Charter schools are tuition-free, nonsectarian public schools of choice that provide families with an alternative to traditional public schools. They are open to eligible students within their authorized enrollment areas and are held accountable for student achievement and educational outcomes.
Students who reside within the Kansas City Public Schools district boundaries are eligible to apply to our Kansas City campuses. Students who reside within the Columbia Public Schools district boundaries are eligible to apply to our Columbia campus.
Certain exceptions to residency requirements may apply under Frontier Schools' admission policy and Missouri law.
No. Our online application system, SchoolMint, allows you to select multiple Frontier Schools campuses and rank them in order of preference. You only need to submit one application.
You can easily apply online through our SchoolMint application system.
The annual application period begins on November 1 and ends on February 1. Families are encouraged to apply during this period to participate in the enrollment lottery.
Applications are also accepted after February 1. If seats are available, eligible students may be admitted. If no seats are available, students will be placed on a waiting list in the order their applications are received.
If the number of applications received during the application period exceeds the available seats at a particular grade level, Frontier Schools conducts a computerized enrollment lottery to determine which students are offered admission. Students who are not selected are placed on a waiting list and may be offered admission as seats become available.
For the 2027-2028 school year, the enrollment lottery will take place on February 8, 2027, at 1:00 p.m. at Frontier Schools Central Office.
Prospective parents are welcome to attend. To attend the lottery, please email fsinfo@frontierschools.org.
Yes. Siblings of currently enrolled Frontier Schools students receive preference in the admission lottery. For enrollment purposes, siblings are biological or legally adopted brothers or sisters residing in the same household.
Sibling preference does not guarantee admission, as enrollment depends on available seats.
Yes. Twins, triplets, and other multiple-birth siblings are entered into the enrollment lottery together as a single entry. This ensures that they are either all selected or all placed on the waiting list.
Yes. Students must meet the residency requirements for the Frontier Schools campus they wish to attend, unless an exception applies under Frontier Schools' admission policy or Missouri law.
Kansas City Campuses:
Students must reside within the Kansas City Public Schools district boundaries. ZIP codes that include eligible addresses are:
64101, 64102, 64105, 64106, 64108, 64109, 64110, 64111, 64112, 64113, 64114, 64120, 64123, 64124, 64125, 64126, 64127, 64128 (entire), 64129, 64130, 64131, 64132, 64133 (partial), and 64138 (partial).
Columbia Campus:
Students must reside within the Columbia Public Schools district boundaries. Primary residential ZIP codes include 65201, 65202, and 65203.
Please note that some ZIP codes extend beyond the eligible school district boundaries. Eligibility is determined by your residential address, not your ZIP code alone, except where an applicable residency exception permits enrollment.
Frontier Schools serves students from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade in Kansas City.
Our new Columbia campus, Frontier STEM Academy-Elementary, will initially serve students in Pre-Kindergarten through 2nd grade.
Frontier STEM Academy-Elementary in Columbia is scheduled to open for the 2027-2028 school year, initially serving students in Pre-Kindergarten through 2nd grade. The school plans to add additional grade levels in future years.
Frontier Schools provides tuition-free public education for students in Kindergarten through 12th grade.
Our Pre-Kindergarten program is free for eligible students. Tuition-based Pre-Kindergarten enrollment is also available at our Kansas City and Columbia campuses for students who do not qualify for the tuition-free program, subject to admission eligibility and available space.
Yes. Frontier Schools offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including academic and social clubs. Available activities may vary by campus and grade level.
No. Frontier Schools is an open-enrollment public charter school, and students are not required to take an entrance test as part of the admission process.
Yes. Frontier Schools provides free transportation for eligible students in accordance with its transportation guidelines.
Yes. All Frontier Schools students are required to wear school uniforms in accordance with the school's uniform policy.
Frontier School of Excellence (FSE) and Frontier STEM High School (FSHS):
7:30 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Frontier School of Innovation (FSI) Elementary and Middle School:
8:30 a.m. - 3:35 p.m.
Frontier STEM Academy-Elementary (Columbia):
7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Tentative)
For our Kansas City campuses, children must turn five (5) on or before October 1 of the school year in which they enroll.
For our Columbia campus, children must turn five (5) before August 1 of the school year in which they enroll.
For our Kansas City campuses, children must turn four (4) on or before October 1 of the school year in which they enroll.
For our Columbia campus, children must turn four (4) before August 1 of the school year in which they enroll.
To qualify for tuition-free Pre-Kindergarten, students must reside within the Kansas City Public Schools district boundaries for our Kansas City campuses or within the Columbia Public Schools district boundaries for our Columbia campus. Students must also qualify for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program, as determined through the Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application.
Students who do not meet these requirements may still be eligible to enroll in our tuition-based Pre-Kindergarten program, subject to admission eligibility and available space. Tuition rates are published in the Frontier Schools Pre-Kindergarten Handbook.
Yes. Frontier Schools offers a full-day Pre-Kindergarten program that follows the regular school schedule.
Families must provide the required enrollment documents, which may include proof of residency, proof of the student's age, immunization records, and other applicable enrollment forms.
Our Admissions Office will provide a complete list of required documents during the enrollment process.
No. Currently enrolled students do not need to participate in the admission lottery again, provided they notify Frontier Schools of their intent to return by the established deadline.
Yes. Children of eligible Frontier Schools employees and qualifying contractors may enroll even if they reside outside the school district boundaries, in accordance with Frontier Schools' admission policy and applicable Missouri law.
Children of Frontier Schools teachers and staff are exempt from the admission lottery. Eligibility for these exceptions is determined in accordance with the applicable enrollment requirements.
Yes. Frontier Schools welcomes students with disabilities and English language learners. We provide special education and English language development services based on students' individual needs and applicable state and federal requirements.
Yes. Frontier Schools participates in the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs and provides nutritious meals to students.
Please visit our Meal Program page for additional information about school menus and meal eligibility.