Raytown to launch Freshman Academy as first phase of career-academy plan

The Raytown C‑2 School District on Wednesday introduced a plan to launch a Freshman Academy in August 2025 as the first phase of a larger Career Academy transformation in partnership with Ford Next Generation Learning.

District staff told the board the Freshman Academy will begin with the incoming class of 2029 and is intended to improve freshman attendance, reduce disruptive behaviors and provide early exposure to college and career pathways. The district plans a multi‑year rollout and will return to the board later this summer with a completed master plan for approval.

Dr. Chris Greiner, who presented the item, said the effort grew out of an 18‑month partnership with Ford Next Gen and a local master‑planning process that moved the district from exploration and envisioning to master planning. “We want our graduates leaving to go do great things not far from us. We want them leaving the stage in June of 2029 at Cable Dahmer, and we want them right back in Raytown meeting workforce, development needs here in our community,” Greiner said.

Board members and staff described the model the district will use: freshmen will be placed in smaller, personalized teams and spend core academic time together with a shared set of teachers (English, math, science, social studies and a freshman seminar). The presentation said a typical freshman cohort of roughly 300 students per high school could be split into two teams and that the district’s ideal model places about 10 dedicated teachers with each freshman team for most of the school day, with exceptions for students who already completed certain courses.

The district also outlined new roles tied to the model: existing high‑school principals would shift to executive principals; assistant principals would take on “academy principal” duties; the district will assign designated counselors and “real‑world learning coordinators” to serve as academy coaches; and staff are being recruited for the new roles. Greiner said the work will be coordinated with Herndon Career Center so pathways developed by the academy complement existing career and technical programs.

Officials emphasized community partnerships and workforce alignment. Greiner said the district has been working with the City of Raytown, Metropolitan Community College, Herndon Career Center and local businesses and that initial industry areas showing local job growth include health and human services and transportation and logistics. The district said it plans communication with families this spring, middle‑school outreach this spring, and a larger Freshman Transition Day on the high‑school campuses in August as the public launch.

Superintendent Dr. Martin Knox framed the effort as community‑centered and collaborative. “This is a community centered approach,” Knox said, thanking district staff, business partners and higher‑education partners for their role in planning.

Board member Bobby Salisbury, who was recognized at the meeting before her departure from the board, commended the work and its community focus.

The board did not take an immediate vote on the master plan at the meeting; staff said they expect to return with a full plan and a formal request for board action later this summer.