Independence

Public school district · Montgomery County · Kansas · NCES district ID 2007650

Independence spent $12,690 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, below the middle: 65% of the other Kansas districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 spent more (median $13,446). Its 5 schools enrolled 1,629 students in 2024-25; 64.9% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $14,088 per student, up 11.0% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 80-84% (Kansas: 88%).

NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 · Census Bureau school finances 2023-24 · NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 · method

Spending per student among Kansas districts of similar size

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Independence in enrollment (1,818 to 2,215 students) and Independence itself.

Current spending per student, Kansas districts closest in size to Independence, FY23Winfield Unified School District 465 $21,663; Fort Scott $14,109; Chanute Public Schools $13,899; Independence $12,690; Mulvane School District USD 263 $12,132; Tonganoxie $12,129; Circle Public Schools $11,454; Renwick USD 267 $11,394; El Dorado Public Schools $11,274; Augusta USD 402 $11,006; State median, 1,000+ students $13,446.5k10k15k20k25kWinfield Unified School Distri…$21,663Fort Scott$14,109Chanute Public Schools$13,899Independence$12,690Mulvane School District USD 263$12,132Tonganoxie$12,129Circle Public Schools$11,454Renwick USD 267$11,394El Dorado Public Schools$11,274Augusta USD 402$11,006State median, 1,000+ students $13,446
Current spending per student, Kansas districts closest in size to Independence, FY23Winfield Unified School District 465 $21,663; Fort Scott $14,109; Chanute Public Schools $13,899; Independence $12,690; Mulvane School District USD 263 $12,132; Tonganoxie $12,129; Circle Public Schools $11,454; Renwick USD 267 $11,394; El Dorado Public Schools $11,274; Augusta USD 402 $11,006; State median, 1,000+ students $13,446.5k10k15k20k25kWinfield Unified School District 465$21,663Fort Scott$14,109Chanute Public Schools$13,899Independence$12,690Mulvane School District USD 263$12,132Tonganoxie$12,129Circle Public Schools$11,454Renwick USD 267$11,394El Dorado Public Schools$11,274Augusta USD 402$11,006State median, 1,000+ students $13,446
Current spending per student, Kansas districts closest in size to Independence, FY23Winfield Unified School District 465 $21,663; Fort Scott $14,109; Chanute Public Schools $13,899; Independence $12,690; Mulvane School District USD 263 $12,132; Tonganoxie $12,129; Circle Public Schools $11,454; Renwick USD 267 $11,394; El Dorado Public Schools $11,274; Augusta USD 402 $11,006; State median, 1,000+ students $13,446.5k15k25kWinfield Unified School District 465$21,663Fort Scott$14,109Chanute Public Schools$13,899Independence$12,690Mulvane School District USD 263$12,132Tonganoxie$12,129Circle Public Schools$11,454Renwick USD 267$11,394El Dorado Public Schools$11,274Augusta USD 402$11,006State median, 1,000+ students $13,446
Current spending per student, Kansas districts closest in size to Independence, FY23Winfield Unified School District 465 $21,663; Fort Scott $14,109; Chanute Public Schools $13,899; Independence $12,690; Mulvane School District USD 263 $12,132; Tonganoxie $12,129; Circle Public Schools $11,454; Renwick USD 267 $11,394; El Dorado Public Schools $11,274; Augusta USD 402 $11,006; State median, 1,000+ students $13,446.5k15k25kWinfield Unified School District 465$21,663Fort Scott$14,109Chanute Public Schools$13,899Independence$12,690Mulvane School District USD 263$12,132Tonganoxie$12,129Circle Public Schools$11,454Renwick USD 267$11,394El Dorado Public Schools$11,274Augusta USD 402$11,006State median, 1,000+ students $13,446

Where the money came from

$37,185,000 in revenue: 64.9% state, 17.8% local and 17.4% federal. Total spending including $1,484,000 of capital outlay was $28,073,000, or $13,634 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

Independence revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $24,118,000; Local $6,611,000; Federal $6,456,000; total $37,185,000.
  • State$24,118,000 65%
  • Local$6,611,000 18%
  • Federal$6,456,000 17%

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 83 districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).

Enrollment fell from 2022-23 to 2024-25

1,811 students in 2022-23, 1,690 students in 2023-24, 1,605 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.

Independence enrollment by school year2022-23: 1,811, 2023-24: 1,690, 2024-25: 1,60505001k1.5k2k2022-231,8112023-241,6902024-251,605
Independence enrollment by school year2022-23: 1,811, 2023-24: 1,690, 2024-25: 1,60505001k1.5k2k2022-231,8112023-241,6902024-251,605
Independence enrollment by school year2022-23: 1,811, 2023-24: 1,690, 2024-25: 1,60505001k1.5k2k2022-231,8112023-241,6902024-251,605
Independence enrollment by school year2022-23: 1,811, 2023-24: 1,690, 2024-25: 1,60505001k1.5k2k2022-231,8112023-241,6902024-251,605

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-231,811134.013.5
2023-241,690131.012.9
2024-251,605126.812.7

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.

