- Enrollment
- 1,545
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Independence, MO
Blue Hills Elem.
Federal NCES profile for Blue Hills Elem., including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 291229000489
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 29
📋 Attendance 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Blue Hills Elem. earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Missouri schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Missouri schools.
- #3 of 6
- elementary schools in Independence · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.5:1
- large classes for Missouri
- 31.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Blue Hills Elem. has class sizes larger than 84% of Missouri schools. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Blue Hills Elem. ranks #3 of 6 elementary schools in Independence, MO.
School address
District: Fort Osage R-I · Missouri
NCES ID 291229000489 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-5 students YoY
Blue Hills Elem. held near 347 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-5 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 23.8 → 24.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-5 students YoY 291229000489 · Independence, MO Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
357 enr · 15.5:1 · 31.5% lunch · RII 50
Nearest enrollment peer: Fort Osage High (1,545 students)
Blue Hills Elem. held near 347 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-5 headcount). Teacher FTE added 23.8 → 24.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Missouri schools → · Find another →
Blue Hills Elem. in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Fort Osage Hig
Fort Osage High
1,545 students
- Fire Prairie M
Fire Prairie Middle
713 students
- Osage Trail Mi
Osage Trail Middle
675 students
- Indian Trails 365
Indian Trails Elem.
365 students
- This school 357
Blue Hills Elem.
357 students
- Buckner Elem. 327
Buckner Elem.
327 students
What this shows Blue Hills Elem. reports 357 students on the CCD universe file.
How Blue Hills Elem. compares
Blue Hills 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 | 15.5:1 | ▲ 21% | 12.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 31.5% | ▼ 32% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 357 | top 43% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.5:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
357
Bigger than 41% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
31.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 32% 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
15.5:1
students per teacher
- 21% above state mean
Top 84% in Missouri - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
14.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$12,731
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 357 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 8 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 62.2%
Hispanic or Latino 16.0%
Two or More 11.2%
African American 7.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 2.5%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 62.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.9, Blue Hills Elem. is more mixed than the Missouri school average of 31.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Fort Osage R-I reports $12,731 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Blue Hills Elem. Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Osage High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fire Prairie Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Osage Trail Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Indian Trails Elem. | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Buckner Elem. | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Blue Hills Elem.'s own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 713
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 675
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 365
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 327
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
Nationwide elementary 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 (~357 students)
Frequently asked questions about Blue Hills Elem.
How many students attend Blue Hills Elem.?
Blue Hills Elem. has 357 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Independence, MO. CCD year-over-year: 352 (2022-23) → 347 (2023-24), nearly flat (-5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Blue Hills Elem.?
The student-teacher ratio at Blue Hills Elem. is 15.5:1, which is 21% higher than the Missouri average of 12.8:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Blue Hills Elem.?
31.5% of students at Blue Hills Elem. are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Blue Hills Elem.?
The largest demographic group at Blue Hills Elem. is White at 62.2% of enrollment, in Independence, MO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Blue Hills Elem.?
Blue Hills Elem. has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (higher 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 Blue Hills Elem. rank among elementary schools in Independence?
By Resource Investment Index, Blue Hills Elem. ranks #3 of 6 elementary 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 elementary schools in Independence on the city page.
What other schools are in Fort Osage R-I?
Besides Blue Hills Elem., Fort Osage R-I also operates Fort Osage High (1,545 students), Fire Prairie Middle (713 students), and Osage Trail Middle (675 students). See the Fort Osage R-I district page for the complete list.