- Enrollment
- 1,720
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Independence, MO
Blackburn Elem.
Federal NCES profile for Blackburn Elem., including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 291548000708
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 27
📋 Attendance 43
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Blackburn Elem. earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Missouri median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Missouri schools.
- #2 of 22
- schools in Independence · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13:1
- students per teacher
- 33.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Blackburn Elem. has class sizes near the Missouri median. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Blackburn Elem. ranks #2 of 22 schools in Independence, MO.
School address
District: Independence 30 · Missouri
NCES ID 291548000708 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-7 students YoY
Blackburn Elem. held near 365 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-7 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 28.8 → 27.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-7 students YoY 291548000708 · Independence, MO Other · SMALL · TRAD
363 enr · 13:1 · 33.9% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Truman High (1,720 students)
Blackburn Elem. held near 365 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-7 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 28.8 → 27.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Missouri schools → · Find another →
Blackburn Elem. in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Truman High
Truman High
1,720 students
- William Chrism
William Chrisman High
1,417 students
- Van Horn High
Van Horn High
1,067 students
- Clifford H. No
Clifford H. Nowlin Middle
902 students
- Bridger Middle
Bridger Middle
744 students
- This school 363
Blackburn Elem.
363 students
What this shows Blackburn Elem. reports 363 students on the CCD universe file.
How Blackburn Elem. compares
Blackburn Elem. held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Missouri and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Missouri | Missouri avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13:1 | ▲ 2% | 12.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 33.9% | ▼ 26% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 363 | top 41% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13:1
Leaner classes than 67% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
363
Bigger than 42% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
33.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% below the Missouri average of 46.1%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13:1
students per teacher
- 2% above state mean
Top 55% in Missouri - lower ratio than 45% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
22.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,302
per pupil, district-wide
- below Missouri avg of $14,087
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 363 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 16 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 56.7%
African American 16.3%
Hispanic or Latino 13.8%
Two or More 11.6%
Asian 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 56.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.9, Blackburn Elem. is more mixed than the Missouri school average of 31.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Independence 30 reports $12,302 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Blackburn Elem. Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truman High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| William Chrisman High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Van Horn High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Clifford H. Nowlin Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bridger Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Blackburn Elem.'s own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,417
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 1,067
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 902
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 744
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~363 students)
Frequently asked questions about Blackburn Elem.
How many students attend Blackburn Elem.?
Blackburn Elem. has 363 students enrolled. It is a public school in Independence, MO. CCD year-over-year: 372 (2022-23) → 365 (2023-24), nearly flat (-7).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Blackburn Elem.?
The student-teacher ratio at Blackburn Elem. is 13:1, which is 2% higher than the Missouri average of 12.8:1 and 17% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Blackburn Elem.?
33.9% of students at Blackburn Elem. are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Blackburn Elem.?
The largest demographic group at Blackburn Elem. is White at 56.7% of enrollment, in Independence, MO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Blackburn Elem.?
Blackburn Elem. has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Blackburn Elem. rank among schools in Independence?
By Resource Investment Index, Blackburn Elem. ranks #2 of 22 schools in Independence, MO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Independence on the city page.
What other schools are in Independence 30?
Besides Blackburn Elem., Independence 30 also operates Truman High (1,720 students), William Chrisman High (1,417 students), and Van Horn High (1,067 students). See the Independence 30 district page for the complete list.