- Enrollment
- 3,225
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Charlotte, NC
Independence High School
Federal NCES profile for Independence High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370297001229
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 33
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Independence High School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of North Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in North Carolina.
- #20 of 24
- high schools in Charlotte · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.6:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 42.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Independence High School has class sizes larger than 77% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Independence High School ranks #20 of 24 high schools in Charlotte, NC.
School address
District: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370297001229 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-2 students YoY
Independence High School held near 2,020 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 115.0 → 118.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-2 students YoY 370297001229 · Charlotte, NC High · LARGE · TRAD
2,024 enr · 17.6:1 · 42.3% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Myers Park High School (3,225 students)
Independence High School held near 2,020 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount). Teacher FTE added 115.0 → 118.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Independence High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Myers Park Hig
Myers Park High School
3,225 students
- Ardrey Kell Hi
Ardrey Kell High School
3,036 students
- South Mecklenb
South Mecklenburg High School
2,534 students
- William Amos H
William Amos Hough High
2,518 students
- East Mecklenbu
East Mecklenburg High School
2,422 students
- This school
Independence High School
2,024 students
What this shows Independence High School reports 2,024 students on the CCD universe file.
How Independence High School compares
Independence High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.6:1 | ▲ 11% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 42.3% | ▼ 36% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,024 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.6:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,024
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
42.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.6:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 77% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
47.1%
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
$12,198
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,294
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 337 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
158
in-school suspensions + 179 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 16.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 45.1%
African American 29.2%
White 16.8%
Asian 5.6%
Two or More 2.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 45.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.9, Independence High School is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 21
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools reports $12,198 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Independence High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myers Park High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ardrey Kell High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South Mecklenburg High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| William Amos Hough High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Mecklenburg High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Independence High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,036
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 2,534
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 2,518
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 2,422
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar high schools in Charlotte
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Myers Park High School
Standard public school
3,225 students 19.7:1 students per teacher
Ardrey Kell High School
Standard public school
3,036 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
South Mecklenburg High School
Standard public school
2,534 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
East Mecklenburg High School
Standard public school
2,422 students 19.7:1 students per teacher
Palisades High School
Standard public school
2,332 students 34.3:1 students per teacher
Julius L. Chambers High School
Standard public school
2,225 students 20.8:1 students per teacher
Nationwide high 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 (~2,024 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.6:1)
Frequently asked questions about Independence High School
How many students attend Independence High School?
Independence High School has 2,024 students enrolled. It is a high school in Charlotte, NC. CCD year-over-year: 2,022 (2022-23) → 2,020 (2023-24), nearly flat (-2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Independence High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Independence High School is 17.6:1, which is 11% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 12% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Independence High School?
42.3% of students at Independence High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Independence High School?
The largest demographic group at Independence High School is Hispanic or Latino at 45.1% of enrollment, in Charlotte, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Independence High School?
Independence High School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Independence High School rank among high schools in Charlotte?
By Resource Investment Index, Independence High School ranks #20 of 24 high schools in Charlotte, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Charlotte on the city page.
What other schools are in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools?
Besides Independence High School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools also operates Myers Park High School (3,225 students), Ardrey Kell High School (3,036 students), and South Mecklenburg High School (2,534 students). See the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district page for the complete list.