Frequently Asked Questions
What grade levels do you serve?
KCGPA currently serves 5th- 8th grades. You can enroll your scholar online here.
We support 9-12 alumnae through Kansas City Girls Leadership Institute.
Who can attend KC Girls Prep?
KC Girls Prep is free and open to all 5th – 8th grade students residing within the district boundaries of the Kansas City Public Schools. If you have questions about whether or not you reside within the boundaries of the KCPS district, check this map.
What makes KC Girls Prep's academic approach different?
KC Girls Prep maintains a 1:5 student-to-teacher ratio, and scholars consistently outperform national growth expectations on the NWEA MAP assessment. We don't just meet the bar; we raise it. Academic rigor is paired with character development: leadership isn't a separate program, it's built into the curriculum, so scholars build self-advocacy, public speaking, and leadership skills they carry into high school, college, and careers. Research also shows girls in single-gender environments participate more, take greater academic risks, and build deeper confidence, especially in STEM and leadership.
Why is KC Girls Prep girls-only, and how does that shape the classroom?
Girls begin to shape their identities and confidence during the middle school years; what they experience in those moments can change how they see themselves, their abilities, and their future. KC Girls Prep exists to make those years matter: as Missouri's only free, public, all-girls charter school, we're intentionally designed to create an environment where students feel safe, supported, and challenged, both academically and personally. Research shows girls in single-gender environments participate more, take greater academic risks, and build deeper confidence, especially in STEM and leadership. Every voice in the room belongs to a girl.
What academic support is available if my daughter is struggling?
All scholars receive daily on-level class time in reading and math, plus a dedicated daily intervention block in reading or math for students who need additional support. This is paired with on-site social workers, MLL support, and special education services as part of the standard experience, not add-ons families have to seek out separately.
What are the school hours?
Daily school hours for students
Mon-Thurs - 8:20am - 3:30pm
Fri - 8:20am - 1:30pm
Friday early release supports high-quality professional development for our team; staff remain on site most Fridays until 3pm.
Suggested drop-off: 8:00am, breakfast is available daily from 8:00 - 8:15am. Students are considered tardy starting at 8:20am.
Do you provide transportation?
Yes, all students receive free transportation if they live more than 1 mile from school. We also offer busing from most local before/after-school programs, such as Operation Breakthrough.
What is the first/last day?
Please view our full annual calendar here.
What does a typical school day look like academically?
The school day at Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy runs from 8:20 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:20 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Fridays.
Each day begins with Pride, our advisory class, Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, students end their day in Pride, providing dedicated time for community building, goal setting, leadership development, and celebrating successes.
Students take four core academic classes each day:
English Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
Humanities
Beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, all students will also participate in a daily Intervention/Extension (I/E) block. Students are strategically grouped based on academic data to receive targeted instruction in reading and math that meets their individual learning needs, while also providing opportunities for enrichment and extension. As a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school, all KCGPA students receive free breakfast and lunch each school day.
What extracurriculars and community connections does KC Girls Prep offer?
Scholars can choose from 12 clubs and activities. Sports offered include: volleyball, soccer, basketball and track. Beyond campus, KC Girls Prep partners with organizations like the KC Current and KC Community Garden for mentorship, alongside community events rooted in Northeast KC, so scholars are surrounded by adults invested in their growth on and off campus.
How much does the school cost?
KC Girls Prep is 100% free: no tuition, no fees, no income requirements. This also includes free breakfast and lunch daily. Families with financial need can also receive support for uniforms.
What paperwork do I need for enrollment?
Initially, only basic information on the enrollment form is required (name and contact info). Once a family accepts the offer to enroll, we will share a list of necessary documentation to establish proof of residency, immunization history, and other required information, and a specific KCGPA application will be made available.
How can I request my scholar’s records?
Please complete this form to request your scholar’s records. All requests are processed within 48 hours. If you have any questions, please contact Darion Lane.
How does the lottery process work?
In the event that we receive more applications than open seats, KC Girls Prep will hold a lottery in order to enroll new students. The lottery is held after the annual March open enrollment deadline. In order to be included in the lottery, you must submit a completed enrollment application via SchoolAppKC.org. KC Girls Prep considers the following priorities in the lottery:
Sibling priority: Families benefit from keeping children together. For this reason, KC Girls Prep offers an admissions sibling priority. To receive sibling priority in the lottery, parents or guardians must submit a completed enrollment application via SchoolAppKC.org by February 28th.
Zip code priority: KC Girls Prep offers admissions priority to families residing within KCPS district boundaries that live in the following zip codes: 64106, 64108, 64109, 64120, 64123, 64124, 64125, 64126, 64127,64128, 64129, 64130. You will be required to submit proof of residence in order to verify this preference.
Children of staff: KC Girls Prep offers admissions priority to children of staff members families residing within KCPS district boundaries.
The lottery drawing is used to fill available spaces for enrollment. After the available spaces are filled, the remaining names go onto a waitlist.
Will the school have a waiting list? How do I get my child on the waiting list?
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 2017 are discarded prior to the start of enrollment in 2018). Students already attending the school do not need to submit additional enrollment forms.
Can I enroll my (2nd grader, 3rd grader, kindergartner, two-year-old) to reserve a spot on the waiting list for the future?
No. Unless otherwise posted by the school, forms will only be accepted for students entering fifth-eighth grades 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.
What happens after 8th grade?
KCGPA serves 5th–8th grade. Alumnae continue on through the Kansas City Girls Leadership Institute (KCGLI), which supports scholars through grades 9–12, including access to study abroad opportunities and scholarships. Learn more about KCGLI here. Additionally, every KCGPA scholar may enroll for a free education savings account, managed by MOST529, and can earn up to $250 per year that they are enrolled here. More information on this program can be found here.
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