauffman School’s geographic enrollment preference reflects its desire to reach many students residing in areas of the city with the fewest quality education options from which to choose.
Q: How many new students will the school enroll?
A: The school anticipates enrolling 100+ fifth-grade students each year. Limited students are enrolled in the sixth through eighth grades.
Q: How does the lottery process work?
A: The Kauffman School will establish and announce an initial enrollment period beginning in December of each year and lasting until March. If fewer than the targeted number of students entering fifth grade and residing within the district boundaries of KCPS submit enrollment forms during the initial enrollment period, all students are enrolled and the school continues to enroll students until the enrollment target is met. If the school receives more than its target number of enrollment forms for students entering fifth grade and also residing within the boundaries of KCPS, the school conducts an enrollment lottery. All students who submit enrollment forms during the initial enrollment period are assigned numbers and are randomly selected for admittance. Students who are not randomly selected in the first lottery selections, and students who submit enrollment forms outside the initial enrollment window, are placed on a waiting list and will be offered seats as they become available prior to the start of school.
Parents/guardians of enrolled and waiting list students are contacted following the lottery with information regarding their enrollment status.
Some students receive priority in the enrollment lottery process: student living within the school’s geographical preference area (ZIP codes 64123, 64124, 64127, 64128, 64130, 64132), have siblings already attending the Kauffman School, or have parents/guardians who work at the school and reside, like the student, within the boundaries of KCPS. Students living within the six zip code preference area are selected via lottery first, and all other students are selected via the same process described above in a separate lottery as necessary.
Q: How can students enroll in the Kauffman School?
A: The parent/guardian of a rising fifth-through-eighth-grader (i.e. a student who will be in fifth-through-eighth grade in the subsequent school year) can:
- Click here to enroll online
- Call the school at 816-268-5660 to enroll
Students submitting enrollment forms after the end of the initial enrollment period will be placed on the school’s waiting list and will be offered seats as they become available prior to the start of school.
The school does not accept enrollments for the following school year until the initial enrollment period begins in January. This means you should not enroll your rising fifth-grader online until the new enrollment period begins.
Q: What paperwork do I need for enrollment?
A: Initially, only the basic information on the enrollment form is required. Following the lottery date, families with students randomly selected for enrollment in the school will be provided a list of necessary documentation to establish proof of residency, immunization history, and other required information.
Q: Will the school have a waiting list? How do I get my child on the waiting list?
A: Students who are not enrolled through the lottery process or who submit enrollment forms outside the initial enrollment period will be placed on the school’s waiting list and will be offered seats as they become available prior to the start of school. Students who enroll prior to the end of the enrollment period will be contacted first on the waiting list, followed by students submitting enrollment forms after the end of the initial enrollment period.
All enrollment forms are discarded prior to the start of the following year’s enrollment period (e.g. forms submitted in 2022 are discarded prior to the start of enrollment in 2023). Students already attending the school do not need to submit additional enrollment forms.
Q: Can I enroll my child (2nd grader, 3rd grader, kindergartner, two-year-old) to reserve a spot on the waiting list for the future?
A: No. Unless otherwise posted by the school, forms will only be accepted for students entering fifth grade for the upcoming school year. All enrollment forms are discarded prior to the start of the following year’s enrollment period and parents/guardians of children hoping to enroll in the school must submit an enrollment form each year if their student is not already attending the school.
Q: Why does the school begin with fifth grade?
A: The Kauffman School begins in fifth grade because that is the point when we believe students can enroll and still achieve the outcomes demanded by the rigorous college preparatory philosophy of the school.
The Kauffman School examined rigorous college preparatory models realizing positive outcomes for students throughout the country. Many of these programs begin their enrollments with a small fifth or sixth grade class and grow to accommodate high school students. Some of these models and schools include Academy of the Pacific Rim, Boston Preparatory Charter Public School, Uncommon Schools, Achievement First, Noble Street Schools, and YES Prep Public Schools.
Starting small allows the school to focus intensely on building a culture, perfecting systems, and creating cohesion among all aspects of the school aimed at improving student outcomes. As the school grows, the culture and systems grow with it and allow all students entering the school an opportunity to succeed.
The school does not accept enrollments for the following school year until the initial enrollment period begins in January. This means you should not enroll your rising fifth-grader online until the new enrollment period begins.
Q: What paperwork do I need for enrollment?
A: Initially, only the basic information on the enrollment form is required. Following the lottery date, families with students randomly selected for enrollment in the school will be provided a list of necessary documentation to establish proof of residency, immunization history, and other required information.
Q: Will the school have a waiting list? How do I get my child on the waiting list?
A: Students who are not enrolled through the lottery process or who submit enrollment forms outside the initial enrollment period will be placed on the school’s waiting list and will be offered seats as they become available prior to the start of school. Students who enroll prior to the end of the enrollment period will be contacted first on the waiting list, followed by students submitting enrollment forms after the end of the initial enrollment period.
All enrollment forms are discarded prior to the start of the following year’s enrollment period (e.g. forms submitted in 2022 are discarded prior to the start of enrollment in 2023). Students already attending the school do not need to submit additional enrollment forms.
Q: Can I enroll my child (2nd grader, 3rd grader, kindergartner, two-year-old) to reserve a spot on the waiting list for the future?
A: No. Unless otherwise posted by the school, forms will only be accepted for students entering fifth grade for the upcoming school year. All enrollment forms are discarded prior to the start of the following year’s enrollment period and parents/guardians of children hoping to enroll in the school must submit an enrollment form each year if their student is not already attending the school.
