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KC International Academy

United States, Kansas City

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 4 - 14 years
Pupil numbers 575
Type Co-educational
Opened 1999
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum
Typical class size 12
Strengths Sport, STEM, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies
Stages Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School
Introduction

KC International Academy (KCIA) is a public charter school serving kindergarten through 8th grade in Kansas City, Missouri. The curriculum is anchored in Missouri Learning Standards and uses evidence-based instruction, with an English Language Development program that supports multilingual learners through translators and native-language classroom help when appropriate. Nearly two-thirds of students speak a language other than English, representing 30 countries and 15 languages, reflecting KCIA's international focus. Electives include art, music, physical education, health, library, computer science, robotics, community service, and production/entrepreneurship, with reading interventions provided as needed. KCIA opened in 1999 as Della Lamb Charter School and is accredited by the Missouri Department of Education. The school weaves language development into daily instruction with quarterly progress checks, and offers family supports such as nutrition programs, mental health counseling, and a Family Resource Coordinator network. Growth scores indicate progress, with 100% ELA and math growth and 90th percentile overall.

414 Wallace Ave, Kansas City, MO 64125

The Essentials

KC International Academy has 575 pupils, typical class sizes of 12, instruction in English.

Location
KCIA is located at 414 Wallace Ave, Kansas City, MO 64125. It is in Kansas City, Missouri. The school day runs Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm.

Stages
PreK through 8th grade; Elementary School (K–4) and Middle School (5–8).

Type
Charter public school

Pupil Nationality Mix
Students represent more than 30 countries and speak more than 15 languages. Approximately 60% of students are English Language Learners.

Additional learning support
Special Services provide specially designed instruction, related services, and accommodations and modifications for students with disabilities. A team of translators supports newcomer students and English language development is provided by specialized staff.

Country affiliation
International focus

School day structure
School operates Monday through Friday, 7:30 am–4:00 pm, with weekends off.

Bus service
Transportation is provided to all students living within the Kansas City Public School District boundaries.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
School Dress: Dress should reflect respect for self, family, and school. Hats, bandanas, gloves, chains, sunglasses, or revealing clothing are not allowed. Shirts and blouses must fully cover the waist, straps must be at least one inch wide, and spaghetti straps are not allowed. Dresses, skirts, and shorts must be fingertip length. Shoes with wheels may not be worn. The administration may require modifications if clothing is inappropriate.

Food Options
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Snack Program provides a fresh fruit/vegetable snack 2-3 times per week in addition to breakfast and lunch. Breakfast and lunch are provided; menus are posted monthly. The program participates in the Community Eligibility Provision, offering breakfast and lunch at no charge to eligible students. Transportation to students is provided by First Student.

Governance and Ownership
KCIA is a public charter school in Kansas City, Missouri. It is governed by the KCIA Board, which includes a President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary, with additional board members; board meeting dates are published.
Fees
Application fees
- There is no charge to submit an application to KC International Academy; new-family applications are made through the SchoolAppKC common-application system used by participating Kansas City charter and public schools.

Tuition fees (by year group and term)
- Pre-K through Grade 8: No tuition is charged for resident students. KC International Academy operates as a public charter school and does not bill families regular tuition by term or by year for enrollment. There are no scheduled per-term or annual tuition charges for in-district students.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Regular tuition billing: Not applicable because the school does not charge tuition for resident Pre-K–8 students.
- Fees that do occur (for replacement or damage) are billed as incurred; families are expected to pay amounts assessed for lost or damaged school property when the school issues a charge. Specific equipment-replacement amounts for school-issued devices are published in the student handbook and are billed to families when applicable.

Boarding fees
- Not applicable. KC International Academy is a day school (Pre-K–8) and does not offer boarding or residential placements.

