INDEPENDENCE 30

INDEPENDENCE, Missouri — 29 schools

14,406
Total Enrollment
29
Schools
$16,029
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

INDEPENDENCE 30 operates 29 public schools serving 14,406 students, placing it in the mid-size range in Missouri. The school portfolio breaks down into 21 other, 4 middle, 3 high, 1 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 14,272 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Jackson County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $16,029 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 42.9% local, 35.3% state, and 21.8% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $61,892 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 58/100, ranked #148 of 433 in Missouri against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 3 of 29 schools offering Advanced Placement (18 AP courses district-wide), a 376.5:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 27.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 45.8% White, 26.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% African American across the district's schools.

INDEPENDENCE 30 school enrollment varies 16× across entities

INDEPENDENCE 30 school enrollment ranges from 106 students (lowest) to 1,720 students (highest), a spread of 1,614 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

INDEPENDENCE 30 has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 58.3% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

INDEPENDENCE 30 student-counselor ratio is 377:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

INDEPENDENCE 30 chronic absenteeism rate is 27.4% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within INDEPENDENCE 30 is typically wider than the INDEPENDENCE 30-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

21.8%
Federal
35.3%
State
42.9%
Local

Funding Equity

58
Equity Score
148 / 433
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Jackson County county, where this district is located.

$1,095
Studio/mo
$1,197
1 BR/mo
$1,358
2 BR/mo
$1,769
3 BR/mo
$2,103
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$61,892
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 29 schools in INDEPENDENCE 30.

White 45.8%
Hispanic or Latino 26.6%
African American 16.0%
Asian 0.7%
Multiracial 9.6%
Other 1.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

3 / 29
Schools with AP
18 AP courses total
376.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
27.4%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in INDEPENDENCE 30

School Enrollment
Truman High
1,720
William Chrisman High
1,417
Van Horn High
1,067
Clifford H. Nowlin Middle
902
Bridger Middle
744
Pioneer Ridge Middle
731
Bingham Middle
730
Sycamore Hills Elem.
574
William Southern Elem.
458
Korte Elem.
444
Glendale Elem.
417
Thomas Hart Benton Elem.
401
Ott Elem.
384
Santa Fe Trail Elem.
364
Blackburn Elem.
363
John W. Luff Elem.
362
Cassell Park Elementary
362
Three Trails Elem.
328
Fairmount Elem.
313
Randall Elem.
284
Abraham Mallinson Elementary
282
Spring Branch Elem.
278
Little Blue Elementary
263
Mill Creek Elem.
250
Procter Elem.
221
Bryant Elem.
193
Hanthorn Early Education
180
Sugar Creek Elem.
134
Sunshine Center
106

Nearby Districts in Missouri

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

SPRINGFIELD R-XII
22,937 students · 57 schools · $17,624/pupil
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ROCKWOOD R-VI
20,563 students · 31 schools · $13,397/pupil
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NORTH KANSAS CITY 74
20,561 students · 34 schools · $19,814/pupil
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COLUMBIA 93
18,800 students · 36 schools · $15,957/pupil
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ST. LOUIS CITY
18,321 students · 68 schools · $19,285/pupil
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Compare INDEPENDENCE 30

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs SPRINGFIELD R-XII →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in INDEPENDENCE 30?

INDEPENDENCE 30 has 29 schools, including 3 high, 4 middle, 21 other, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 14,406 students.

How much does INDEPENDENCE 30 spend per student?

INDEPENDENCE 30 spends $16,029 per student. The district has an equity score of 58/100, ranking #148 in Missouri.

What is the average teacher salary in INDEPENDENCE 30?

The average teacher salary in INDEPENDENCE 30 is $61,892 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near INDEPENDENCE 30?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Jackson County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of INDEPENDENCE 30?

INDEPENDENCE 30 students are 45.8% White, 26.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% African American, 0.7% Asian, averaged across 29 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for INDEPENDENCE 30?

INDEPENDENCE 30 has an equity score of 58/100, ranking #148 out of 433 districts in Missouri. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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