Kearney High School’s Class of 2026 has built an outstanding record of achievement through our Real World Learning initiative!

According to KSD Career Readiness Coordinator Emmy Berry, this year’s graduating class earned 965 Market Value Assets during their high school careers. That averages out to about 3.6 MVAs per student, an incredible accomplishment that reflects the hard work of our students, teachers, counselors, administrators and community partners.

Market Value Assets include experiences such as internships, client-connected projects, college credit, industry-recognized credentials, entrepreneurial experiences and other opportunities that help students prepare for success after high school.

The Class of 2026 also earned a collective 1,800 dual credit and Advanced Placement hours. That number will continue to grow because it does not yet include most Spring 2026 dual credit hours or any AP hours from this school year. Additional industry-recognized credential data from our career center partners is also still on the way. In other words, these already-impressive numbers are going to get even better.

This is exactly what Real World Learning is all about: helping students graduate with meaningful experiences, valuable skills and a stronger sense of what comes next. The Class of 2026 has embraced those opportunities in a big way, and in doing so, made our Kearney community an even better place to live, learn, work and play.

Congratulations to our KHS seniors on this remarkable achievement. You have a lot to be proud of, Bulldogs!

Congratulations to the Kearney High School students who were honored during the 2026 Seal of Biliteracy ceremony on Thursday, May 7, in the KHS Library Media Center!

The Missouri Seal of Biliteracy recognizes students who demonstrate strong skills in English, another language and sociocultural competence. At KHS, this program is part of our Real World Learning initiative because it helps students build and demonstrate skills that matter far beyond the classroom.

Eight members of the Class of 2026 earned the full Seal of Biliteracy:

Kearney High School celebrated an outstanding group of Bulldogs during the Class of 2026 Signing Night on Monday, May 11, in the KHS Fieldhouse!

This special event gave our students, families, coaches, sponsors and school community an opportunity to recognize members of the Class of 2026 who are preparing to continue their academic, athletic, activities and service journeys after graduation.

Signing Night is one of those moments that reminds us what makes Team KSD so special. Each student honored has spent years putting in the work, representing Kearney High School and building the skills, character and confidence needed to take this next step. Monday evening was a chance to pause, celebrate and say thank you to the families, coaches, sponsors, teachers and teammates who helped make those opportunities possible.

Congratulations to these Bulldogs:

Kearney High School music students had a day worth singing and playing about at the 2026 Music in the Parks Festival on Saturday, May 9, in Branson!

About 160 KHS Choir and Band students traveled to perform at Ozark High School before spending the rest of the day celebrating together at Silver Dollar City. Even better, our band and choir students got to support each other throughout the day, singing for the band, watching the band perform and showing what makes the KHS music programs so special.

And the results? Well, let’s just say the Bulldogs brought home a whole lot of hardware:

KHS Band:

KHS Choirs:

Outstanding Student Accompanist:

KHS Band Director Chris Heil and KHS Choir Director Dustin McKinny shared how proud they were of our students for their performances and also for the way they represented Kearney throughout the trip.

We also want to thank the many parents and chaperones who helped make this experience possible, along with Chris Heil, Jamie Heil, Garrett M. Jones, Jerri Morris and Dustin McKinny for their work supporting and organizing this great learning experience.

Congratulations to all of our KHS music students! You made Bulldog Nation proud!

Summer is a great time for Bulldogs to stay active, build skills, try something new and stay connected with classmates, coaches and activity sponsors.

Kearney School District has created a new Summer Camps and Activities webpage to help families find opportunities in one convenient place. The page includes youth camps, high school camps and clinics, tryouts, team activities, summer conditioning, open gyms and summer leagues.

Families can view dates, times, grade levels, locations, flyers, registration links and coach or sponsor contact information at: www.ksdr1.net/camps

Please review the details for each activity before registering. Some opportunities are open to all students in the listed grade levels, while others are designed for specific teams, returning participants or invite-only groups.

We are excited to offer so many ways for students to learn, grow, compete, create and have fun this summer.

Go Bulldogs!

Kearney School District’s kindergarten enrollment is open for the 2026-2027 academic year! If you have a child who will be age five on or before July 31, 2026, this is the time to enroll them in kindergarten! Start the kindergarten enrollment process by clicking the link provided below.

LINK: START KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT 

Parents/guardians will be required to provide a birth certificate, a record of required immunizations, and proof of residence for their child during kindergarten enrollment. Use our online district boundary map to locate the elementary school your child will attend.

After completing the enrollment process, one of our Parents As Teachers program Parent Educators will contact you to schedule a kindergarten screening. Parent Educators screen to help KSD plan for classes and the needs of each incoming kindergarten class. Parent Educators will also provide at-home activities and information about summer programs, as well as answer any questions parents/guardians may have.

All families are encouraged to fill out the Online Meal Application Form. Completing this form allows families to qualify for free and reduced meal prices and also allows KSD to potentially become eligible for additional academic resources and funding.

Kindergarten Orientation events will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, at each of KSD’s elementary schools. Stay tuned for details. This is an opportunity for families to receive helpful information about KSD, tour their school and meet their child’s teachers and building principal. We’re excited to welcome the Bulldogs Class of 2039!

Kearney School District families are encouraged to sign up now for the 2026 Resource Fair!

This annual event helps KSD students and families get ready for the start of a new school year by connecting them with school supplies, clothing and other helpful resources. Last year’s Resource Fair served 285 students, one of the highest turnouts since COVID. We are excited to continue working together to make sure every Bulldog has a strong start to the school year.

The 2026 Resource Fair will be held at Kearney Junior High:

Thank you to our KSD social workers, counselors, staff members and community volunteers who help make this event possible each year. Their work reflects the very best of what it means to be part of Team KSD: showing up for kids, supporting families and helping our students feel ready for the first day of school.

Please pre-register today and help us spread the word to any KSD family who may benefit from this opportunity.

The members of Kearney High School's Class of 2026 continued a beloved Bulldog tradition today with a tour of the schools that helped them reach this important point in their lives. After swinging through Kearney Junior High and Kearney Middle School, the soon-to-be graduates visited their elementary schools. The Southview Elementary alumni enjoyed their parade through the assembled students and staff members, then got a chance to monkey around a bit in the playground with Principal Rebecca Parks, who will be retiring at the end of the current academic year. Congratulations to every member of this year's graduating class!