- Enrollment
- 902
- Students per teacher
- 30.1:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Big Lake, MN
Independence Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Independence Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 270546000205
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 61
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Independence Elementary earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of Minnesota schools.
- #3 of 7
- public schools in Big Lake · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 18:1
- large classes for Minnesota
- 30.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Independence Elementary has class sizes larger than 75% of Minnesota schools. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Independence Elementary ranks #3 of 7 public schools in Big Lake, MN.
School address
District: Big Lake Public School District · Minnesota
NCES ID 270546000205 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+34 students YoY
Independence Elementary grew from 660 students in 2022-23 to 694 in 2023-24 (+5.2%).
Teacher FTE added 42.1 → 44.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+34 students YoY 270546000205 · Big Lake, MN Elementary · MID · TRAD
758 enr · 18:1 · 30.0% lunch · RII 53
Nearest enrollment peer: Big Lake Senior High (902 students)
Independence Elementary grew from 660 students in 2022-23 to 694 in 2023-24 (+5.2%). Teacher FTE added 42.1 → 44.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Independence Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Big Lake Senio
Big Lake Senior High
902 students
- This school
Independence Elementary
758 students
- Liberty Elemen
Liberty Elementary
756 students
- Big Lake Middl
Big Lake Middle School
632 students
- Big Lake Onlin 118
Big Lake Online 6-12
118 students
- Big Lake Onlin 24
Big Lake Online K-5
24 students
What this shows Independence Elementary reports 758 students on the CCD universe file.
How Independence Elementary compares
Independence Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18:1 | ▲ 14% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 30.0% | ▼ 30% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 758 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
758
Bigger than 84% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
30.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% below the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
18:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 75% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 25% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
15.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,268
per pupil, district-wide
- below Minnesota avg of $15,919
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
20
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 78.2%
Hispanic or Latino 8.2%
Two or More 6.5%
African American 4.5%
Asian 2.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 78.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 37.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 37.5, Independence Elementary is less mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Big Lake Public School District reports $13,268 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Independence Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Lake Senior High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Liberty Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Big Lake Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Big Lake Online 6-12 | Smaller | Similar economic need | No ratio data |
| Big Lake Online K-5 | Smaller | Higher economic need | No ratio data |
Comparisons are relative to Independence Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 756
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 632
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 9/100
- Enrollment
- 118
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 24
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 55/100
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 (~758 students)
Frequently asked questions about Independence Elementary
How many students attend Independence Elementary?
Independence Elementary has 758 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Big Lake, MN. CCD year-over-year: 660 (2022-23) → 694 (2023-24), up 34.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Independence Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Independence Elementary is 18:1, which is 14% higher than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Independence Elementary?
30.0% of students at Independence Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Independence Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Independence Elementary is White at 78.2% of enrollment, in Big Lake, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Independence Elementary?
Independence Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Independence Elementary rank among public schools in Big Lake?
By Resource Investment Index, Independence Elementary ranks #3 of 7 public schools in Big Lake, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Big Lake on the city page.
What other schools are in Big Lake Public School District?
Besides Independence Elementary, Big Lake Public School District also operates Big Lake Senior High (902 students), Liberty Elementary (756 students), and Big Lake Middle School (632 students). See the Big Lake Public School District district page for the complete list.