KCPS students, staff, and families, thank you for making the start of the 2026-2027 school year such a success!

Several schools (Central High, Wendell Phillips Elementary, Gladstone Elementary, and Border Star Montessori) returned to refreshed versions of their buildings after undergoing KCPS Bond Project renovations this summer.

Some of the biggest fixes included new paint, lighting, playgrounds, and floors, improved bathrooms and bleachers, parking lot resurfacing, and so much more!

Other schools, including Martin Luther King Elementary, had their last first day in their current building.

This winter, King Elementary will move to the all-new King Empowerment Center, currently under construction at 42nd and Indiana Ave. It will house the elementary school, an early learning center, and an international welcome center—all under one roof.

King is just one of several schools that will be permanently relocated in the coming years. Melcher Elementary, Manual CTE, the Dual Language Program, and the Success Academies at Anderson and Knotts will also switch to new homes within the district that better suit their current needs.

Hale Cook Elementary, meanwhile, is temporarily calling Troost Elementary home for the year as its main building undergoes major renovations. Students and staff will return to an improved Hale Cook featuring a major addition in the 2027-2028 school year.

We can't wait to see all that our students accomplish this year, whether its academic, artistic, athletic, or personal growth. Check out a photo gallery with 600+ first week of school photos by clicking here.

You can learn more about each of the mentioned KCPS Bond Project improvements, plus the improvements coming to all KCPS schools and several partner charter schools, by clicking here.