Lincoln College Preparatory Academy (LCPA) (also known as Lincoln Prep Academy or The Castle on the Hill[3]) is a three-year middle school and four-year college preparatorymagnet school in the Kansas City, Missouri School District. The high school offers International Baccalaureate programs. Founded as a school for African Americans in 1865, it became a high school in 1890. It was not integrated until 1978 when it became a magnet school. The student body is now mostly black and hispanic. Less than 20 percent of students are white.[4]
The first school in Lincoln College Prep's lineage was founded in Kansas City, Missouri in 1865. Students were educated at a church. In 1890, under the leadership of Principal Gabriel N. Grisham, Lincoln became and moved into a high school.
Beginning in 1908, the high school was located at 19th and Tracy Avenue, now 1300 East 19th street. The school moved into an expanded facility at 2111 Woodland Avenue in 1936 under the leadership of Principal Hugh O. Cook. Lincoln High School remained an all-black school through most of segregation. Garrison School in Liberty stopped at 10th grade so atudents had to take buses to Kansas City and attend Lincoln High School in order to continue their education.
In 1978, the student body was integrated and the institution obtained a magnet school designation operating under the name Lincoln Academy for Accelerated Study. The name was changed to Lincoln College Preparatory Academy in 1986.[8]
Academics
Lincoln College Preparatory Academy is a high school. More than 90% of its graduates enroll in college. The 2014 graduating class of 151 students received $15.6 million in scholarships, grants and financial aid. High achievement has been consistent, as the 115 graduates in 2002 received scholarships and financial aid in excess of $3 million. The student-teacher ratio is 14.0:1.[9]