Barstow is the oldest private school west of Mississippi. It's being around since 1884. It started…read moreas a women's school, and later became a school for everyone. Former Mayor Sly James sent his kids to Barstow before. Current KC Mayor Quinton Lucas is an alum. Innovation: The headmaster at Barstow is a brilliant, innovative leader. Barstow is opening up its second campus with ambitious goals to turn it into one of the country's foremost STEAM and innovation campus. Barstow has international campuses in Asia that provide additional revenue stream. Barstow also has some amazing online programs that are in collaboration with 100 other schools in the world. Curriculum: English/Social Studies: Barstow is one and half to two years ahead of Blue Valley curriculum. I have actually compare the reading lists from Barstow to Blue Valley and other private schools. The book list at Barstow is the most multi-dimensional and diverse. At KU, it's a well known fact that Barstow students need to correct other students' papers in a group project. Math: Barstow's math curriculum is one year ahead of Blue Valley's curriculum. Math is very strong at Barstow. Barstow students tend to win many of the regional, state, and some national math competitions from elementary school to high school in Missouri. Science: We are not a family of doctors. I hear from doctors' families complaining about our science. My kids have been happy with science at Barstow. My sense is that the science is not bad, but just not as amazing as other academic areas. If science is so bad, then why would many of the top doctors in KC send their kids here? STEAM: Barstow STEAM classes and robotics team are very strong starting in middle school and all the way to high school. Robotics team won an impressive 3rd place in the national robotics competition last year. It's a major force in high school. There's also STEAM curriculum in elementary school. It's stronger than other elementary schools in the area, but I would like to see more. AP Computer is offered this year for the first time. It's the first school to offer that course in the area. Debate/Speech: Barstow, Pembroke, and Blue Valley North are all strong in debate. Barstow is the leader in debate. The students travel everywhere to compete. It's a heavy load for the students but they always come home with amazing results. Barstow is strong in speech. Broadcasting: Barstow has a professional broadcasting studio that no one else has (thanks to a generous donation by a Barstow family). Students produce, create, record TV shows for the school community almost on a daily basis. Film-making is strong here. Art: Huge selection of electives are offered in middle school and high school in art. Theatre: Barstow has an excellent theatre program and produces several big shows a year. The shows are excellent but do require long hours of rehearsal. Volunteerism: Strong volunteerism culture at Barstow. Kids are taught not to be selfish. Several Congressional Award Gold and Silver winners every year. We have the most out of all KS and MO schools. Test Prep: Barstow doesn't push the kids on test prep or applying to Ivy schools like Pembroke does. Test prep is stronger at Pembroke and Blue Valley, and minimal at Barstow. Teachers: We have been here for three years. We never had a bad teacher at Barstow. Do we have average teachers? Yes, we had one average teacher in all of middle school, and one average teacher in high school so far but everyone else has been excellent to amazing. 5th grade team is also strong at Barstow. My kids didn't get educated earlier so I can't say about the teachers for the younger grades. However, from time to time, if we do get a bad teacher, that teacher is out after one year. The parents tend to revolt and that teacher is gone right away. Final thought: I am grateful that my kids found a school that offers amazing education and teach them how to be wonderful and useful human beings in the society!

I think what I like most about Barstow, having attended small schools nearly my entire educational…read morecareer, is its size. The students there are going to have grades with 30-50 kids, tops. One of the last junior classes I worked with had 40 students. As you are going to find at most elite private schools, there are a ton of students who love to learn and are dedicated to hard work. It doesn't hurt that it's a beautiful campus, conveniently located, with a good deal of tradition. Scott Hill, head counselor here, also happens to be awesome.

Address is incorrect in yelp. Now 4935 Belinder Avenue, Westwood, KS 66205. Awesome school- kids…read morelove it.

