For the 2025 school year, there are 18 public high schools serving 14,066 students in Clay County, MO.
The top ranked public high schools in Clay County, MO are Kearney High School, Smithville High School and Kearney Jr. High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Clay County, MO public high schools have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the Missouri public high school average of 37%), and reading proficiency score of 55% (versus the 51% statewide average). High schools in Clay County have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of Missouri public high schools.
Clay County, MO public high school have a Graduation Rate of 97%, which is more than the Missouri average of 90%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Staley High School, with ≥99% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Missouri or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 34% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the Missouri public high school average of 30% (majority Black).
Best Public High Schools in Clay County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Kearney High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
715 E 19th St
Kearney, MO 64060
(816) 628-4585
Kearney, MO 64060
(816) 628-4585
Grades: 10-12
| 804 students
Rank: #22.
Smithville High School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
645 S Commercial Ave
Smithville, MO 64089
(816) 532-0405
Smithville, MO 64089
(816) 532-0405
Grades: 9-12
| 884 students
Rank: #33.
Kearney Jr. High School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2215 S Campus St
Kearney, MO 64060
(816) 628-2650
Kearney, MO 64060
(816) 628-2650
Grades: 8-9
| 534 students
Rank: #44.
Liberty High School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
200 Bluejay Dr
Liberty, MO 64068
(816) 736-5340
Liberty, MO 64068
(816) 736-5340
Grades: 9-12
| 1,908 students
Rank: #55.
Staley High School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2800 Ne Shoal Creek Pkwy
Kansas City, MO 64156
(816) 321-5330
Kansas City, MO 64156
(816) 321-5330
Grades: 9-12
| 2,006 students
Rank: #66.
Excelsior Springs High School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
612 Tiger Dr
Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
(816) 630-9210
Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
(816) 630-9210
Grades: 9-12
| 744 students
Rank: #77.
Liberty North High School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1000 N.e. 104th Street
Liberty, MO 64068
(816) 736-5500
Liberty, MO 64068
(816) 736-5500
Grades: 9-12
| 2,330 students
Rank: #88.
Oak Park High School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
825 Ne 79th Terr
Kansas City, MO 64118
(816) 321-5320
Kansas City, MO 64118
(816) 321-5320
Grades: 9-12
| 1,744 students
Rank: #99.
North Kansas City High School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
620 E 23rd Ave
Kansas City, MO 64116
(816) 321-5310
Kansas City, MO 64116
(816) 321-5310
Grades: 9-12
| 1,690 students
Rank: #1010.
Excelsior Springs Tech. High School
Vocational School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
701 St Louis Ave
Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
(816) 630-5501
Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
(816) 630-5501
Grades: 10-12
| 104 students
Rank: #1111.
Winnetonka High School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
5815 Ne 48th St
Kansas City, MO 64119
(816) 321-5340
Kansas City, MO 64119
(816) 321-5340
Grades: 9-12
| 1,254 students
Rank: #1212.
Maple Valley School
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2575 Ne Barry Rd
Kansas City, MO 64155
(816) 437-3711
Kansas City, MO 64155
(816) 437-3711
Grades: K-12
| 39 students
Rank: #1313.
Liberty Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1115 Blackberry Drive
Liberty, MO 64068
(816) 736-5470
Liberty, MO 64068
(816) 736-5470
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Center For Educ. Development
Alternative School
2000 Ne 46th St
Kansas City, MO 64116
(816) 413-5000
Kansas City, MO 64116
(816) 413-5000
Grades: K-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Excelsior Springs Career Center
Vocational School
614 Tiger Dr
Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
(816) 630-9240
Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
(816) 630-9240
Grades: 11-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Juvenile Justice Center
Alternative School
8 Victory Lane
Liberty, MO 64068
(816) 736-5300
Liberty, MO 64068
(816) 736-5300
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
4901 Ne Barry Rd
Kansas City, MO 64156
(816) 734-2120
Kansas City, MO 64156
(816) 734-2120
Grades: 6-12
| 25 students
Rank: n/an/a
731 Ne 76th St
Kansas City, MO 64118
(816) 437-3607
Kansas City, MO 64118
(816) 437-3607
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
Clay County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
3100 Ne 46th St
Kansas City, MO 64117
(816) 413-6060
Kansas City, MO 64117
(816) 413-6060
Grades: K-12
| 45 students
455 School Way
Holt, MO 64048
(816) 320-3441
Holt, MO 64048
(816) 320-3441
Grades: K-5
| 142 students
600 West Kansas
Liberty, MO 64068
(816) 736-5380
Liberty, MO 64068
(816) 736-5380
Grades: 8-9
| n/a students
Maple Valley (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
2575 Ne Barry Road
Kansas City, MO 64155
(816) 436-7747
Kansas City, MO 64155
(816) 436-7747
Grades: Inquire with school
| 51 students
800 Midjay Dr
Liberty, MO 64068
(816) 736-7300
Liberty, MO 64068
(816) 736-7300
Grades: 8-9
| n/a students
2215 S Campus Dr
Kearney, MO 64060
(816) 628-2650
Kearney, MO 64060
(816) 628-2650
Grades: 6-8
| 855 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public high schools in Clay County, MO?
The top ranked public high schools in Clay County, MO include Kearney High School, Smithville High School and Kearney Jr. High School.
How many public high schools are located in Clay County?
18 public high schools are located in Clay County.
What is the racial composition of students in Clay County?
Clay County public high schools minority enrollment is 34% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the Missouri public high schools average of 30% (majority Black).
Which public high schools in Clay County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public high schools in Clay County include: Juvenile Justice Center vs. Liberty Academy, Liberty Academy vs. Juvenile Justice Center, Liberty High School vs. Liberty North High School
Recent Articles
Texas Schools: The Voucher/School Choice Debate
The issue of school choice and a voucher system is currently being revisited in Houston and across the state of Texas, with strong opinions on both sides of the debate.
Fuel Up to Play 60 Focuses on Integrating Fitness and Wellness into the School Day
What if NFL players came to your school? With the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, sponsored by the National Dairy Council and the NFL, nutrition and exercise are promoted during the school day. NFL players participate in the program by coming to schools and talking to students about fitness. Learn more about the program and some of the schools that are implementing it.
What Parents Need to Know About Lunch Shaming
Students all over the nation go hungry every day not because their schools don’t offer lunch, but because they refuse them to children with outstanding debts. Read on to learn about the horror that is lunch shaming and what can be done about it.
