Enrollment
709
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Bakersfield, CA
Independence Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Independence Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063348007102
👥 S:T ratio 11
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 67
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Independence Elementary earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #8 of 97
- elementary schools in Bakersfield · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 22.2:1
- students per teacher
- 26.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Independence Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Independence Elementary ranks #8 of 97 elementary schools in Bakersfield, CA.
School address
District: Rosedale Union Elementary · California
NCES ID 063348007102 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
22.2:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
26.7%
vs 55.5% California avg
-52% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Independence Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Independence Elementary
Independence Elementary is a mid-sized elementary school in Bakersfield, California, enrolling 709 students.
At 22.2:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the California median, within a few percentage points of the 21.5:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 26.7% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 709 puts it in the larger third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 91% of the 9,998 California schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 1,309 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #57, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (45%) and Hispanic or Latino (40%) (diversity index 63/100).
13.1% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Rosedale Union Elementary spends $11,913 per pupil, 28% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Bakersfield's elementary schools, it stands alongside Dolores S. Whitley Tk-8 (1,151 students): Independence Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (22.2:1 vs 25.6:1).
Rosedale Union Elementary also operates Patriot Elementary (931 students) and Rosedale Middle (810 students) alongside Independence Elementary.
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 Elementary compares
Independence Elementary on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 22.2:1 | ▲ 3% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.7% | ▼ 52% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 709 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.2:1
Leaner classes than 10% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
709
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
26.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 52% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
22.2:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 55% in California - lower ratio than 45% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
13.1%
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
$11,913
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
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
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.3 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 44.7%
Hispanic or Latino 40.1%
Two or More 6.3%
Asian 5.8%
African American 2.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 44.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.1, Independence Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Rosedale Union Elementary, which includes Independence Elementary.
$11,913
Per student
-28%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-28%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 28.9%
State 61.7%
Federal 9.4%
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 Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patriot Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Rosedale Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Freedom Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| American Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Almondale Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Independence Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 931
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 810
- Students per teacher
- 25.3:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 712
- Students per teacher
- 23:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 701
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 631
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Similar elementary schools in Bakersfield
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Dolores S. Whitley Tk-8
Standard public school
1,151 students 25.6:1 students per teacher
Veterans Elementary
Standard public school
1,002 students 27.8:1 students per teacher
Douglas J. Miller Elementary
Standard public school
994 students 29.2:1 students per teacher
Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary
Standard public school
960 students 24:1 students per teacher
Berkshire Elementary
Standard public school
932 students 28.2:1 students per teacher
Patriot Elementary
Standard public school
931 students 23.3:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of California, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~709 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~22.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Independence Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Independence Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Rosedale Union Elementary'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 Elementary
How many students attend Independence Elementary?
Independence Elementary has 709 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Bakersfield, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Independence Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Independence Elementary is 22.2:1, which is 3% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 41% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Independence Elementary?
26.7% of students at Independence Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Independence Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Independence Elementary is White at 44.7% of enrollment, in Bakersfield, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Independence Elementary?
Independence Elementary 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 Elementary rank among elementary schools in Bakersfield?
By Resource Investment Index, Independence Elementary ranks #8 of 97 elementary schools in Bakersfield, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Bakersfield on the city page.
Is Independence Elementary a good school?
Independence Elementary earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. 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 Rosedale Union Elementary?
Besides Independence Elementary, Rosedale Union Elementary also operates Patriot Elementary (931 students), Rosedale Middle (810 students), and Freedom Middle (712 students). See the Rosedale Union Elementary 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.