Independence School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal 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 editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Independence, Wisconsin - 3 schools

An equity score of 77/100 ranks Independence School District #39 of 403 districts in Wisconsin (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $15,516 per pupil, Independence School District ranks #166 of 423 Wisconsin districts by per-pupil spending (Wisconsin districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

432
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$15,516
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Independence School District operates 3 public schools serving 432 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Wisconsin. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle 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 Trempealeau County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $15,516 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 423 Wisconsin districts by per-pupil spending. See how Wisconsin compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 21.1% local, 65.0% state, and 13.9% 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 77/100, ranked #39 of 403 in Wisconsin against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

and 34.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 53.8% Hispanic or Latino, 43.3% White, 0.4% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Independence High, with a diversity index of 51.9/100.

Its largest campus is Independence Elementary, enrolling 182 students (43% of the district's total enrollment).

Independence Elementary accounts for 42.1% of all Independence School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Independence School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Independence School District reports 53.7% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share clears the 50% majority mark. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Independence School District chronic absenteeism rate is 34.5% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

13.9%
Federal
65.0%
State
21.1%
Local

Funding Equity

77
Equity Score
39 / 403
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Independence School District.

White 43.3%
Hispanic or Latino 53.8%
Multiracial 2.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 51.4/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Independence School District's schools, above the Wisconsin average of 35.7.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Independence High 51.9
  2. 2 Independence Middle 51.2
  3. 3 Independence Elementary 51.0

Programs & Resources

34.5%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Independence School District

School Enrollment
Independence Elementary
182
Independence High
142
Independence Middle
101

How Independence School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Wisconsin districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Walworth J1 School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Barneveld School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Frederic School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Raymond #14 School District Similar size Lower spending More locally funded
Bayfield School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Independence School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Wisconsin

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

Milwaukee School District
67,500 students · 156 schools · $18,815/pupil
Compare vs Independence School District →
Kenosha School District
19,069 students · 43 schools · $14,636/pupil
Compare vs Independence School District →
Racine Unified School District
16,182 students · 26 schools · $16,095/pupil
Compare vs Independence School District →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Independence School District

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

Compare vs Milwaukee School District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Independence School District?

Independence School District has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 432 students.

How much does Independence School District spend per student?

Independence School District spends $15,516 per student. The district has an equity score of 77/100, ranking #39 in Wisconsin.

What is the demographic composition of Independence School District?

Independence School District students are 53.8% Hispanic or Latino, 43.3% White, 0.4% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Independence School District?

Independence School District has an equity score of 77/100, ranking #39 out of 403 districts in Wisconsin.