OUR DISTRICT

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Where is the Smithville R-II School District Located?

The Smithville R-II School District is located approximately twenty miles north of downtown Kansas City. All schools are located in the city of Smithville, which is located near the intersection of Highways 169 and 92. Smithville is located approximately ten minutes from Kansas City International Airport

What schools comprise the Smithville R-II School District?

The Smithville R-II School District currently serves students in five school buildings. Three of these buildings are neighborhood schools with PreK through sixth grade. They are: Eagle Heights Elementary (EHE), Horizon Elementary School (HES), and Maple Elementary School (MES).

There is also Smithville Middle School (grades seven and eight), and Smithville High School (grades nine through twelve).

School district offices are housed in a self-contained building located between Smithville High School and Smithville Middle School. Maple Elementary School is located northeast of downtown Smithville, Eagle Heights Elementary is located on the corner of Eagle Parkway (shown as F highway) and 188th St, and the other three buildings are located on a campus located approximately ½ mile northeast of the intersection of Highways 169 and 92.

What are the primary phone numbers in the Smithville R-II School District?

Smithville Maple Elementary – (816) 532-0589
Smithville Horizon Elementary – (816) 532-4566
Smithville Eagle Heights Elementary – (816) 532-5959 
Smithville Middle School – (816) 532-1122
Smithville High School – (816) 532-0405
Smithville District Office – (816) 532-0406

When and where does the Smithville R-II Board of Education meet?

The Smithville R-II School District is governed by a seven-member Board of Education that meets the third Wednesday of each month with a closed executive session followed by a public meeting. The public session generally begins at approximately 7:00 p.m. Meetings are held in the large meeting room of the District Office Building.

How can I access district policies the Board has adopted?

All district policies can be downloaded from the "Our District" tab on the district website. Additionally, copies of several pertinent policies are provided to all students at the beginning of each school year.

What is the total enrollment in the Smithville R-II School District?

At the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, it is estimated that nearly 2,700 students in grades K-12 were enrolled in the Smithville R-II School District.

Is the Smithville R-II School District fully accredited?

The Smithville School District has been consistently Accredited with Distinction, the highest accreditation rating granted by the Department of Secondary and Elementary Education.

How can I enroll my child in the Smithville R-II School District?

To attend the Smithville R -II School District, a student must reside within the boundaries of the district. In most instances it is relatively simple to determine if a student resides in the district by locating the residence on maps available on the district website. If there is doubt about the school district in which the student resides, it is recommended that the County Assessor’s Office for the county in which the residence is located be consulted to determine which school district receives taxes from the property in question.

To enroll a student, individuals should contact the school the child will be attending to determine particular enrollment times and/or procedures for that school building. Proof of residency may be requested and may include a rental contract, documentation of the purchase of a home, or actual utility bills in the name of the parent of the enrolling student(s). Parents will be required to provide current immunization records (link to Missouri Department of Health immunization requirements) for the student(s) being enrolled, provide documentation of age if entering Kindergarten, and complete all forms needed for the transfer of existing school records from prior schools.

How do I determine if I live in the Smithville R-II School District?

In most instances, school officials can relatively easily determine whether an address is located within the Smithville R-II School District. There are instances, however, where an address is located geographically close to the boundary between school districts. In those instances, parents may contact the County Assessor’s office in the county in which the property is located to determine the school district to which property taxes levied on that property are actually paid. The Smithville R-II School District includes property located in three different counties. The phone number for the Clay County Assessor’s office is (816) 407-3500, the phone number for the Clinton County Assessor’s office is (816) 539-3716, and the phone number for the Platte County Assessor’s office is (816) 858-2232.

At what age may my child start school?

Under Missouri statutes, a child must have turned five (5) years of age prior to August 1 to attend Kindergarten.

How can I find out if school has been canceled because of inclement weather or other emergency reasons?

When inclement weather or other emergency situations require that school be canceled or dismissed early, individuals will receive messages with emergency cancellation information Parents can update their contact information in PowerSchool to ensure they receive emergency messages. Also, cancelation information is forwarded to all major television stations in the Kansas City area. Additionally, that information will be posted on the welcome page of the school district’s website.

Can my student ride the bus to school, and how can I determine when she/he needs to catch the bus?

With the exception of a small number of children living in close proximity to their school, transportation is provided to virtually every student in the school district. Route information is available in each school building that includes approximate pick-up and drop-off times. For specific questions about bus routes and times, parents can directly contact the bus contractor, DS Bus Lines, at 816-532-0655.

How do I determine what my child will be expected to learn in each subject or class?

For specific questions regarding curricular expectations, parents are invited to consult with their child’s teachers. Finally, teachers in core area classes track student progress in mastering curricular objectives, and those objectives as well as mastery information are included as a component of the quarterly grade report for all grade levels in the district.

