We are excited to share that statewide data places Academy for Integrated Arts (AFIA) among the top-performing elementary schools in Missouri for student growth, reinforcing the school’s commitment to accelerating learning for every student.

According to the latest Missouri Annual Performance Report (APR), AFIA earned 82.3% of possible points—its highest score in three years—with notable gains across math, English language arts, and science.

While APR results reflect overall performance, looking at growth data highlights an even stronger story: how quickly AFIA students are growing.

Student Growth at AFIA

In Saint Louis University’s PRiME Center’s recently released report: PRiME Growth Report: 5th Edition, AFIA ranked 5th out of 1,005 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the top 1% in Missouri for overall student growth. Additional subject-level results include:

The PRiME Center’s Beating the Odds: 5th Edition report, which recognizes schools achieving strong growth while serving high-poverty communities, further underscores AFIA’s impact:

  • Math: 4th highest growth among high-poverty elementary schools in Missouri
  • ELA: 25th highest growth among high-poverty elementary schools

AFIA was also recognized for consistent performance over time, with a three-year average growth ranking of 25th in math among high-poverty elementary schools from 2022 to 2025.

“Proficiency is just a snapshot,” said Tricia DeGraff, Executive Director of AFIA. “Growth shows whether students are closing gaps and accelerating toward grade-level success. That’s what matters most for families.”

At a time when many schools are still addressing pandemic-related learning loss, AFIA’s results point to a broader shift in how school quality is measured. Increasingly, families are looking beyond static rankings to ask a more meaningful question: How much is my child growing?

Arts Integration and Team Teaching

At AFIA, student growth is fueled by an arts-integrated approach, where dance, music, theatre, and visual arts are integrated into academic content. This model fosters engagement, confidence, and critical thinking—helping students not only meet expectations, but exceed them. To further support every learner, AFIA is also implementing a strategic team-based staffing model, in which teams of three to four skilled, dedicated educators collaborate to support a shared cohort of students, ensuring instruction is responsive, personalized, and aligned to individual needs.

A team of teachers begin their day in a morning meeting before students arrive.

“Our students are accelerating their learning,” DeGraff added. “Many come to us below grade level, and the data show they are catching up faster than expected.”

As families consider school options for the 2026–2027 academic year, AFIA’s results offer clear evidence that strong instruction, creative learning environments, and a focus on growth can drive meaningful outcomes for students.

To learn more about the Academy for Integrated Arts or to schedule a tour, visit https://afiakc.org/ or contact us at enrollment@afiakc.org or 816.444.1720. Limited enrollment spots remain for the 2026–2027 school year.

About the Academy for Integrated Arts (AFIA)
 The Academy for Integrated Arts is a tuition-free public charter school in Kansas City that integrates the arts into every subject, engaging students through creative, hands-on learning. AFIA is dedicated to preparing students academically, socially, and emotionally for success in school and life.