Many of KC area’s best middle schools are in one district, new rankings say
Editor’s note: This story features the most updated information on KC area middle schools. The Star previously published a version of this story using 2024 data.
The best middle schools for Kansas City area parents planning for the 2026 school year are located in one district, school and neighborhood ranking service and data aggregator Niche says.
Niche pulled information for schools around the country from dozens of sources and reviews from current and former students, and revealed its 2026 rankings for the best public middle schools in the Kansas City metro.
The rankings were posted in September 2025. The top schools are in Overland Park, and no Missouri schools made the top 10.
Here is a closer look at the best middle schools in the Kansas City metro, and where other schools fall on the list.
Kansas schools claim the top 10 spots
The best middle school in the Kansas City area is Pleasant Ridge Middle School, Niche said. The school, 9000 W. 165th St., Overland Park, is a part of the Blue Valley Unified School District and received an A+ from Niche for its academics and teachers.
Pleasant Ridge retains both of its No. 1 spots from last year’s rankings, as it is also the No. 1 middle school in Kansas.
The top six middle schools in the Kansas City area are all in the Blue Valley Unified School District and are the same as last year’s rankings, but in a new order:
- No. 2: Lakewood Middle School, 6601 Edgewater Drive, Overland Park
- No. 3: Harmony Middle School, 10101 W. 141st St., Overland Park
- No. 4: Prairie Star Middle School, 14201 Mission Road, Leawood
- No. 5: Overland Trail Middle School, 6201 W. 133rd St., Overland Park
- No. 6: Oxford Middle School, 12500 Switzer Road, Overland Park
The rest of the top 10 are schools in Kansas, including two more from the Blue Valley Unified School District:
- No. 7: Patton Junior High School, 1 Patton Loop, Fort Leavenworth (Fort Leavenworth Unified School District)
- No. 8: Aubry Bend Middle School, 12501 W. 175th St., Overland Park (Blue Valley)
- No. 9: Lexington Trails Middle School, 8800 Penner Ave., De Soto (De Soto Unified School District)
- No. 10: Blue Valley Middle School, 5001 W 163rd Terrace, Stilwell (Blue Valley)
Where did Missouri schools rank?
The first Missouri school listed is Delta Woods Middle School, 4401 NE Lakewood Way, Lee’s Summit. The school is in the Blue Springs R-IV School District and ranked No. 12. Summit Lakes Middle School, 3500 SW Windemere Drive, in the Lee’s Summit R-VII School District followed at No. 13.
The first school within Kansas City’s city limits to appear on the list is Académie Lafayette, 201 E. Armour Blvd. The public charter school ranked No. 14.
Lincoln College Preparatory Middle School, 2012 E. 23rd St., is highest school from Kansas City Public Schools to be featured. Niche ranks it as the 53rd-best middle school in the Kansas City area.
