Primitivo Garcia World Language School was dedicated in 1993 and was the first school in the Kansas City area to be named after a person of Hispanic origin.

On November 15, 1967, Primitivo Garcia, a 23-year-old Mexican immigrant who was enrolled in citizenship classes at Westport High School, was shot in the stomach while defending his pregnant naturalization teacher from being attacked by a teenage gang. Primitivo died from his wounds 13 days later.

Following his death, the Kansas City Federation of teachers, Local 691, adopted a resolution saying: “All teachers of Kansas City owe a monumental debt to Primitivo Garcia. When he went to the aid of teacher Margaret Kindermann, he unknowingly committed himself to a destiny far greater than that available to most mortal men. Now, in a sense, this debt to Primitivo never can be repaid, but we will try.”

The school, now named Primitivo Garcia Elementary School, serves students in grades pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.