Enrollment
553
North Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Fargo, ND
Independence Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Independence Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 381941000867
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 78
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Independence Elementary School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of North Dakota schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most North Dakota schools.
- #11 of 20
- elementary schools in Fargo · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.8:1
- large classes for North Dakota
- 17.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Independence Elementary School has class sizes larger than 87% of North Dakota schools. Computed live against every North Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Independence Elementary School ranks #11 of 20 elementary schools in Fargo, ND.
School address
District: West Fargo 6 · North Dakota
NCES ID 381941000867 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
35.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.8:1
vs 11.8:1 North Dakota avg
+34% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
17.3%
vs 28.2% North Dakota avg
-39% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Independence Elementary School compares with North Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at Independence Elementary School
Independence Elementary School is a lower-poverty, large elementary school in Fargo, North Dakota, enrolling 553 students.
Class loads run heavy: 15.8:1 is larger than about 87% of North Dakota schools and 34% above the 11.8:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 17.3% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in North Dakota, bigger than 92% of state schools at 553 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 498 scored North Dakota schools.
Against 63 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #25.
Its student body is led by White (53%) and African American (22%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 65/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 553 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance holds up well here: only 9.0% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
The surrounding West Fargo 6 spends $13,475 per pupil, 27% below the North Dakota average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Fargo's elementary schools, it stands alongside Centennial Elementary School (639 students): Independence Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.8:1 vs 16.4:1).
West Fargo 6 also operates West Fargo Sheyenne High School (1,400 students) and West Fargo High School (1,380 students) alongside Independence Elementary School.
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 School compares
Independence Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against North Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Dakota | North Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.8:1 | ▲ 34% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 17.3% | ▼ 39% | 28.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 553 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.8:1
Leaner classes than 40% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
553
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
17.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 39% below the North Dakota average of 28.2%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.8:1
students per teacher
- 34% above state mean
Top 87% in North Dakota - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
9.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$13,475
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Dakota avg of $18,450
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 553 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.1 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 53.0%
African American 22.2%
Asian 9.9%
Hispanic or Latino 7.4%
Two or More 6.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.4%
Largest group: White at 53.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.1, Independence Elementary School is more mixed than the North Dakota school average of 29.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for West Fargo 6, which includes Independence Elementary School.
$13,475
Per student
-27%
vs North Dakota
Avg $18,450
-19%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 35.6%
State 52.9%
Federal 11.4%
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 School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Fargo Sheyenne High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| West Fargo High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Liberty Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cheney Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Heritage Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Independence Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,400
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,380
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,103
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 1,006
- Students per teacher
- 11.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 799
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar elementary schools in Fargo
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Centennial Elementary School
Standard public school
639 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Bennett Elementary School
Standard public school
622 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Osgood Elem School
Standard public school
554 students 12.9:1 students per teacher
Kennedy Elementary School
Standard public school
469 students 11.2:1 students per teacher
Willow Park Elementary School
Standard public school
461 students 11.2:1 students per teacher
Ed Clapp Elementary School
Standard public school
444 students 9.9:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Dakota, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~553 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Independence Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Independence Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- West Fargo 6'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 School
How many students attend Independence Elementary School?
Independence Elementary School has 553 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Fargo, ND.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Independence Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Independence Elementary School is 15.8:1, which is 34% higher than the North Dakota average of 11.8:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Independence Elementary School?
17.3% of students at Independence Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Dakota average of 28.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Independence Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Independence Elementary School is White at 53.0% of enrollment, in Fargo, ND. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Independence Elementary School?
Independence Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Independence Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Fargo?
By Resource Investment Index, Independence Elementary School ranks #11 of 20 elementary schools in Fargo, ND. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Fargo on the city page.
Is Independence Elementary School a good school?
Independence Elementary School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of North Dakota schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most North Dakota 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 West Fargo 6?
Besides Independence Elementary School, West Fargo 6 also operates West Fargo Sheyenne High School (1,400 students), West Fargo High School (1,380 students), and Liberty Middle School (1,103 students). See the West Fargo 6 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.