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C

Independence 30 School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 2 towns

Serves Independence and Sugar Creek.

Independence’s School Grade C+ better than 35% of Missouri school districts

Students
14,272
Schools
29
Spent per student
$12,949
MO $14,569
Students per teacher
15:1
Free or reduced lunch
73%
Debt
$147.4M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Independence 30 School District

  • Its letter, C: results better than 30% of Missouri districts
  • Math proficiency 12 pts below the state
  • Reading proficiency 9 pts below the state
  • Spends 11% less per student than the MO average
  • 15 students per teacher
  • Debt of $147.4M, about $10,329 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

C: better than 30% of the 535 Missouri school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math well below the state, 2021–22
C−
GraduationFour-year graduation close to the state, class of 2023
C
The towns it serves, and their School Grades
C+Independence 121,675C+Sugar Creek 3,209

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Independence. Grade by grade →

PK–520 elementary schoolsThis district
7–83 middle schoolsThis district
9–123 high schoolsThis district

Test scores vs. MO

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency27%
State average 39.2% · 7,402 students tested
Reading / language arts34%
State average 43.2% · 7,282 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)90%
State average 89.3% · 930 in the class

100% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$12,949 per student · 11% below MO
Spending
Classroom instruction 50%Support & administration 45%Other 5%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 42%State 45%Federal 13%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
14,240’20
14,396’21
14,406’22
14,168’23
14,272’24

About steady since 2020–21.

Students
White 45%Hispanic 27%Black 16%Two or more races 10%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%Asian <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%

Schools in the district

29 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Missouri’s other public schools.

Sycamore Hills Elem.
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Independence
B
574 students18:1
William Southern Elem.
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Independence
C
458 students18:1
Korte Elem.
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Independence
C−
444 students15:1
Glendale Elem.
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Independence
B
417 students14:1
Thomas Hart Benton Elem.
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Independence
C
401 students15:1
Ott Elem.
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Independence
B−
384 students15:1
Santa Fe Trail Elem.
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Independence
B
364 students15:1
Blackburn Elem.
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Independence
C+
363 students14:1
Cassell Park Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Independence
C
362 students13:1
John W. Luff Elem.
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Independence
A−
362 students15:1
Three Trails Elem.
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Independence
C
328 students14:1
Fairmount Elem.
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Independence
C
313 students13:1
Randall Elem.
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Independence
C−
284 students13:1
Spring Branch Elem.
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Independence
C+
278 students12:1
Little Blue Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Independence
B
263 students11:1
Mill Creek Elem.
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Independence
B
250 students14:1
Procter Elem.
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Independence
C
221 students13:1
Bryant Elem.
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Independence
B+
193 students12:1
Hanthorn Early Education
Prekindergarten · Grades PK · Independence
180 students13:1
Sugar Creek Elem.
Elementary · Grades PK–1 · Sugar Creek
134 students15:1
Sunshine Center
Prekindergarten · Grades PK · Independence
106 students
Abraham Mallinson Elementary
Elementary · Grades 2–5 · Sugar Creek
C−
282 students14:1
Clifford H. Nowlin Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Independence
D
902 students17:1
Bridger Middle
Middle · Grades 6 · Independence
C+
744 students16:1
Pioneer Ridge Middle
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Independence
C
731 students14:1
Bingham Middle
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Independence
C−
730 students15:1
Truman High
High · Grades 9–12 · Independence
C−
1,720 students19:1
William Chrisman High
High · Grades 9–12 · Independence
C
1,417 students17:1
Van Horn High
High · Grades 9–12 · Independnce
D
1,067 students17:1

Left off: 2 schools reporting no students for 2024–25.

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Kansas City 33 School DistrictKansas City
$19,265per student
North Kansas City 74 School DistrictKansas City
$14,811per student
Blue Springs R-IV School DistrictBlue Springs
$13,612per student
Fort Osage R-I School DistrictRiver Bend
$13,905per student

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within Missouri.