On April 8, 2025, Kansas City voted "yes" on the first school bond since 1967. In doing so, they not only approved a $474 million investment in our school infrastructure and educational opportunities, they invested directly in our children's futures.
As we celebrate this first anniversary since the bond's passage, we want to share the latest updates on completed, in-progress, and upcoming projects, and share how you can stay involved every step of the way.
Visit KCPSBond.org to learn more.
Overview
Every single KCPS school and several partner charter schools benefit directly from the bond.
"Every schools benefits. Every student wins"
Key priorities include expanded career and technical education opportunities, modern and flexible learning spaces, improved infrastructure, and creating Empowerment Campuses that connect schools and families with community resources.
Improvements at each site may include, but are not limited to:
Athletic and performing arts facilities
Bathroom/plumbing upgrades
Building exterior and interior upgrades
HVAC system upgrades
Roof and window repairs
Security and accessibility upgrades
Classroom modernization
Completed Projects
King Elementary (future site of Carver Dual Language School) and Carver Dual Language School (future site of Melcher Elementary) have completed Phase 1, with additional renovations to come in 2027 and 2028.
Phase 1 improvements include:
Renovated secure entryways
Improved security systems
Window upgrades
LED lighting
In-Progress and Upcoming Projects
King Empowerment Center broke ground in April 2025 and will open in January 2027. It is the first new KCPS construction project in 30 years, and will feature an early learning center, the new King Elementary, and a family resource center all on one campus.
Border Star Montessori renovations begin in spring 2026 and will be finished by the time school reopens in fall 2026. Improvements include a new HVAC system, electrical and LED lighting upgrades, bathroom and library renovations. and a new playground.
Central High School's Phase 1 renovations include the reconfiguration of the secure entryway and administrative area, bathroom and locker room renovations, new bleachers, and gym lighting. There will also be the addition of a Career & Technical Education center that Manual CTE will relocate to in fall 2029.
Gladstone Elementary's renovations begin in summer 2026 and will conclude before school resumes in fall 2026. Changes include renovations to bathrooms, the auditorium, and cafeteria, LED lighting upgrades, as well as playground upgrades and a new turf field.
Wendell Phillips Elementary will have upgrades beginning in spring 2026 that are completed by fall 2026. This includes bathroom, common space, and hallway renovations, LED lighting upgrades, new playground equipment and surfacing, a partial roof replacement, and parking lot repaving.
Hale Cook Elementary will undergo major renovations beginning in summer 2026, and it will reopen in fall 2027. Students are relocated to the former Troost Elementary for the duration of the 2026-2027 school year, but will return to the renovated building in the 2027-2028 school year.
Improvements include an addition with four new classrooms, a collaboration space, and a new secured entryway and administrative suite. The bathrooms and cafeteria will be renovated, and there will be a new outdoor play area/playground.
Success Academies and Knotts and Anderson will move to cohabitate one building at the current Knotts location, 7301 Jackson Ave.
Renovations begin in summer 2026, and the school reopens in fall 2027 with reconfigured spaces that allow the elementary and secondary students to be separate. Additionally, there will be HVAC upgrades, a new roof, exterior masonry renovations, and new play areas and playground equipment.
Future Projects
How to stay involved
There are several ways to share your voice and stay involved, including:
Community meetings at each school prior to construction
Design Advisory Teams (DATs) at our Targeted Investment Sites made up of staff, families, students (High School project), and community members who help guide design and planning decisions
Partnering with us as a vendor to support bond‑related projects
You can learn more about specific projects by visiting the updated KCPSBond.org website.
