The ways that The Barstow School strives for the best.

The Barstow School has recently been named the best private school in Kansas City by Niche.com. With Barstow celebrating its 140th year, this is a great title to be recognized for when seeing how hard our students and staff work every year to make Barstow a better place for everyone. What specifically makes Barstow so much better than the many other private school in the Kansas City area, though? 

“Barstow is a good school because of the community and the teachers,” said freshman Kadan Bush ‘28.  

Students of Barstow claim that the highlights of the school are the education, staff, and community. They all express gratitude towards the teachers for providing a good education that they believe will support them throughout their high school and college experiences.

Students will always remember the people that surrounded them at school. The friends that students make and the teachers that they see throughout the week are what solidify the community, making school an enjoyable experience with a welcoming environment. With Barstow having only 757 students, including preschool through grade 12, class sizes are smaller compared to most schools in the Kansas City area. The small class sizes provide a chance to get to know all classmates deeper than you would anywhere else. Close bonds are created both quickly and easily at Barstow, something essential to a good high school experience. 

Along with close classmate relationships, students also feel close to teachers, “Here the teachers really just know you,” said Teagan Kesner ‘28. Teagan is a lifer who expresses her favorite aspect of Barstow being the student experience that is supported by teachers. 

Teachers at Barstow strive to make close affiliations with their students and genuinely care about how they are doing. Much of the freshman class has enjoyed progress reports, something that teachers send out to both parents and students on how they are doing in class. These progress reports give students of all grades encouragement on what they’re excelling at, while also pointing out areas of improvement and laying out the steps they need to take to achieve success. These progress reports are completely individual based on what teachers have picked up in class, such as their participation and the ways that they have grown in their classes.

Teachers, counselors, and administrators also work to build a school that provides the preparation for college. Students are given much support when it comes to the college application process and essay writing. The common nerves of beginning the future are soothed by the endless amounts of help and encouragement they receive in the college counseling area. This counseling has helped not only the seniors, but the freshman as well. “I’ve heard from the seniors this year and last year that our teachers really do want you to have a perfect college essay,” said freshman Kadan Bush. This help has been spread around the school, making students feel both excited and ready to begin a new journey.

Students also express that they love the freedom they feel at school. Barstow allows and highly encourages students to join as many clubs and sports as possible. All students make a team, meaning they get to try out as many new things as possible to discover what they love. “We get the opportunity to do what we want,” says freshman Lilly Simpson ‘28, “We can be in choir, I can take Chinese, and I can do this, and I can do that, because Barstow wants you to. They want you to be your best self.” The chance to try out so many new things, and the diversity of activities at Barstow, is what stands out so strongly to many. 

The Barstow School is a place of community and proper education for all types of students. “Start here. Go anywhere,” is a mantra that the school has lived by for a long time, and it truly sums up what Barstow is all about. Students are always provided with the encouragement and growth they need for a great high school experience and a successful future. The Barstow School is a great place to be, and the community works hard every day to uphold the title of the best school in Kansas City.