Award-Winning Schools
Autumn Ridge is served by the Belton School District (USD 124), which includes several elementary schools, one main high school, and middle schools feeding into them. Among the assigned schools:
Elementary: Cambridge Elementary serves grades K-4. It has a student body of around 420-440 students, a student-teacher ratio of ~16:1. In recent assessments, Cambridge shows math proficiency near statewide averages, but reading scores tend to lag behind.
Elementary: Gladden Elementary is another K-4 school in the district. Its scores for both reading and math proficiency are lower than district and state averages (around 25-30%), and it faces some challenges in performance metrics.
High School: Belton High School (grades 9-12) is the district’s main high school. It ranks in the top ~30% of Missouri high schools in terms of state assessments, with around half its students proficient in math and just under half in reading. The school offers Advanced Placement courses, a range of extracurriculars, and has a graduation rate hovering around the state average (~90%).
While none of the local schools are frequently labeled “award-winning” in major statewide rankings, Belton High stands out for its comparatively strong achievement, and the elementary schools are improving and have strengths in diversity and teacher engagement.
Assigned Schools:
Transportation & Accessibility
Autumn Ridge’s location gives it a strong advantage in terms of access. It is only about 6 minutes from Belton’s city center, making local errands, schools, and community amenities easily reachable. At the same time, the drive to downtown Kansas City takes around 30-35 minutes, making commuter access to the larger metro area feasible.
For non-drivers, there are limited public transit/ride services: Belton participates in the Cass County portion of OATS Transit, which provides transportation for seniors and persons with disabilities, as well as medical and essential trips, though service schedules are limited.
Road infrastructure in Belton tends to be good, with well maintained streets, and Autumn Ridge benefits from newer development, which usually includes modern road design, sidewalks, and access to water, power, and utility infrastructure.
Shopping & Daily Essentials
Residents of Autumn Ridge enjoy convenient access to big-box retailers like Walmart and Sam’s Club as well as neighborhood grocery stores, pharmacies, and banks in Belton. Because the community is close to Belton’s center, many daily errands can be done in 5-10 minute drives.
Beyond essentials, newer shopping centers and strip mall developments are growing around Belton, increasing options for dining, specialty stores, and services. For more variety or specialty shops, many residents make occasional trips into larger Kansas City suburbs or the metro area, which is still reasonably accessible.
Healthcare & Services
Belton Regional Medical Center is the primary hospital serving the area, offering emergency care, outpatient and inpatient services, and a range of specialties. This gives Autumn Ridge residents relatively quick access to serious medical care.
Local clinics, dental offices, and urgent care facilities are also available within Belton, so for everyday health needs there are nearby options. For specialized care or large hospital systems, the proximity to Kansas City means residents have access to major medical centers within a reasonable drive.
Additionally, there are community health services, wellness offerings, and pharmacy coverage within or very near Belton, making health needs fairly well-covered for a suburban community.