Enrollment
2,289
California · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · San Jose, CA
Independence High
Federal NCES profile for Independence High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 061182001302
👥 S:T ratio 20
📚 AP courses 100
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 22
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Independence High earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also one of the largest schools in California.
- #27 of 42
- high schools in San Jose · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.1:1
- students per teacher
- 35.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Independence High has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Independence High ranks #27 of 42 high schools in San Jose, CA.
School address
District: East Side Union High · California
NCES ID 061182001302 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
114.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.1:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-7% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
35.1%
vs 55.5% California avg
-37% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Independence High compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Independence High
Independence High is a large high school in San Jose, California, enrolling 2,289 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 20.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 35.1% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in California, bigger than 98% of state schools at 2,289 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 261 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #207, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Asian (52%) and Hispanic or Latino (40%) (diversity index 57/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 25 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 327 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 31.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 8 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among San Jose's high schools, it stands alongside Evergreen Valley High (2,703 students): Independence High is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (20.1:1 vs 23.7:1).
East Side Union High also operates Evergreen Valley High (2,703 students) and Silver Creek High (2,139 students) alongside Independence High.
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 High compares
Independence High on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.1:1 | ▼ 7% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.1% | ▼ 37% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,289 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.1:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,289
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
35.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 37% 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
20.1:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 35% in California - lower ratio than 65% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
31.3%
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
$15,152
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors7.0 FTE
Per 327 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 117 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 8 expulsions.
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
Asian 51.9%
Hispanic or Latino 39.5%
White 3.1%
Two or More 2.7%
African American 1.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Asian at 51.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.3, Independence High is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 25
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for East Side Union High, which includes Independence High.
$15,152
Per student
-8%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-9%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 48.5%
State 44.9%
Federal 6.6%
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 High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evergreen Valley High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Silver Creek High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Santa Teresa High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Piedmont Hills High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Yerba Buena High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Independence High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,703
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 2,139
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 2,134
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,918
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,612
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Similar high schools in San Jose
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Evergreen Valley High
Standard public school
2,703 students 23.7:1 students per teacher
Silver Creek High
Standard public school
2,139 students 22.8:1 students per teacher
Santa Teresa High
Standard public school
2,134 students 22:1 students per teacher
Piedmont Hills High
Standard public school
1,918 students 22.8:1 students per teacher
Leigh High
Standard public school
1,884 students 25.8:1 students per teacher
Branham High
Standard public school
1,820 students 22.2:1 students per teacher
Similar high 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 (~2,289 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Independence High's federal record.
- Compare Independence High against another school. Compare schools
- East Side Union High'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 High
How many students attend Independence High?
Independence High has 2,289 students enrolled. It is a high school in San Jose, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Independence High?
The student-teacher ratio at Independence High is 20.1:1, which is 7% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 28% higher 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 High?
35.1% of students at Independence High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Independence High?
The largest demographic group at Independence High is Asian at 51.9% of enrollment, in San Jose, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Independence High?
Independence High has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Independence High rank among high schools in San Jose?
By Resource Investment Index, Independence High ranks #27 of 42 high schools in San Jose, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in San Jose on the city page.
Is Independence High a good school?
Independence High earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also one of the largest schools in California. 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 East Side Union High?
Besides Independence High, East Side Union High also operates Evergreen Valley High (2,703 students), Silver Creek High (2,139 students), and Santa Teresa High (2,134 students). See the East Side Union High 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.