Funded Ratio
68.8%
actuarial assets / liabilities
Plan
Kansas City Schools
State
Missouri
Funded Ratio
68.8%
Assets
$660M
Members
9,100
Health Grade: C — Underfunded — significant gap between assets and liabilities
FY2023 data Grade C Public Plans Database
Kansas City Schools
Funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, ARC coverage, and 23-year financial history for Kansas City Schools — sourced from the Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR) and cross-checked against actuarial valuations.
C
Financial Health Grade
Underfunded — significant gap between assets and liabilities
Unfunded Liability
$299M
actuarial shortfall
Total Members
9,100
active + retired + vested
1-Year Return
10.4%
net investment return
3.5pp vs 5-yr avg
5-Year Avg Return
7.0%
annualized, net of fees
ARC Payment
14.0%
of actuarially required contribution
How Kansas City Schools Funded Ratio Compares
Plan Funded Ratio 68.8%
National avg
A ratio of 68.8% compared against the national public-pension average of 73.5%.
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 Form 5500 Schedule H Part I disclosures. 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 68.8% 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 $299M. As a Teachers plan operating under Missouri sponsorship, it covers 9,100 members (4,341 active contributors, 4,086 retirees drawing benefits). These figures aggregate from Form 5500 filings submitted to the Department of Labor and actuarial valuations reported through NASRA.
A funded ratio in the 60–80% range indicates moderate underfunding that falls near the national average of 72–75% but leaves the plan exposed to market downturns and demographic shifts. Employer contributions covered 14.0% of the Annual Required Contribution in the most recent reporting cycle, while the plan posted a 5-year average investment return of 7.0%. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether the unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year.
For Missouri taxpayers and plan members, the $299M unfunded gap represents the actuarial shortfall that must eventually be closed through a combination of contributions, investment returns, or benefit modifications. Unlike private-sector pensions governed by ERISA and backstopped by the PBGC, public plans like Kansas City Schools rely on the full faith and credit of Missouri — meaning funding shortfalls flow through to state and local budgets rather than a federal insurance program. This information summarizes official Public Plans Database disclosures and is provided for research and educational purposes only. It is not financial, legal, or retirement-planning advice; active and retired members with specific benefit questions should consult their plan administrator directly.
Membership
4,341
Active Members
4,086
Retirees
9,100
Total Members
Plan Details
- Plan Type
- Teachers
- State
- Missouri
- Market Assets
- $660M
- ARC Payment
- 14.0%
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Other Missouri Plans
- Kansas City Police 98.6%
- Missouri State Employees Retirement System 97.2%
- St. Louis Police 95.5%
- Missouri Public School and Education Employees Retirement Systems 86.7%
- St. Louis Firemen 86.2%
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kansas City Schools fully funded?
Kansas City Schools has a funded ratio of 68.8% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of C. A funded ratio of 100% means the plan has enough assets to cover all projected liabilities. Ratios above 80% are generally considered adequately funded; ratios below 60% indicate significant underfunding and risk to future benefits.
What happens if Kansas City Schools runs out of money?
Public pension plans like Kansas City Schools are backed by the sponsoring government entity — in this case Missouri. If a plan's assets are insufficient, the state or local government is typically required to make up the difference through increased contributions, benefit adjustments, or tax measures. Unlike private pensions, public pensions are not insured by the PBGC, but they do carry the full faith and credit of the sponsoring government.
What does a funded ratio of 68.8% mean?
A funded ratio of 68.8% means that Kansas City Schools currently has assets equal to 68.8% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability — the gap between assets and liabilities — stands at $299M. 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 72–75%. Kansas City Schools's funded ratio of 68.8% 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.
What is the ARC payment percentage for Kansas City Schools?
Kansas City Schools pays 14.0% of its Annual Required Contribution (ARC). Consistently underpaying the ARC accelerates the growth of unfunded liabilities and places future benefits at greater risk. Employer contribution patterns are tracked annually in the Public Plans Database.
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 Kiznis Studio Editorial
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.
All federal data sources used on this page
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — demographic + housing + income data. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage + employment by occupation. bls.gov/oes
- BEA Regional Economic Accounts — GDP + personal income by state/metro. bea.gov/data/regional
- U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns — establishment + employment by industry. census.gov/cbp
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-return aggregate data. irs.gov/statistics
- data.gov — U.S. federal open-data portal — discovery layer for additional federal sources. data.gov