The Southtown Council Beautification Committee is pleased to recognize the new Ewing Marion Kauffman School, 6401 Paseo Blvd., as the October Sparkle Award recipient. This three-school campus is located on the site formerly occupied by the Nazarene World Headquarters.
The middle school building on the northwest portion of the campus reused much of the external structure of the church’s headquarters. It opened in August 2013 along with a new building housing both a gymnasium and cafeteria/commons area. The third and final building, which will function as a high school, is under construction on the campus’ south end and will open in time for the 2014-15 school year. The campus utilizes environmentally friendly design techniques including natural lighting and extensive landscaping.
The Kauffman School is a KC public college preparatory charter school. During this school year, the School serves approximately 370 students in grades five, six and seven. The school will enroll 200 new fifth-grade students each year until it ultimately serves nearly 1,200 students in grades five through twelve on its three-school campus. The mission of the School can be summed up in three words: Create college graduates. It is tuition-free and primarily serves students from Kansas City’s lowest-income urban neighborhoods. They employ outstanding teachers and leaders who are committed to setting high personal and academic expectations for all students. By establishing the right values, culture and rigorous expectations, they believe every Kauffman School student can achieve at the highest levels. Welcome to the neighborhood and thanks for Sparkling!