Enrollment
557
Florida · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Fort Pierce, FL
Independence Classical Academy
Federal NCES profile for Independence Classical Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 120177008887Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 23
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Independence Classical Academy earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of Florida schools.
- #5 of 16
- schools in Fort Pierce · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 19.2:1
- large classes for Florida
- 58.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Independence Classical Academy has class sizes larger than 72% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Independence Classical Academy ranks #5 of 16 schools in Fort Pierce, FL.
School address
NCES ID 120177008887 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
29.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.2:1
vs 17.8:1 Florida avg
+8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
58.4%
vs 52.0% Florida avg
+12% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Independence Classical Academy compares with Florida and U.S. medians
What stands out at Independence Classical Academy
Independence Classical Academy is a higher-need, mid-sized charter combined-grade school in Fort Pierce, Florida, enrolling 557 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 19.2:1 puts it in the larger third of Florida schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 58.4% lands close to the Florida typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 557 students, its enrollment sits close to the Florida median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 3,996 scored Florida schools.
Among 952 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Florida schools statewide, it ranks #53, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (62%) and Hispanic or Latino (25%) (diversity index 54/100).
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 18.9% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Its district draws 17.6% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
St. Lucie also operates Fort Pierce Central High School (3,178 students) and Treasure Coast High School (3,124 students) alongside Independence Classical Academy.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Independence Classical Academy compares
Independence Classical Academy on the metrics families compare, against Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.2:1 | ▲ 8% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 58.4% | ▲ 12% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 557 | top 54% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.2:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
557
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
58.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% above the Florida average of 52.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.2:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 72% in Florida - lower ratio than 28% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
18.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$11,031
per pupil, district-wide
- below Florida avg of $11,167
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 30 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 62.3%
Hispanic or Latino 25.1%
Two or More 5.9%
African American 5.4%
Asian 1.3%
Largest group: White at 62.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.2, Independence Classical Academy is about as mixed as the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for St. Lucie, which includes Independence Classical Academy.
$11,031
Per student
-1%
vs Florida
Avg $11,167
-34%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 46.9%
State 35.5%
Federal 17.6%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Independence Classical Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Pierce Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Treasure Coast High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| St. Lucie West Centennial High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fort Pierce Westwood Academy the W.E.S.T. Prep Magnet | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Port St. Lucie High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Independence Classical Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,178
- Students per teacher
- 27.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 3,124
- Students per teacher
- 28.1:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 2,914
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,956
- Students per teacher
- 24.4:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,793
- Students per teacher
- 23.6:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Florida, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~557 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Independence Classical Academy's federal record.
- Compare Independence Classical Academy against another school. Compare schools
- St. Lucie's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Independence Classical Academy
How many students attend Independence Classical Academy?
Independence Classical Academy has 557 students enrolled. It is a public school in Fort Pierce, FL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Independence Classical Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Independence Classical Academy is 19.2:1, which is 8% higher than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 22% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Independence Classical Academy?
58.4% of students at Independence Classical Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Independence Classical Academy?
The largest demographic group at Independence Classical Academy is White at 62.3% of enrollment, in Fort Pierce, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Independence Classical Academy?
Independence Classical Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Independence Classical Academy rank among schools in Fort Pierce?
By Resource Investment Index, Independence Classical Academy ranks #5 of 16 schools in Fort Pierce, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Fort Pierce on the city page.
Is Independence Classical Academy a good school?
Independence Classical Academy earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of Florida schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in St. Lucie?
Besides Independence Classical Academy, St. Lucie also operates Fort Pierce Central High School (3,178 students), Treasure Coast High School (3,124 students), and St. Lucie West Centennial High (2,914 students). See the St. Lucie district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.