KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When a family looks to move to Kansas City, many times they look at buying homes in Brookside, Waldo and Hyde Park.
"They want an area that is walkable. They want character and they want updates in the house," said realtor Stacey Johnson-Cosby.
But according to Johnson-Cosby, sometimes the Kansas City, Missouri School District can be a deal-breaker.
"Many times before people even get here, their collegues are telling them anywhere but the Kansas City School District," she said. "I end up selling houses north of the river, Johnson County and east. When they really want to be here, in the heart of the city."
KCPS is provisionally accredited and has struggled academically for years but state test scores show classrooms have started to turn around.
"I want to give these kids something that they have never had and that's a great education. They can come out of the school system with a fully accredited high school diploma and we can begin to change the trajectory of the community through education," said KCPS Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell.
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On Friday, KCPS held a press conference to announce and celebrate its highest state performance score.
The district received an 82.9 percent score on the state Annual Progress Report, which measures how well districts are doing at meeting state standards.
Districts had to have earned at least a 70 percent score to be at full accreditation level. KCPS' score puts the district on the path of gaining full accreditation in a year.
"If the KCPS District can gain full accreditation, we are taking about property values going up, businesses being able to flourish. We are taking about a community enhancement because you are going to have more people who are going to want to move into this city," said Bedell.
Johnson-Cosby agrees. She said it might take time but Friday's test results are the step in the right direction.
"In the Brookside, Waldo, Hyde Park, older areas. if parents aren't looking now because of the schools imagine once the school district is no longer an issue. These areas open up for them as well," said Johnson-Cosby. "That's a game changer."