Other costs and fees (examples and details)
- School meals: Breakfast and lunch are provided at no charge to students under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP); families are not charged for standard school meals.
- Textbooks and core instructional materials: Textbooks are supplied free of charge; families are responsible only for repair or replacement costs if materials are lost or damaged.
- Lost or damaged school property and technology: Families may be billed for lost or damaged materials and for damaged or lost school-issued equipment. The student handbook lists charge examples for school-issued technology (for example: up to USD 325.00 for complete loss/damage; screen replacements USD 100; keyboard/mouse USD 75; bags USD 25; chargers USD 30). These charges are assessed when an item is lost or returned damaged.
- Field trips and activities: Field trip permission is required; parents may be asked to provide transportation or chaperone as noted in school procedures. The handbook sets expectations for permission and chaperones; specific event costs (if any) are determined per trip and communicated to families as needed.
- After-school clubs and external programs: The school provides a variety of after-school activities. Some programs or third-party vendors (partner organizations) may charge participation fees; any such fees are determined by the program provider and communicated directly to participating families.
- Records and document requests: Official records requests are processed through an external records vendor (records-request link is provided by the school). Fees for copies or official records are handled through that vendor at the time of request.

Refund information
- Tuition refunds: Not applicable because the school does not charge tuition for resident Pre-K–8 students.
- Refunds for billed items: The student handbook does not publish a general, school-wide refund policy for billed items. Refund or credit handling for specific payments (for example, vendor-handled records fees or program fees) is managed according to the vendor or program's payment and refund procedures. Families billed for replacement or damage are expected to follow the school's invoicing instructions for resolution.

Fee payment options and how billed items are handled
- Vendor payments: When the school uses an external vendor for a service (for example, records requests), payments are made through that vendor's payment system at the time the service is requested. The school's enrollment resources point families to the vendor platform for records and similar services.
- School-assessed charges: Charges assessed by the school for lost or damaged materials or equipment are billed to families and are expected to be paid according to the school's invoice or billing instructions; specific accepted payment methods are those established by the school's business office or the vendor processing the charge. The student handbook identifies amounts and the school's right to bill for replacement or repair.

Summary statement
- KC International Academy does not charge application fees or regular tuition for resident Pre-K–8 students. Costs families should expect are occasional, item-specific charges (for example, lost or damaged instructional materials or school-issued technology) and any fees imposed by third-party vendors for optional services (for example, records copies or external program fees). The school provides free breakfast and lunch under CEP and supplies textbooks at no charge; parents are responsible for replacement costs when items are lost or damaged.
Academics

KC International Academy teaches American Curriculum for students aged 4 to 14.

Curriculum
The school's curriculum is anchored in Missouri's Learning Standards and uses evidence-based instruction. The English Language Development program supports multilingual learners, with translators available and native-language classroom support when appropriate. Nearly two-thirds of students speak a language other than English, representing 30 countries and 15 languages. The school offers electives in art, music, physical education, health, library, computer science, robotics, community service, and production/entrepreneurship, with reading interventions provided as needed.

Exam Results
The school is fully accredited by the state Education Department's APR. Growth scores are 100% of possible points for academic growth in English Language Arts and Math, with a Missouri Value-Added Growth Model percentile in the 90th percentile.
Parent Experience

History
KCIA opened in 1999 as Della Lamb Charter School, the first charter school in Missouri. KCIA is a kindergarten through 8th grade charter school located in the Kansas City, Missouri School District. KCIA serves students from more than 25 countries and about 60% are English Language Learners. KCIA is a public charter school governed by a Board of Directors, with publicly posted meeting dates, agendas, and minutes. KCIA is fully accredited by Missouri's Education Department.

Community
KCIA's community celebrates the cultures, languages, religions, and traditions of its students. Students come from more than 25 countries and speak 15 languages, and language development is woven into daily content. Volunteer involvement is organized through the Community Involvement Opportunities page, with opportunities such as Classroom Volunteers, Mentors, Caring Closet volunteers, and Special Events/Projects. Joining requires a background check and a minimum of 4 hours per month. In-kind donations for Caring Closet are welcomed, coordinated by Becky Croker.
Facilities

Academic Facilities
KCIA provides a K-8 English Language Program with trained English language development teachers and translators to support newcomers. The program integrates language development into daily instruction and content areas. Assessments aligned to Missouri standards guide instruction, with quarterly progress checks and reading interventions to aid literacy. The elective menu includes art, music, physical education, health, library, computer science, robotics, community service, and production/entrepreneurship, reflecting a broad academic program. KCIA is fully accredited by Missouri's Department of Education, and growth scores indicate strong academic progress (100% of possible points for ELA and math growth, 90th percentile overall).

