- Enrollment
- 237
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Palos Heights, IL
Independence Jr High School
Federal NCES profile for Independence Jr High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 173057003177
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 53
📋 Attendance 65
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Independence Jr High School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median.
- #4 of 6
- public schools in Palos Heights · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.4:1
- students per teacher
- 236
- students enrolled
Independence Jr High School has class sizes near the Illinois median. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Independence Jr High School ranks #4 of 6 public schools in Palos Heights, IL.
School address
District: Palos Heights Sd 128 · Illinois
NCES ID 173057003177 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-16 students YoY
Independence Jr High School shrank from 224 students in 2022-23 to 208 in 2023-24 (-7.1%).
Teacher FTE added 19.9 → 21.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-16 students YoY 173057003177 · Palos Heights, IL Middle · SMALL · TRAD
236 enr · 12.4:1 · RII 50
Nearest enrollment peer: Chippewa Elem School (237 students)
Independence Jr High School shrank from 224 students in 2022-23 to 208 in 2023-24 (-7.1%). Teacher FTE added 19.9 → 21.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Illinois schools → · Find another →
Independence Jr High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Chippewa Elem
Chippewa Elem School
237 students
- This school
Independence Jr High School
236 students
- Indian Hill
Indian Hill
183 students
- Navajo Heights
Navajo Heights Elem School
174 students
What this shows Independence Jr High School reports 236 students on the CCD universe file.
How Independence Jr High School compares
Independence Jr High School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.4:1 | ▼ 11% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 236 | top 76% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.4:1
Leaner classes than 72% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
236
Bigger than 24% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
12.4:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 34% in Illinois - lower ratio than 66% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
14.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$17,650
per pupil, district-wide
- below Illinois avg of $18,196
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 236 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 84.7%
Hispanic or Latino 9.7%
African American 3.8%
Asian 1.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 84.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 27.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 27.2, Independence Jr High School is less mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs
District finance for Palos Heights Sd 128 reports $17,650 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Independence Jr High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chippewa Elem School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Indian Hill | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Navajo Heights Elem School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Independence Jr High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 183
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 174
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Nationwide middle 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 (~236 students)
Frequently asked questions about Independence Jr High School
How many students attend Independence Jr High School?
Independence Jr High School has 236 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Palos Heights, IL. CCD year-over-year: 224 (2022-23) → 208 (2023-24), down 16.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Independence Jr High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Independence Jr High School is 12.4:1, which is 11% lower than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 21% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Independence Jr High School?
The largest demographic group at Independence Jr High School is White at 84.7% of enrollment, in Palos Heights, IL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Independence Jr High School?
Independence Jr High School has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (higher 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 Jr High School rank among public schools in Palos Heights?
By Resource Investment Index, Independence Jr High School ranks #4 of 6 public schools in Palos Heights, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Palos Heights on the city page.
What other schools are in Palos Heights Sd 128?
Besides Independence Jr High School, Palos Heights Sd 128 also operates Chippewa Elem School (237 students), Indian Hill (183 students), and Navajo Heights Elem School (174 students). See the Palos Heights Sd 128 district page for the complete list.