$8,182,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $3,974 per student

Independence booked $8,182,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 144 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $56,819 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 44 in 100 Kansas districts with a figure (state median $57,761, 260 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Kansas teacher salary at $54,815 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).

ProgramTeacher salariesShare
Regular programs$7,890,00096.4%
Vocational$257,0003.1%
Other programs$35,0000.4%

Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $3,473 in 2018-19, $3,659 in 2019-20, $3,792 in 2020-21, $3,913 in 2021-22, $3,974 in 2022-23.

Independence teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,473, 2019-20: $3,659, 2020-21: $3,792, 2021-22: $3,913, 2022-23: $3,97401k2k3k4k2018-19$3,4732019-20$3,6592020-21$3,7922021-22$3,9132022-23$3,974
Independence teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,473, 2019-20: $3,659, 2020-21: $3,792, 2021-22: $3,913, 2022-23: $3,97401k2k3k4k2018-19$3,4732019-20$3,6592020-21$3,7922021-22$3,9132022-23$3,974
Independence teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,473, 2019-20: $3,659, 2020-21: $3,792, 2021-22: $3,913, 2022-23: $3,97401k2k3k4k2018-19$3,4732019-20$3,6592020-21$3,7922021-22$3,9132022-23$3,974
Independence teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,473, 2019-20: $3,659, 2020-21: $3,792, 2021-22: $3,913, 2022-23: $3,97401k2k3k4k2018-19$3,4732019-20$3,6592020-21$3,7922021-22$3,9132022-23$3,974

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).

State test results, 2021-22

In 2021-22, the students tested in Independence scored proficient or above: 32% in reading and 31% in math, against 32.5% in reading and 29.4% in math across Kansas. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within Kansas, not across states.

Students proficient or above, 2021-22
SubjectThis districtKansasStudents tested
Reading and language arts32%32.5%969
Math31%29.4%989

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.

Graduation rate, class of 2023

80-84% of the 146 students in Independence's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 88% across Kansas. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.

Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, class of 2023
This districtKansas
Four-year graduation rate80‑84%88%
Students in the class14636,783

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.

2 elementary schools, 679 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Jefferson School35613.771.3%Schoolwide program
Eisenhower Elementary32311.568.7%Schoolwide program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

1 middle school, 376 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Independence Middle37612.066.2%Targeted program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

2 high schools, 574 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Independence Senior High55013.358.0%Eligible, no program
BRIDGES Academy24not reportednot reportedNot Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

Contact Independence

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.

What to look at next about Independence

  1. Kansas districts by spending per studentIndependence ranks 54 of 83 Kansas districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($12,690).#54 of 83
  2. Every school district in KansasIndependence is the number 46 by size of 290 Kansas districts, with 2,059 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#46 of 290
  3. Circle Public SchoolsThe next larger Kansas district: 2,062 students in fall 2022, $11,454 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$11,454
  4. Renwick USD 267The next smaller Kansas district: 1,946 students in fall 2022, $11,394 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$11,394
  5. Compare Independence with Circle Public SchoolsEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Independence Senior High, its largest high school550 students in 2024-25, 13.3 per teacher.550
  7. Teacher salary spending across KansasIndependence spent $56,819 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $57,761); spending, not a salary.$56,819
  8. Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.

Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).

Questions about Independence

  1. How many schools and students are in Independence?
    5 schools were open in 2024-25 (2 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high), enrolling 1,629 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does Independence spend per student?
    $12,690 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the Kansas median for districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $13,446 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $14,088 per student, up 11.0% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does Independence's money come from?
    $37,185,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 64.9% state, 17.8% local and 17.4% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in Independence live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 384 of the 2,089 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 18.4%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.
  5. How much does Independence spend on teacher salaries?
    $8,182,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $3,974 per student. Divided by the 144 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $56,819 per teacher, more than 44 in 100 Kansas districts (state median $57,761). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Kansas teacher salary at $54,815 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
  6. How do students in Independence do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in Independence scored proficient or above: 32% in reading and 31% in math, against 32.5% in reading and 29.4% in math across Kansas. Kansas's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.
  7. What is the graduation rate in Independence?
    80-84% of the 146 students in Independence's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 88% across Kansas. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.
  8. What is Independence's NCES district ID?
    2007650. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.

Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.

Sources

Every federal file behind this record
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
  • Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
  • EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
  • EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25

Compiled from official source data by .