What Crossroads Charter Schools does

Crossroads Charter Schools is a non-profit public charter school network operating four tuition-free schools serving Pre-K through 12th grade in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 2012 with 190 students in grades K-8, the network has grown to serve approximately 1,066 students across four campuses: Crossroads Pre-K (partner locations at EarlystART and Operation Breakthrough), Crossroads Academy - Central Street (K-6), Crossroads Academy - Quality Hill (K-5), and Crossroads Preparatory Academy (7-12). The network is sponsored by Kansas City Public Schools under a 10-year charter renewal granted in 2022, following a unanimous State Board of Education vote and a DESE high-quality charter school designation.

The educational model is built on Missouri Learning Standards alignment and integrates Expeditionary Learning, Project-Based Learning, Project Lead the Way, and Blended Learning frameworks. A defining feature is the use of downtown Kansas City as an extended campus — students regularly visit Central Library, Case Park, Folly Theater, Quality Hill Playhouse, and partner businesses as part of instruction. The network maintains a formalized Belonging Framework addressing equity, culturally responsive pedagogy, and bias interruption. Operational technology is conventional K-12 SaaS: Infinite Campus for SIS, SchoolAppKC for common enrollment, BambooHR for HR, and BoardOnTrack for governance — there is no proprietary technology platform or AI/ML capability disclosed.

Revenue is overwhelmingly public: per-pupil state funding flows through state grants ($17.06M in FY24), supplemented by federal grants ($1.88M, including Title I and ELL) and modest local fundraising ($639K). FY24 total grant income was approximately $19.57M. Customer acquisition is lottery-based via SchoolAppKC, with priority for staff children, siblings, and Greater Downtown Area residents. The network has earned multiple recognitions including highest performing charter in Missouri (2015, 98.6% APR), MO Charter School of the Year (2017), top 1% statewide math growth (2025), and Candid's Platinum Seal of Transparency (2025).

Name

Crossroads Charter Schools

Legal name

Crossroads Charter Schools

Website

https://crossroadsschoolskc.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Crossroads Charter Schools is a non-profit public charter network operating four tuition-free Pre-K through 12th grade schools in downtown Kansas City, serving approximately 1,066 students under a 10-year KCPS-sponsored charter and funded primarily through Missouri per-pupil state aid.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Charter School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter School Networks (Multi-Site) (EDAJACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF), Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools (EDAJACAK)

Keywords

• Public charter education
• K-12 school network
• Tuition-free education
• Project-based learning
• Early childhood programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil State Funding: Public charter schools receive per-pupil funding from the state of Missouri based on average daily attendance. This is the primary revenue stream for operational expenses including teacher salaries, facilities, and educational programs.
2. Federal Grants: Federal grant funding including Title I, ELL programs, and other federal education programs. FY24 data shows $1,875,430 in national/federal grants.
3. State Grants: State-level grant funding supporting educational initiatives. FY24 state grants totaled $17,055,416.
4. Local Grants and Donations: Local grant funding and charitable donations from community partners. FY24 local grants and donations amounted to $639,276.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Crossroads Charter Schools is a nonprofit public charter school network providing tuition-free Pre-K through 12th grade education across four campuses in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. The network delivers academic instruction grounded in Missouri Learning Standards using Project-Based Learning, Expeditionary Learning, and a proprietary Real World Learning Model that uses downtown Kansas City amenities as an extended campus. Services include core academics, athletics, extracurriculars, school meals, and college-readiness programming for families residing within Kansas City Public Schools district boundaries.

Product overview

Crossroads Charter Schools is a network of four tuition-free public charter schools providing PK-12 education in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. The network consists of Crossroads Pre-K (collaboration with EarlystART and Operation Breakthrough), Crossroads Academy-Central Street (K-6), Crossroads Academy-Quality Hill (K-5), and Crossroads Preparatory Academy (7-12). Beyond core academics, the network offers auxiliary services including athletics (K-12 via MSHSAA), extracurricular clubs, meal programs, a school store partnership, anonymous safety reporting (Courage2Speak), and a volunteer program with background screening. The schools utilize downtown Kansas City amenities including the Central Library, Case Park, Folly Theater, and Quality Hill Playhouse as extended learning environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Crossroads Academy - Central Street: K-6 tuition-free charter school located in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
• Crossroads Academy - Quality Hill
• Crossroads Preparatory Academy
• EarlystART Pre-K

