KC’s first girls-only public school
Kansas City, Mo.’s first public all-girls school opens in August. The application deadline is March 1. Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy will start with 100 fifth graders, including girls with physical challenges and English language learners.
“We want to serve families traditionally underserved in terms of educational opportunities,” says Tom Krebs, KCGPA CEO.
The charter school will start with fifth grade and add a grade each year with 100 students until it reaches 12th grade. Applicants will be chosen through a lottery system, prioritized by these zip codes: 64106, 64108, 64109, 64120 and zip codes 64123 through 64130. Eligible students who aren’t accepted will be placed on a waitlist.
“Our goal is to ensure that all deserving students who want to come have access,” Krebs says.
Girls must reside within Kansas City Public Schools boundaries and be entering fifth grade next school year. Apply online in one of six languages.
“Children who speak other languages are welcome and encouraged,” Krebs says.
Students with disabilities and English language learners will attend regular classes.
“Our focus is inclusion, not separate classes,” Krebs says.
A planned audit will ensure accessibility for students, faculty and others with physical challenges.
“We want this to be an authentically inclusive place to model the values we care about,” Krebs says.
School officials are hiring five fifth-grade teachers and other staff. The process is open until all positions are filled. Interested women and men must apply online (www.kcgpa.org).
“We believe strongly in having a diverse team of teachers and leaders from all walks of life,” Krebs says.
Along with the three-member board and school principal, Tara Haskins, community members will interview applicants.
“It’s a powerful thing to get perspective from people whose children will be impacted by the people we’re hiring,” Krebs says.
Class-size will be limited to 25. To ensure more time for learning, KCGPA will have a longer school year than the state-required 174 days. Classes start Aug. 12 this year. The school will provide bus service.
Besides academically rigorous coursework in the conventional curriculum, KCGPA will include a science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) program designed to motivate girls to pursue education and careers in STEAM-related fields.
“Education gives you choices,” says Haskins. “That’s what we want our young women to have.”
She was drawn by the school’s mission and values. “KCGPA’s educational philosophy and core values are informed by … a deep belief in the potential of every young woman to achieve at incredibly high levels when nurtured by a program founded in shared values of equity, community and growth.”
“It very much fits the vision I have for young women,” Haskins says.
KCGPA is part of Young Women’s Leadership Network. It was founded in 1996 to provide girls in low-income communities a college preparation education modeled after “the finest private schools.”
“We’re lucky to be part of a network of these 23 schools,” Krebs says.
School officials have hosted public forums, dinners and focus groups, publicized on social media and Website and through various groups.
“We truly believe for the school to be successful, it needs to be owned by the community and driven by the community’s needs,” Krebs says. “We want (it) to be a place where people meet and connect and feel at home.”
An open house is planned for Feb. 2 and 23 for interested students and families, the public, prospective faculty or staff and potential volunteers. Details will be posted online, along with future events.
“We genuinely seek as much involvement as people are willing to give to help us best meet our students’ needs,” Krebs says.