My child has special needs. How do I make sure that she/he receives appropriate services?

The Smithville R-II School District complies with all state and federal laws regarding providing appropriate services for students with handicaps and other special needs. To ensure that children are receiving appropriate educational services, parents should first contact the counselor or principal in the building the child is attending. In some circumstances, building personnel may refer the matter of determining appropriate educational services to either the Director of Special Services or the Director Student Services, they may be reached at 816-532-0406.

How much does a school lunch cost, and how do I determine what is being served?

The price of school lunches during the 2023-2024 school year will be set in July. Monthly menus can be accessed from the Departments-> Food Services area of the district website.

What are "free and reduced lunches" and how do I find out if my child qualifies to receive them?

Based on family size and income, some students qualify to receive benefits through the National School Lunch Program. Under this program, again depending upon a combination of the number of individuals in the family and family income, students may receive meals at either no cost or a reduced cost. Program information and a Free and Reduced Price Meals Application, which must be submitted each year, are available in your Parent PowerSchool Portal in the Forms menu item. Questions regarding the National School Lunch Program should be directed to the Executive Director of Support Services.

What is the length of the school year?

Students attend school for 175 days each school year. Though the district calendar is typically slightly altered each year, the school year generally begins during the fourth week of August and concludes during the fourth week of May, depending upon the number of days missed due to inclement weather.

What are the academic eligibility standards for students to participate in extracurricular activities?

To be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities, students must meet all of the eligibility standards of the Missouri State High School Activities Association, which stipulate that students must have passed at least seven classes the previous semester and must be enrolled in at least seven classes during the current semester. For specific questions regarding extracurricular eligibility, parents may contact the Middle School Activities Director at (816) 532-1122 or the High School Activities Director at (816) 532-0405.

What interscholastic activities are available for district students?

The Smithville R-II School District offers a wide variety of extracurricular and co-curricular activities for students at various grade levels. High School athletic activities include football, cross country, soccer, softball, volleyball, golf, wrestling, basketball, baseball, and track. Smithville High School is a member of the Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference Blue Division, which also includes Grain Valley, Grandview, Kearney, Platte County, Raytown South, and Winnetonka. Middle School athletic activities include volleyball, football, basketball, wrestling, and track. Additionally, the district offers competitive opportunities in such areas as vocal music, instrumental music, cheerleading, Pom Pon, Academic Bowl, speech and debate, and competitions in various academic areas. A wide variety of extracurricular and co-curricular clubs and organizations are provided at both the high school and middle school levels. A complete listing of extracurricular and co-curricular activities can be accessed through the High School and Middle School pages of the school district website.

Who do I talk with if I have a concern about my child’s education?

The Smithville R-II School District values the involvement of parents in the education of their children, and invites individuals to share their concerns and questions with appropriate staff members. Questions or concerns regarding classroom instruction or student activities should first be discussed with the teacher or coach/sponsor who is most directly involved with the issue in question. Building issues, or matters that cannot be resolved with the teacher or coach, should be directed to the building principal. District issues, or matters that cannot be resolved with the building principal, should be directed to a district administrator, either the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent for Academic Services, Executive Director of Support Services, or Director of Student Services depending upon the nature of the concern. Issues that cannot be resolved with a district administrator may be forwarded to the Board of Education, the decision of which is considered final.

What is the Parents as Teachers program and how can I participate?

The Parents as Teachers (PAT) program is a nationally-recognized parent education and family support program for families with children from birth to three-years old. The program is voluntary and is provided at no charge to participating families, and is based on the belief that parents are a child’s first and most important teacher. Participating families are invited to attend group meetings and participate in home visits from trained parent educators. Individuals with interest in participating in the Parents as Teachers program should contact the district offices at 816-532-0406.

What is the A+ Schools program, and how can my high school student become involved?

The A+ Schools program is an initiative sponsored by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that is designed to ensure that all students, when they graduate, are prepared to pursue advanced education, employment, or both. Smithville High School has been designated as an A+ School since 1998.

Students who participate in the A+ Schools program and meet specified requirements may receive up to two years of tuition and fee reimbursement to any public Missouri community college or vocational school. Program requirements include the following:

  • Complete and submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

  • Attend an A+ designated high school for at least three consecutive years prior to graduation 

  • Have at least 95% attendance during the four years of high school 

  • Graduate with at least a 2.50 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) 

  •  Perform fifty hours of unpaid tutoring and/or mentoring under the supervision of school employees 

  • Maintain a record of good citizenship

Additional information regarding the A+ Schools program, individuals should contact the High School Assistant Principal/Activities Director at 816-532-0405.