Enrollment
182
Wisconsin · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Independence, WI
Independence Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Independence Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 550681000739
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 3
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Independence Elementary earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Wisconsin median.
- #3 of 3
- public schools in Independence · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 12.1:1
- students per teacher
- 67.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Independence Elementary has class sizes near the Wisconsin median. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Independence Elementary ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Independence, WI.
School address
District: Independence School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 550681000739 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
15.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.1:1
vs 14.4:1 Wisconsin avg
-16% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
67.9%
vs 38.5% Wisconsin avg
+76% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Independence Elementary compares with Wisconsin and U.S. medians
What stands out at Independence Elementary
Independence Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Independence, Wisconsin, enrolling 182 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of Wisconsin schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 67.9% of students qualify for free meals, 76% above the Wisconsin average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 182 puts it in the smaller third of Wisconsin schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,202 scored Wisconsin schools.
Among 81 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Wisconsin schools statewide, it ranks #77, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (61%) and White (34%) (diversity index 51/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 39.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Independence School District also operates Independence High (142 students) and Independence Middle (101 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 Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.1:1 | ▼ 16% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 67.9% | ▲ 76% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 182 | top 72% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.1:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
182
Bigger than 18% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
67.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 76% above the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.1:1
students per teacher
- 16% below state mean
Top 34% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 66% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
39.0%
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
$15,564
per pupil, district-wide
- above Wisconsin avg of $14,919
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints 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 + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 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
Hispanic or Latino 61.0%
White 34.1%
Two or More 4.4%
African American 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 61.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.0, Independence Elementary is more mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Independence School District, which includes Independence Elementary.
$15,564
Per student
+4%
vs Wisconsin
Avg $14,919
-6%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 21.1%
State 65.0%
Federal 13.9%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Independence Middle | Smaller | Lower 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
- 142
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 101
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Wisconsin, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~182 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Independence Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Independence Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Independence School District'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 182 students enrolled. It is a public school in Independence, WI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Independence Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Independence Elementary is 12.1:1, which is 16% lower than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 23% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Independence Elementary?
67.9% of students at Independence Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Independence Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Independence Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 61.0% of enrollment, in Independence, WI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Independence Elementary?
Independence Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (lower 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 public schools in Independence?
By Resource Investment Index, Independence Elementary ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Independence, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Independence on the city page.
Is Independence Elementary a good school?
Independence Elementary earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Wisconsin 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 Independence School District?
Besides Independence Elementary, Independence School District also operates Independence High (142 students) and Independence Middle (101 students). See the Independence School District 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.