Allen School

Allen School was the first public school in Westport and Kansas City.  The school, originally known as "Old Main," was built by the residents of Westport who recognized the importance of education, and encouraged their children to attend Reverend Scarritt's school. Nathan Scarritt, pastor of the Westport Methodist Church and first teacher, started school in the spring of 1854. Out of this small school originated the Allen School and Westport High School.

In 1867, there were 420 educable children in Westport, 164 white males, 176 white females, 15 black males, and 25 black females in town. The Allen school started as an integrated school. In 1870 the Board hired a teacher of the black children, Mrs. Ellis, who taught at what would become the Penn School. It may be inferred that the Westport School was integrated until late 1869; however, prejudice and the increasing numbers of emancipated slaves greatly enhanced both the establishment and perpetuation of the segregated African American school.

The school was listed on the Kansas City Register of Historic Places on February 5, 2009.