Q: Why does the school begin with fifth grade?
A: The Kauffman School begins in fifth grade because that is the point when we believe students can enroll and still achieve the outcomes demanded by the rigorous college preparatory philosophy of the school.
The Kauffman School examined rigorous college preparatory models realizing positive outcomes for students throughout the country. Many of these programs begin their enrollments with a small fifth or sixth grade class and grow to accommodate high school students. Some of these models and schools include Academy of the Pacific Rim, Boston Preparatory Charter Public School, Uncommon Schools, Achievement First, Noble Street Schools, and YES Prep Public Schools.
Starting small allows the school to focus intensely on building a culture, perfecting systems, and creating cohesion among all aspects of the school aimed at improving student outcomes. As the school grows, the culture and systems grow with it and allow all students entering the school an opportunity to succeed.
Kauffman Scholars and the Kauffman Foundation
Q: What is the relationship between Kauffman Scholars, Inc. and the Kauffman School?A: Kauffman Scholars, Inc. (KSI) and the Kauffman School are two separate organizations with different missions and programs, though each is dedicated to post-secondary success for students residing in Kansas City.
Q: Will students attending the Kauffman School have preference to get into Kauffman Scholars, Inc? OR Will students already in Kauffman Scholars, Inc. have the opportunity to attend this school?
A: KSI and the Kauffman School serve students at different grade levels from one another and KSI is not admitting new classes of students into its program at this time.
Q: Do younger siblings of current Kauffman Scholars have preference when enrolling in the Kauffman School?
A: No. As a charter school, the Kauffman School will be free and open to all students residing within the Kansas City, Missouri School District boundaries. As described above, a lottery process will be used to ensure equity in the enrollment process.
Q: Will the Kauffman School provide scholarships for students?
A: The Kauffman School will work to prepare students to graduate from college and live personally fulfilling lives. The school is committed to offering a wide range of support in assisting students with access to resources designed to help them pay for college. At this time, the school does not have specific plans to offer scholarships directly to students, though will explore all appropriate options to ensure all Kauffman School students have the opportunity to attend and complete college.
Q: How is the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation involved with the Kauffman School?
A: The Kauffman Foundation maintains a close ongoing relationship with the Kauffman School. The Foundation has representation on the school’s Board of Directors and currently provides financial support during the start-up and early operational periods. In addition to financial support, the Foundation assists in acquiring appropriate facilities, works closely with the school to design and implement a robust longitudinal evaluation of student outcomes, and assists with ongoing research contributing to continuous school improvement.
Q: What other education programs does the Kauffman Foundation support in the Kansas City area?
A: Other Kauffman Foundation sponsored education projects include the Kauffman Scholars program, Teach for America, Leading Educators, The New Teacher Project, and the CDF Freedom Schools. Students across the region also benefit from the Foundation’s support of the FIRST Robotics competition and Project Lead the Way to help students develop their math and science skills to prepare for future careers that require those skills.
Academics and Other Course Offerings
Q: How does the Kauffman School expect to affect student achievement for students attending the school?A: The Kauffman School will prepare students to succeed in college and life by offering a rigorous college preparatory program combined with an ongoing life prep curriculum. Rigorous college-preparatory charter schools around the United States are proving that all students, regardless of income level or background, can achieve at high levels when provided an environment reflecting strong academics, personal engagement, and a shared sense of urgency. The Kauffman School will work to provide that environment for success.
Q: What will the school teach?
A: The Kauffman School will focus on preparing students for success in college and life. This implies extra time in core subjects and a clear focus on quality classroom time across all grade levels. Students will receive instruction in all core subjects and a specials class every day. The school will also have a longer school day and longer school year than a traditional public school.
Q: Will the school offer extracurricular activities?
A: The Kauffman School is intensely focused on academic outcomes. Extracurricular activities offer students opportunities to learn and build relationships and will be part of the Kauffman School’s offering to students and families. The school will provide opportunities for students to participate in different athletics, clubs and extracurricular activities during the school year. Students will have a specials class on a daily basis at the Kauffman School. More information about our extracurricular offerings can be found on our Extracurriculars Page.
Questions about the Kansas City, Missouri School District and Other Charters
Q: Why does the Kauffman Foundation want to create a charter school rather than fund district programs or other charter schools?A: The Kauffman Foundation is creating a charter school because students and families living within the KCPS boundaries have few rigorous, college preparatory public school options from which to choose. We believe this school will offer a rich educational experience for children in Kansas City, an experience that will prepare them for success beyond high school and throughout their lives.
The Kauffman School hopes to benefit other public schools, whether district or charter, by sharing its data, practices, and approaches regarding improvement of student academic outcomes. The Kauffman Foundation appreciates the recent efforts by the District to address its long-term structural issues. The creation of a charter school does not preclude Kauffman Foundation support of the District to improve academic outcomes for public school students.
Accepted Proof of Residency
Q: What items may I submit upon enrollment for a valid proof of residency?
A: Two proofs of residency are required when enrolling at The Kauffman School. Families may submit any of the following items: rental agreement, lease, deed, mortgage statement, utility bill (water, gas, electric only; no "final bill" notices accepted). All utility bills must be dated within the past 30 days.
Q: What if I reside with a family in the district and do not have the above items in my name?
A: Contact [email protected] for support.
