Unfunded Liability
$282M
actuarial shortfall
FY2023 data · Public Plans Database
Kansas City Schools
The Public Plans Database's 23-year record for Kansas City Schools: funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, and investment returns, compiled by Boston College CRR and cross-checked against actuarial valuations.
By PlainPension · · Missouri · Teachers Plan · Data through FY2023
- Funded ratio
- 70.1%
- Health grade
- CReported funded ratio below full funding
- Market assets
- $660M
- Members
- 9,100
According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Kansas City Schools is one of 197 public pension plans tracked nationwide. The plan card reports FY2023 valuation figures; the multi-year table includes FY2024 where PPD published it; this site’s database copy was last loaded in July 2026. See our methodology for the full source and update cadence.
Total Members
9,100
active + retired + vested
1-Year Return
8.6%
net investment return
1.6pp vs 5-yr avg
5-Year Avg Return
7.0%
annualized, net of fees
How Kansas City Schools Funded Ratio Compares
Plan Funded Ratio 70.1%
National avg
A ratio of 70.1% compared against the national public-pension average of 75.5%.
Healthy Threshold
Plans above 80% are generally considered adequately funded by NASRA standards.
Participant Composition
The active-to-retiree ratio is a leading indicator of long-term plan sustainability, plans with more retirees than active contributors face mounting cash-flow pressure as benefit payments outpace incoming contributions.
Investment Policy Mix
Public pension plans report their asset allocation in their annual CAFR and actuarial valuation. Equity-heavy mixes capture market upside but introduce volatility; fixed-income tilts protect funded status during downturns at the cost of long-run return.
Historical Funded Ratio
| Year | Funded Ratio |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 68.8% |
| 2023 | 70.1% |
| 2022 | 73.3% |
| 2021 | 76.9% |
| 2020 | 76.5% |
| 2019 | 82.7% |
| 2018 | 87.6% |
| 2017 | 86.2% |
| 2016 | 86.9% |
| 2015 | 92.7% |
| 2014 | 88.9% |
| 2013 | 84.4% |
| 2012 | 85.0% |
| 2011 | 89.5% |
| 2010 | 90.5% |
| 2009 | 95.7% |
| 2008 | 99.2% |
| 2007 | 100.5% |
| 2006 | 97.8% |
| 2005 | 97.0% |
What the Data Says About Kansas City Schools
Kansas City Schools reports a funded ratio of 70.1% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of C in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $660M in market assets against an unfunded liability of $282M. As a Teachers plan operating under Missouri sponsorship, it covers 9,100 members (4,341 active contributors, 4,086 retirees drawing benefits).
Kansas City Schools shows a comfortably above-average funding position, 5 points below the 75.5% national average across tracked plans. A 5-year average investment return of 7.0% factors into the plan's overall trajectory.
For Missouri taxpayers and plan members, the $282M unfunded gap is the actuarial shortfall this plan must close over time.
Where this data comes from + how funding gaps get resolved
These figures come from the Public Plans Database, a collaboration between the Boston College Center for Retirement Research and NASRA that compiles them from each plan's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs) and actuarial valuations. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether an unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year, and the gap itself is typically closed through some combination of higher contributions, investment returns, or benefit modifications. See our methodology for how public-pension funding differs from ERISA-backed private plans, and our disclaimer below before acting on this data.
Membership
4,341
Active Members
4,086
Retirees
9,100
Total Members
Plan Details
- Plan Type
- Teachers
- State
- Missouri
- Market Assets
- $660M
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Plans With a Similar Funded Ratio
The closest plans nationwide to Kansas City Schools's 70.1% funded ratio.
Other Missouri Plans
- Kansas City Police 98.6%
- St. Louis Police 95.5%
- Missouri State Employees Retirement System 95.1%
- St. Louis Firemen 86.2%
- Missouri Public School and Education Employees Retirement Systems 83.6%
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kansas City Schools fully funded?
Kansas City Schools has a funded ratio of 70.1% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of C. The reported ratio shows actuarial assets divided by actuarial accrued liabilities for the stated fiscal year. Its interpretation depends on the plan's assumptions, valuation date, and contribution history.
What happens if Kansas City Schools runs out of money?
A public plan's reported ratio is only one part of its financial picture. PlainPension does not predict actions by Kansas City Schools, Missouri, or any public body.
What does a funded ratio of 70.1% mean?
A funded ratio of 70.1% means that Kansas City Schools currently has assets equal to 70.1% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability, the gap between assets and liabilities, stands at $282M. This represents a moderate funding gap that requires ongoing monitoring.
How does Kansas City Schools compare to other public pensions?
Kansas City Schools is a Teachers plan in Missouri serving 9,100 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 75.5%. Kansas City Schools's funded ratio of 70.1% places it near the national average.
How many members does Kansas City Schools have?
Kansas City Schools covers 9,100 total members, including 4,341 active employees and 4,086 retirees currently receiving benefits. The ratio of active members to retirees is a key indicator of plan sustainability, when the number of retirees grows relative to active contributors, funding pressure increases.
Related
Data sourced from official Public Plans Database and actuarial valuations from federal and state pension systems. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainPension
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Public Plans Database (PPD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data sources used on this page
- Public Plans Database (PPD) - funded ratios, assets, liabilities, and member counts for US state and local public pension plans, maintained by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research with MissionSquare Research Institute and NASRA. publicplansdata.org
- NASRA - National Association of State Retirement Administrators public-pension actuarial and policy references. nasra.org
Every figure on PlainPension is rendered directly from the Public Plans Database (Boston College Center for Retirement Research), no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates this plan's funded ratio, unfunded liability, and multi-year financial history, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.