When it comes to elementary and secondary education, Jackson County faces challenges and opportunities unlike those of any other county in the metro region. Its 12 school districts collectively encompass a more diverse population from a broader spectrum of socio-economic backgrounds.

The 12 districts span a wide spectrum, too, when it comes to quality of education, but trends are positive rather than the other way around. The Kansas City, Mo., School District, by far the largest of all, has just marked its 25th year under a court-ordered desegregation plan that has substantially upgraded the physical plant of its schools. The district has had to fight its way back from loss of accreditation, but has now regained provisional status.

A further sign of improvement is seen in the yearly evaluations done by Expansion Management Magazine. In 2000, the magazine gave Kansas City 33 its lowest red rating. With the improvements made in the district over the following year, the magazine promoted the KCMSD in 2001 to yellow.

Lee’s Summit, on the other hand, has attained and maintained Expansion Management Magazine’s highest gold rating, and Blue Springs and Kansas City Center are not far behind with blue ratings. Grandview, Independence, Fort Osage and Raytown fall into the green, or middle half, of all districts in the country.

There are alternatives to the public schools as well. From innovative new charter schools to well-established parochial schools, parents and students alike have a choice of education in Jackson County.

As far as higher education goes, you might say that 51st and Rockhill Road is the epicenter in the greater metropolitan area, certainly in Jackson County. UMKC, a public university with 13,000 students, and Rockhurst University, a private school with 2,700 students, sit across the road from one another in an urban landscape. Head south, and you will pass Cleveland Chiropractic College, Webster University, Avila University and DeVry University, all along a swath as narrow as Wornall to Holmes Road.

The University of Health Sciences, which trains doctors on Independence Boulevard, is even more urban in nature, while the Metropolitan Community Colleges dot the Kansas City metro area on the Missouri side. Blue River Community College has campuses in Blue Springs and Independence, Longview has its campus in Lee’s Summit and Penn Valley covers midtown Kansas City. Also in midtown is the Kansas City Art Institute, a four-year college educating students in visual arts and design. KCAI is ranked among the nation’s top 10 art schools by U.S. News and World Report.