- Enrollment
- 1,545
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Independence, MO
Fire Prairie Middle
Federal NCES profile for Fire Prairie Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 291229002284
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 29
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fire Prairie Middle earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Missouri schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Missouri schools.
- #6 of 6
- elementary schools in Independence · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.6:1
- large classes for Missouri
- 38.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Fire Prairie Middle has class sizes larger than 76% of Missouri schools. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fire Prairie Middle ranks #6 of 6 elementary schools in Independence, MO.
School address
District: Fort Osage R-I · Missouri
NCES ID 291229002284 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+2 students YoY
Fire Prairie Middle held near 693 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 49.5 → 50.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+2 students YoY 291229002284 · Independence, MO Elementary · MID · TRAD
713 enr · 14.6:1 · 38.1% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Fort Osage High (1,545 students)
Fire Prairie Middle held near 693 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount). Teacher FTE added 49.5 → 50.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Missouri schools → · Find another →
Fire Prairie Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Fort Osage Hig
Fort Osage High
1,545 students
- This school
Fire Prairie Middle
713 students
- Osage Trail Mi
Osage Trail Middle
675 students
- Indian Trails 365
Indian Trails Elem.
365 students
- Blue Hills Ele 357
Blue Hills Elem.
357 students
- Buckner Elem. 327
Buckner Elem.
327 students
What this shows Fire Prairie Middle reports 713 students on the CCD universe file.
How Fire Prairie Middle compares
Fire Prairie Middle 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 | 14.6:1 | ▲ 14% | 12.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.1% | ▼ 17% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 713 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.6:1
Leaner classes than 51% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
713
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
38.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 17% 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
14.6:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 76% in Missouri - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
26.8%
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
$12,731
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 357 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
63
in-school suspensions + 65 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 18.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 64.0%
Hispanic or Latino 14.6%
African American 9.5%
Two or More 9.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.8%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 64.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.1, Fire Prairie Middle 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 Fire Prairie Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Osage High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Osage Trail Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Indian Trails Elem. | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Blue Hills Elem. | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Buckner Elem. | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fire Prairie Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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
- 357
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- 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 (~713 students)
Frequently asked questions about Fire Prairie Middle
How many students attend Fire Prairie Middle?
Fire Prairie Middle has 713 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Independence, MO. CCD year-over-year: 691 (2022-23) → 693 (2023-24), nearly flat (+2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fire Prairie Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Fire Prairie Middle is 14.6:1, which is 14% higher than the Missouri average of 12.8:1 and 7% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Fire Prairie Middle?
38.1% of students at Fire Prairie Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fire Prairie Middle?
The largest demographic group at Fire Prairie Middle is White at 64.0% of enrollment, in Independence, MO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fire Prairie Middle?
Fire Prairie Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Fire Prairie Middle rank among elementary schools in Independence?
By Resource Investment Index, Fire Prairie Middle ranks #6 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 Fire Prairie Middle, Fort Osage R-I also operates Fort Osage High (1,545 students), Osage Trail Middle (675 students), and Indian Trails Elem. (365 students). See the Fort Osage R-I district page for the complete list.