Sumner Academy of Arts & Science

Sumner Academy of Arts and Science, located in Kansas City, Kansas, is a public college-preparatory school that prepares students for high-level academic and creative pursuits.

First opened in 1905 as an all black high school, it was re-purposed and renamed in 1978 in response to a court desegregation mandate. Sumner Academy opened in the fall of 1978 at a time when increasing diversity, poverty levels and decreasing performance on test scores were widespread community concerns. While no longer bound by a desegregation order, Sumner continues to excel.

Sumner Academy maintains high behavioral and academic standards for its students. Students must maintain a 2.5 or higher GPA to continue to attend the Academy.

One factor responsible for Sumner Academy’s rigorous academic standing is its participation in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. Sumner began offering students the opportunity to participate in the IB program in 1987. The academy offers 20 different IB classes and over one third of the faculty have received extensive IB training.

Although only juniors and seniors are eligible to take IB classes, the effect of the IB program permeates the Sumner Academy curriculum at all grade levels. It is not uncommon to hear eighth grade teachers explaining the importance of the IB curriculum to their students. Ninth and tenth graders often take pre-IB courses with the anticipation of enrolling in future IB work.

The Mission Statement of Sumner Academy states, “Sumner Academy of Arts and Science offers a college preparatory curriculum with educational experiences that promote responsibility, adaptability and lifelong learning to its diverse student body”.

In the May 16, 2005 issue of Newsweek Magazine, Sumner Academy was named 75th in the "100 Best High Schools in America." This was the second time Sumner Academy was placed on the list; in 2004, Sumner Academy was listed in 99th place.

In March 2007, the Lady Sabres bowling team defeated Bishop Carroll to win the State Championship.

Sumner Alma Mater
Sumner Sabres, blue and silver,
We have pledged our hearts to thee
And we shall forge ahead in life
With truth and dignity.
Proudly facing each new day
We'll make our dreams a reality,
And we'll remember all our lives
Our Sumner Academy.

Fight Song
We are the Sumner Sabres.
To you we will be true.
We’ll stand and fight with all our might
For silver and blue.
All hail our alma mater.
Charge on to victory.
So fight, you mighty Sabres,
For our Sumner Academy.

The School District Webpage http://www.kckps.org/
The student-maintained School Webpage http://www.sumneracademysabres.com/content/
An "unofficial" Alumni Webpage http://www.sumneracademy.com