Products and services

• Crossroads Pre-K Free public Pre-K program for income-eligible 3-year-olds at EarlystART and Operation Breakthrough partner locations in Kansas City; guarantees a kindergarten seat at Crossroads Charter Schools.
• Crossroads Academy - Central Street (K-6) Tuition-free K-6 charter school in downtown Kansas City using the Real World Learning Model with expeditions to Central Library, Case Park, and downtown venues; currently serving over 350 students.
• Crossroads Academy - Quality Hill (K-5) Tuition-free K-5 charter school in the Quality Hill neighborhood of Kansas City serving over 250 students.
• Crossroads Preparatory Academy (7-12) Tuition-free secondary charter school serving grades 7-12 in downtown Kansas City with college preparation focus, MSHSAA athletics, SAT/ACT prep, scholarship support, and Market Value Asset development; serves over 400 students.
• Athletics Program (K-12) K-12 athletics program including soccer, volleyball, basketball, cross country, track, cheerleading, esports, and drone racing, with MSHSAA membership at Crossroads Preparatory Academy and recreational leagues at elementary grades.
• School Meal Program Daily breakfast and lunch meal service with bilingual menus meeting USDA nutrition standards, provided across the four campuses.
• School Store Online merchandise store operated in partnership with Show Me Spirit / Made Mobb offering branded apparel, with 25% of proceeds returning to support Crossroads Charter Schools.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98.6% Annual Performance Report score (highest in Missouri charter schools)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Children's Services FundsupportingOthersCommunity partner supporting Crossroads Charter Schools through philanthropy and community development initiatives. Children's Services Fund logo appears in partner section of website footer.
• KC School AppcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing SchoolAppKC common application platform. Enables streamlined enrollment process for families applying to Crossroads and other Kansas City schools through a single, accessible application system.
• University Hospital FoundationsupportingOthersHealthcare foundation partner supporting school health initiatives. Logo appears in partner section of website footer.
• SchoolAppKCcoreTechnology or IntegrationCommon application platform for Kansas City schools. Crossroads has committed to being part of SchoolAppKC which provides a fair and accessible application process. The easy 8-question application allows families to apply to Crossroads in less than 5 minutes.
• Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS)coreOthersOfficial charter school sponsor. Following unanimous votes by both the State Board of Education and CCS board, KCPS became the new charter sponsor in 2022. KCPS is dedicated to ensuring quality, fair education experiences for students in its boundaries.
• Park University Downtown CampussupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTemporary campus location for Crossroads High School (now Crossroads Preparatory Academy) when it began in Fall 2017, prior to securing permanent location at 816 Broadway.
• EarlystART - St. Mark Child and Family Development CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPre-K partnership location providing early childhood education services. Pre-K students at this location have a guaranteed seat at Crossroads Charter Schools for kindergarten. Located at 2008 E 12th St, Kansas City, MO 64127.
• Operation BreakthroughcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPre-K partnership location providing early childhood education services. Located at 3039 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO 64109. Part of Crossroads Pre-K network offering seamless transition to kindergarten.
• First Hand FoundationsupportingOthersHealthcare foundation providing FREE comprehensive health screenings for all students from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Screenings conducted by medical personnel each fall during school hours.
• MC Realty Group LLCsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRealty and project management partner for bond-funded building improvements including HVAC upgrades, window replacements, and roof replacements. Manages RFP processes and construction projects for Crossroads facilities.
• Show Me Spirit / Made MobbsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSchool store partnership providing branded apparel with 25% of proceeds returning to support Crossroads Charter Schools. New designs and expanded sizing options available through this collaboration.
• Greater Kansas City Crime StopperssupportingOthersAnonymous tip line partnership (816-474-TIPS) available 24/7 for students, families, staff, and community members to report safety concerns. Part of Courage2Speak school safety initiative.
• Missouri Highway Patrol - Courage2ReportsupportingOthersAnonymous statewide school safety reporting system (866-748-7047, Text 'C2R' to 738477). Part of Courage2Speak school safety initiative providing secure reporting for threats, bullying, self-harm, weapons, and unsafe behavior.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IDEA Public Schools: IDEA is one of the largest U.S. charter networks, operating PK-12 public charter schools focused on college readiness for low-income communities. Crossroads mirrors IDEA's PK-12 continuum, college-acceptance KPIs, and high-percentage students-of-color enrollment model.
• Uncommon Schools: Uncommon Schools operates a multi-state charter network focused on college preparation for low-income urban students. Strongly comparable to Crossroads in mission (closing the achievement gap in urban cores), demographics served, and PK-12 pipeline approach.
• National Heritage Academies: NHA is a charter management organization operating numerous tuition-free public charter schools across multiple states. Comparable as a multi-site charter operator with central curriculum, governance, and accountability infrastructure — though typically larger and more geographically dispersed.
• BASIS Charter Schools: BASIS is a high-performing charter school network known for top-tier academic outcomes and STEM focus, often ranking at the top of state APRs. Crossroads shares the high-performance charter positioning and multi-site expansion model that earned BASIS its reputation.
• Great Hearts Academies: Great Hearts is a multi-site charter network with classical liberal arts curriculum and strong college-prep outcomes. Comparable in network structure (multiple campuses, central administration, public funding) and in emphasis on rigorous measured academic results.
• Success Academy Charter Schools: Success Academy runs a network of high-performing urban charter schools with lottery-based admissions and an emphasis on rigorous academics. Like Crossroads, it competes for top state performance rankings and serves a high-need urban demographic via public per-pupil funding.
• University Academy: University Academy is a Kansas City PK-12 charter school network and one of Crossroads' most direct in-market competitors. Both serve KCPS district families with tuition-free public charter education and a college-prep focus.
• KIPP DC Public Charter Schools: KIPP is the largest U.S. charter school network operating multi-site urban campuses serving predominantly students of color. Like Crossroads, KIPP runs a PK-12 (or K-12) continuum with college-prep focus, public per-pupil funding, and a culturally responsive mission — making it the closest national analogue for a multi-site urban charter operator.
• Ewing Marion Kauffman School: A Kansas City-based charter school serving grades 5-12 with college-prep focus and high-need urban demographics. The closest direct geographic peer to Crossroads, competing for the same KCPS district families and lottery pool.

Broad incumbents

• Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS): KCPS is both Crossroads' charter sponsor and the incumbent public school district within whose boundaries the network operates. KCPS is the broader incumbent competing for the same enrollment pool, setting policy that affects charter authorization, and distributing per-pupil funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CrossroadsCSKC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@crossroadscharterschools9156
• Facebookfacebook.com/CrossroadsCSKC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crossroadscharterschoolskc
• Instagraminstagram.com/crossroadscharterschoolskc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Crossroads Charter Schools