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records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our
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Independence, Iowa - 4 schools
An equity score of 38/100 ranks Independence Comm School District #209 of 303 districts in Iowa (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.
At $11,829 per pupil, Independence Comm School District ranks #227 of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending (Iowa districts). NCES F-33 finance data.
1,496
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$11,829
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types
District-Level NCES Analysis
Independence Comm School District operates 4 public schools serving 1,496 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Iowa. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined, 2 elementary schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Buchanan County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,829 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending. See how Iowa compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 37.9% local, 50.7% state, and 11.4% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 38/100, ranked #209 of 303 in Iowa against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.
Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 4 schools offering Advanced Placement (2 AP courses district-wide), a 327:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 19.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 92.0% White, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is West Elementary School, with a diversity index of 20.4/100.
Independence Junior Senior High School accounts for 47.6% of all Independence Comm School District student enrollment
That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Independence Comm School District a distant remainder — means Independence Comm School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.
Independence Comm School District school enrollment varies 15× across entities
Independence Comm School District school enrollment ranges from 46 students (lowest) to 712 students (highest), a spread of 666 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.
Independence Comm School District student-counselor ratio is 327:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts
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 Variation between sub-units within Independence Comm School District is typically wider than the Independence Comm School District-aggregate figure suggests.
Independence Comm School District chronic absenteeism rate is 19.1% — 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 Comm School District is typically wider than the Independence Comm School District-aggregate figure suggests.
Comparisons are relative to Independence Comm School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.
Nearby Districts in Iowa
Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.
How many schools are in Independence Comm School District?
Independence Comm School District has 4 schools, including 2 combined, 2 elementary. Total enrollment is 1,496 students.
How much does Independence Comm School District spend per student?
Independence Comm School District spends $11,829 per student. The district has an equity score of 38/100, ranking #209 in Iowa.
What is the demographic composition of Independence Comm School District?
Independence Comm School District students are 92.0% White, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% African American, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
What is the equity score for Independence Comm School District?
Independence Comm School District has an equity score of 38/100, ranking #209 out of 303 districts in Iowa.