Frontier Schools Expands in Missouri, Increasing Access to High-Quality Education

COLUMBIA – Frontier Schools has applied to open a charter public school in Columbia, Missouri, beginning in either the 2026–27 or 2027–28 school year, working alongside the community to meet student and family needs. Earlier this month, Columbia-based Job Point also submitted a letter of interest to open in 2027–28. Both organizations hope to meet unique, local needs through the charter public school model, offering families another flexible, tuition-free public school option.

Charter public schools are free, open to all students, and are held accountable for strong student outcomes. As Frontier seeks to expand into Columbia, the organization brings a strong track record to its proposal. All Missouri charter public schools are nonprofit organizations, governed by an independent board of directors that represent the community voice.   

Frontier currently educates 1,595 students in Kansas City and proposes a PK–5 school for Columbia. Its inaugural year would serve approximately 200 students in grades PK–2.

“Our Board is proud to see Frontier’s mission and impact extend into Boone County,” Frontier Board President, Dennis Davis said. “This expansion represents our continued commitment to providing families access to exceptional public education that prepares every student for college, career, and life.”

Frontier Schools first opened in the state of Missouri, in Kansas City, in 2007 with the Frontier School of Excellence, a 6–12 local education agency (LEA). In 2009, the charter expanded with a K–3 elementary school on the city’s east side. As demand continued, two additional campuses were established: Frontier School of Innovation–Middle in 2012 and Frontier STEM High School in 2015.

Over its 18-year history, Frontier Schools has delivered strong academic results for students and families. In the state’s recently released Annual Performance Report (APR) and academic data, Frontier posted a 50% proficiency rate in mathematics, which is higher than the statewide average. Further, for students who are low-income and in Missouri’s “student groups” category, 48% scored on grade-level (proficient)—an impressive 20+ percentage points higher than the statewide average for similar students.

Earlier this fall, Frontier also earned positive recognition from the Saint Louis University PRiME Center for its strong growth and outcomes in its Statewide Growth Report 4th Edition. Frontier School of Innovation–Middle ranked first in the state for student growth in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, while Frontier School of Excellence–Middle was recognized as number 4 in the state for growth in Mathematics. This report, the first-ever analysis of “Average Academic Growth Across the 2021–22, 2022–23, and 2023–24 School Years,” highlights schools leading in academic growth since COVID.

“Frontier is a strong, high-quality public charter school, and they’re going about this the right way,” said Noah Devine, Executive Director of the Missouri Charter Public School Association. “They will partner with the Columbia community to make sure family and community needs are met. This application is just the first step toward ensuring more families across Missouri have access to the high-quality education options they deserve.  Above all else, we should all be excited to have Missouri’s strongest public schools, serving students exceptionally well, and wanting to serve more students and families.”

Frontier Schools service to students and families is buoyed by their investment in its educators. In 2018, the district’s starting teacher salary of $60,000 was recognized as the highest in the state, well above the now $40,000 minimum required first-year teachers. That commitment to supporting and valuing staff was further reflected at the city’s Excellence in Education celebration, hosted by the Kansas City Royals Foundation, SchoolSmartKC, and MCPSA in early August. Three of Frontier’s teachers received ‘Star’ awards, including two Star Teacher Awards and the celebration’s Lone Star Leader Award. Leading all charter public schools in both nominees and awardees, Frontier Schools has demonstrated how investing in educators fosters exceptional talent and achievement across its campuses.

From here, the LEA’s application will follow the standard approval process, which includes submission, sponsor review and approval, and State Board of Education consideration. To be eligible for a 2026–27 school year opening, this process must be completed before January 31, 2026. 

The school will partner with the city’s residents to better understand the educational needs of families and children in Boone County, ensuring that its programs are responsive and supportive of the community.

“Frontier Schools has built a strong record of academic excellence and innovation in Kansas City,” Frontier Schools Superintendent, Ugur Demircan said. “We’re excited about the opportunity to bring our proven, student-centered model to Boone County—offering high-quality, STEM-focused education and a culture of care to even more Missouri families.”