William Yates Elementary School: Blue Ribbon Academics K-5 (2026 List)

About William Yates Elementary School

William Yates Elementary School is located at the suburban city of Independence within the Blue Springs R IV School District. They serve students from grades K-5 and enrolls approximately 447 students with a student-teacher ratio of 13:1. In math, 79% of students reached the proficient level or higher, while in reading, 62% achieved that level or above. The student population is made up of 47% female students and 53% male students. William?????????? Yates provides an inviting and inclusive setting for learning where students are nurtured to develop both in and out of school through the support of diligent teachers.

An amazing milestone for the school was its award as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2024, which is the primary reason that it was recognized as a high-performing school and a leader in student success. The staff is often praised by the parents for their care and support of the children and the community feeling is also appreciated, thus making William Yates Elementary the top elementary schools in ??????????Missouri.

Contact Information

Address

3600 DAVIDSON RD, INDEPENDENCE, MO 64055

View on Map

Phone

(816) 874-3740

Call Now

Website

https://www.bssd.net/

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 79%

Reading 62%

State average proficiency is 79% in Math and 62% in Reading.

34

Full-time Teachers

13 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

406

Total Students

$63070

Avg. Teacher Salary

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

See the projects happening right in your neighborhood

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 9:15 AM - 4:05 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 9:00 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Student Demographics

White 49.3%

Asian 2.7%

Hispanic 15.2%

Black 18.1%

Two+ Races 11.8%

Native Am. 1%

White

49.3%

Asian

2.7%

Hispanic

15.2%

Black

18.1%

Two+ Races

11.8%

Native Am.

1%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 406

48.1%

195 Female

51.9%

211 Male

Student Population

406 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 13 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

373 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Latest News

William Yates Elementary School PTA conducted a "Skate Night" event in early September.

FAQ

Q1. How does William Yates Elementary communicate important updates to families?

Ans. The communication at William Yates is through ParentSquare and email alerts that are sent to parents so they can be up to date with events and announcements.

Q2. What kind of leadership opportunities are available for students?

Ans. Student Council and peer ambassador programs allow students to practice responsibility, teamwork, and school pride.

Q3. How does the school promote a positive learning environment?

Ans. The Yates community follows a PBIS framework, rewarding respect, effort, and integrity across classrooms and common areas.

Q4. What procedures are in place for student drop-off and pick-up?

Ans. The school is equipped with parent lanes that are specifically for drop-off and pick-up and also a staff member is always there to supervise the arrival and dismissal in order to ensure that everything runs smoothly and is safe.

Q5. How are families involved in school activities?

Ans. Family Fun Nights, open house events, and a strong PTA help parents connect directly with staff and the larger school community.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

What Parents Say