Five star elementary school, all the way. Would go back through school if they'd let me a la Billy…read moreMadison. I grew up in the neighborhoods around WWV and loved my experience here. Sure we had a few curmudgeonly teachers that aren't there anymore, but we also had some extremely inspirational and awesome teachers. The class sizes were just right, recess was the best, and there is a strong sense of community through and through. There's occasion rumors that they'd close WWV because it's too small, which would be the ultimate shame. That's the beauty of it, and it's in one of the greatest areas of Kansas City in my opinion.

Love Academie Lafayette! This is a French immersion charter school in KCMO. Amazing staff, amazing…read moreparents wonderful community. My kids have thrived there. All fluent in French. All globally minded and all critical thinkers. This is not a private school it is a public charter school. Is it a perfect school, no. Is it a great school? Absolutely!

Helps kids learn a new language, a small school with close relations. Need I say more?read more

Brookridge Day School is excellent and consistently the #1 or #2 elementary schools in the state…read more We have been very impressed. The class sizes are much smaller than the public schools in the Kansas City metro, the teachers are very involved with the kids, and the principal is very hands-on with the school. And because of this, it is always at the top of elementary schools in the state of Kansas based on the KSDE report cards and test scores, which we confirmed. I highly recommend this school for an excellent start to a child's education.

They are not teaching the kids to the level the say, their staff is under qualified and they are…read morenot properly vetting teachers during their staff shortage. Their turnover is sky high and they lose entire classrooms of teachers in the middle of the school year who complain of being unsupported. the staff seem to hate the parents and straight up lie to them. it obvious which kids they don't like becuase your kids come home talking about how much the teacher yells at certain kids. We did Not return becuase we felt it Was unsafe. it's 16000+ a year but only for some. if you hold out they discount the tuition because they don't seem to hit their enrollment goal.

If you're browsing Yelp for a good lunch spot, but suddenly decide to look for a small, private,…read moreliberal school for your children, you're in luck! This place is very special, and my daughter has thrived in the small, customized environment. Kids are encouraged be themselves, and the only cookie cutter I see is they're all different. Check this place out especially if your child marches to their own beat. Art, theater and music programs are standouts (shocking, I know, based on the first five sentences of this review). Here's a picture from a middle school science field trip, though.

This school has been such a disappointment. There is a teacher there who bullies the students, and…read moredespite multiple attempts by students and parents to advocate to the teacher, the principal, board members, etc. - they double down and say that they approve of his teaching. This is so extreme that many students have had private testing to note their skill level as above average or even gifted, but the teacher tells the students to their faces that they aren't smart, can't read books, insults their disabilities, reminds them of every mistake they have ever made in his class and does so with insults and stern. He is harsh in his presentation and grading, and only teaches rote memorization without critical thinking or interest in the ideas of his students. It has made many kids hate going to school, and many are leaving the school at the end of the year, but regardless the principal would rather stay the course and actually try to punish students who speak out. What you are told by the admissions is not what is actually true of the school. There are very limited options for learning outside their standard curriculum, much of which is quite remedial and with the assumption that your kid will not go to a good college. I've seen multiple students have soul crushing experiences. They have been without a school counselor for almost 4 months despite that many of their students are in major mental health crises. I have even seen them call the parents of a student that they know is in an abusive home to complain about speaking up for themselves to abuse from this teacher. It's so heartless and dangerous. Multiple students are showing signs of anxiety from things happening with this teacher and the principal. They will make no adjustments at the school to address these issues, even if the students have written diagnoses. There are major issues regarding racial/ethnic/religious equity and inclusion. The school isn't ADA compliant despite having a student that needs an elevator - it has been broken all year. They refuse to have parent meetings including conferences have a zoom/phone option despite having a parent that requires that for participation. I have seen almost no hands on learning in any class. I think that this school has probably changed and likely used to be better than it is now. I've never seen a school think so poorly of it's own students and be so eager to push out anyone who needs anything. There's also a lot of mismanagement. There are a few teachers who are real gems, but go elsewhere if you can unless they have some major staffing changes.