Extra Curricular Facilities
KCIA offers elective courses in art, music, physical education, health, library, computer science, robotics, community service, and production/entrepreneurship. These electives are available to students from Kindergarten through 8th grade.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
KCIA is committed to excellence in education, inspiring and empowering children from all nationalities and diverse backgrounds to achieve the highest level of success in life. The school emphasizes English language development within daily instruction to support multilingual learners. Language development isn't a separate track; it's woven into every part of the curriculum, instruction, and professional learning, ensuring multilingual learners grow academically while strengthening their English skills.

Arts & Creative
Band is an ongoing extracurricular. Art and Music are offered as elementary specials. Art and Music are part of elementary specials, providing opportunities for creative expression within the elementary program.

Cultural & Language
KCIA celebrates the cultures, languages, religions, and traditions that students bring. The learning environment honors each identity while maintaining high expectations for English language development and academic success. Language development is woven into daily content, ensuring multilingual learners grow academically while strengthening their English skills.

Social & Hobbies
KCIA offers a variety of sports and activities each season. Fall – volleyball, cross country, and flag football. Winter – basketball. Spring – track and field and soccer; ongoing – band.

Community & Service
KCIA provides nutrition and community services. A USDA grant supports a fresh fruit and vegetable snack program, offered 2-3 times per week. Family Resource Coordinators help families access resources such as the Food Pantry and Caring Closet. A McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison assists students experiencing homelessness, and mental health support is provided by school counselors to promote social-emotional well-being.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
KCIA supports student health and well-being through a Local Wellness Policy and related health resources. The school coordinates dental care through Big Smiles Dental Care. Mental health support is provided by school counselors to support social-emotional development, and Family Resource Coordinators assist families with wellness resources.
Languages

Language Provision
KCIA serves students from more than 30 countries, with more than 15 languages spoken among the student body. Approximately 60% of KCIA students are English Language Learners. KCIA provides an extensive English Language Program; language development is woven into every part of the curriculum, and translators support newcomer students; differentiated ELA courses are offered to assist newcomers during their first years in the United States. Languages spoken include English, Spanish, Burmese, Tigrinya, Somali, Arabic, Vietnamese, Swahili, Karen, Dinka, Mai Mai, Rundi, Amharic, Marshallese, French, Pashto and Dari.
Reputation

Accreditations
KCIA is fully accredited by the Missouri Department of Education.
Admissions

Admissions
KCIA's eligibility requirements specify that students must reside within KCPS district boundaries; Kindergarten students must be 5 years old by July 31 and Pre-K students must be 4 years old by July 31; KCIA's grade span is Pre-K to Eighth grade. The school participates in SchoolAppKC, a common application platform, and the eight-question application can be completed in less than five minutes. Apply and enroll: Applications open November 1, 2024; submit your application by March 1, 2025; receive an offer on March 7, 2025; and let the school know you're coming by March 15, 2025 to begin enrollment. If space is not available, you may remain on the waitlist. Lottery preferences and weights include: (1) siblings currently enrolled and attending KCIA, (2) additional siblings applying to KCIA, (3) the child of an employee with all eligibility met, and (4) a refugee or homeless applicant within the prior six months. District requirements upon acceptance are residency verification (one of: current lease/mortgage statement, current gas, water or electric bill), birth certificate, immunizations records, and a parent photo ID; the Director of Student Services will work with McKinney‑Vento eligible families to meet residency requirements.

Waitlist
If space is not available, applicants may remain on KCIA's waitlist.
School Events
The school has not added events
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