Second organization seeks Boone County charter school

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A second organization has announced its plan to establish a privately run and publicly funded school in Boone County.

Frontier Schools has applied to open a school starting in the fall of 2026 or 2027, according to a news release from the Missouri Charter Public School Association. Charter schools are public schools that private companies run.

Many public education advocates say the schools take away resources from established public school districts, while charter supporters say they offer families more education choices.

Frontier already operates a 1,595-student school in Kansas City. It plans to open a pre-K through fifth-grade school in Columbia, according to the release.

Frontier boasts that its students score above average on statewide assessments. The application will have to go through the state's approval process.

The organization Job Point said last month it also plans to open a charter school in Boone County. Job Point wants to operate a high school focusing on vocational skills.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said Frontier submitted its application last week. Job Point has yet to apply.