Good School Guide

Archbishop O’Hara High School
Opportunity is the key word for students attending Archbishop O’Hara in Kansas City, Mo. The diocesan Catholic high school, which serves families in Kansas City, Raytown, Lee’s Summit, Grandview, Blue Springs, Independence and the western corridor of Jackson County, has an outstanding staff of experienced and dedicated teachers and administrators working to provide a comprehensive Lasallian-based education for nearly 500 students.

Students also have the opportunity for involvement in the school’s 32 activities and sports and are encouraged through a fine arts requirement to develop their artistic talents. They also follow the Lasallian  philosophy of the Christian Brothers to provide service to the community and the foreign missions of the order. Above all, students of varying ethnic, economic, racial and religious backgrounds strive for excellence in all realms of school life. 816.763.4800 or www.oharahs.org

Fort Osage R-1 School District
Fort Osage R-1 School District is the central focus of a unique rural/suburban community rooted in history and tradition. Fort Osage offers something for every patron and every student from preschool through adult. The Career and Technical Center is an integral part of the district. Plus, the high school participates in the “A+” program that affords all students the opportunity to attend college. Take time to watch “Discover the Fort,” a short  video on the Fort Osage family on the homepage of the website. 816.650.7000 or www.fortosage.net 

Gardner Edgerton USD 231
Gardner Edgerton USD 231 serves the communities of Gardner and Edgerton in the southwest corner of Johnson County, Kan., with an enrollment of 4,600 students. Gardner Edgerton has six elementary schools (K-4), two middle schools (5-8) and one high school (9-12). It is home to 12 Horizon Award-winning teachers, a 2010 District III Athletic Director of the Year, a 2009 Presidential Award for Math and Science teacher, the 2007 and 2008 American Star of Teaching Award winners for the state of Kansas, six ING Unsung Heroes grant winners, and the 2006 Kansas Milken National Educator.

GEHS has captured 17 league championships in football, girls and boys basketball, cross country, wrestling, track, golf and volleyball during the past five years, and in 2009, participated in the State Championship football game. GEHS will join the Eastern Kansas League in 2010-2011.

Six GESD schools have received the Governor’s Achievement Award representing the top 5 percent of schools in Kansas. In 2009, GESD schools achieved the State Standard of Excellence in 74 out of 76 possible opportunities in reading and math. As an honored District of Character, Gardner Edgerton USD 231’s commitment to excellence and passion for working with young people has created a world-class organization whose primary objective is to maximize the potential of all students — today and in the future. 913.856.2000 or www.usd231.com

Lawrence Virtual School
Lawrence Virtual School is a tuition-free online public school program serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade across Kansas, with an annual $97 technology and instructional materials fee requirement. Families get access to the exceptional K12 curriculum and patented methodology for online learning; support from passionate, Kansas-licensed teachers; a supportive school community; and a range of extracurricular activities. As the leading curriculum provider for public online schools serving kindergarten through high school, K12 has served hundreds of thousands since its inception. Today, 96 percent of parents are satisfied with the quality of the K12 curriculum. 866.644.8320 or www.k12.com/lvs

Lutheran High School
Lutheran High School is located on 29 park-like acres in south Kansas City at 124th and Wornall Road. Annually, its senior classes score among the top five high schools in the region on the ACT. The anticipated enrollment for the 2010-11 school year will be 130 or more. The campus has buildings and grounds ready to accept additional students without adding classrooms. LHS offers every student the opportunity to participate in extracurricular athletics, activities and fine arts, and every student is given the opportunity to discover their full spectrum of talents. The Christ-centered environment is open to all students   regardless of faith. 816.241.5478 or www.lhskc.com

Northland Catholic Schools
The Northland Catholic Schools comprise six grade schools and one high school, all located in Kansas City North. These schools focus on the total personal development — the intellectual, spiritual, moral, physical and social development of each student. Students succeed because they integrate faith and knowledge and acquire excellence in learning, innovative programs and training necessary for personal decision-making, with emphasis on personal responsibility and respect for others. 816.453.3450 or www.northlandschools.com

Shawnee Mission School District
The Shawnee Mission School District serves nearly 28,000 students living in the northeast part of Johnson County. The  district has a national reputation for educational excellence fostered by the community’s dedication to its schools that has earned it recognition among the top 4 percent of school districts in the country. Shawnee Mission offers a strong academic focus for students in grades K-12, including more than 50 advanced placement and honors courses.

Innovative signature programs, including the Center for International Studies, International Baccalaureate, Project Lead the Way, Biotechnology, Biomedical and Pre-Medical Health Studies, and Legal Studies, offer an intensive focus in specialized areas of study. Career and technical education courses like multimedia and filmmaking, graphic design and culinary arts provide industry-specific training. 913.993.6200 or www.smsd.org

St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School
St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School, located at 4041 Main St., is an independent school for students 2 1/2 years old through eighth grade. Sessions for toddlers, preschoolers and pre-kindergartners are half-day or full-day. A new 26,000-square-foot building houses these young students. Grades first through eighth are housed in a state-of-the-art school building that includes a computer lab, gymnasium, foreign language lab and science lab, and an extensive library with a mobile laptop cart. All students begin their school day with a chapel lesson that instills character development. Additionally, St. Paul’s has three-and-a-half acres of playing fields. Sports include volleyball, soccer, tennis, lacrosse and basketball. 816.931.8614 or www.speds.org