Enrollment
731
Missouri · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Independence, MO
Pioneer Ridge Middle
Federal NCES profile for Pioneer Ridge Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 291548002807
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 27
📋 Attendance 25
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Pioneer Ridge Middle earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 85% of Missouri schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Missouri schools.
- #1 of 5
- middle schools in Independence · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.6:1
- large classes for Missouri
- 46.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Pioneer Ridge Middle has class sizes larger than 85% of Missouri schools. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Pioneer Ridge Middle ranks #1 of 5 middle schools in Independence, MO.
School address
District: Independence 30 · Missouri
NCES ID 291548002807 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
47.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.6:1
vs 12.8:1 Missouri avg
+22% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
46.8%
vs 46.1% Missouri avg
+2% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Pioneer Ridge Middle compares with Missouri and U.S. medians
What stands out at Pioneer Ridge Middle
Pioneer Ridge Middle is a large middle school in Independence, Missouri, enrolling 731 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.6:1 puts it in the larger third of Missouri schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 46.8% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Missouri, bigger than 90% of state schools at 731 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,313 scored Missouri schools.
Among 205 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Missouri schools statewide, it ranks #165, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (51%) and Hispanic or Latino (20%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 66/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 366 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 30.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 21.8% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 287 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 731 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Independence 30 also operates Truman High (1,720 students) and William Chrisman High (1,417 students) alongside Pioneer Ridge Middle.
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 Pioneer Ridge Middle compares
Pioneer Ridge Middle on the metrics families compare, against Missouri and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Missouri | Missouri avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.6:1 | ▲ 22% | 12.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 46.8% | ▲ 2% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 731 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.6:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
731
Bigger than 82% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
46.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 2% above the Missouri average of 46.1%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.6:1
students per teacher
- 22% above state mean
Top 85% in Missouri - lower ratio than 15% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
30.1%
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
$11,956
per pupil, district-wide
- below Missouri avg of $12,931
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 366 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
198
in-school suspensions + 89 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 27.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 39.3 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 51.2%
Hispanic or Latino 19.7%
African American 16.3%
Two or More 11.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Asian 0.1%
Largest group: White at 51.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.9, Pioneer Ridge Middle is more mixed than the Missouri school average of 31.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Independence 30, which includes Pioneer Ridge Middle.
$11,956
Per student
-8%
vs Missouri
Avg $12,931
-28%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 42.9%
State 35.3%
Federal 21.8%
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 Pioneer Ridge Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truman High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| William Chrisman High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Van Horn High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Clifford H. Nowlin Middle | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bridger Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Pioneer Ridge Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,720
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 1,417
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 1,067
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 902
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 744
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Missouri, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~731 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Pioneer Ridge Middle's federal record.
- Compare Pioneer Ridge Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Independence 30'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 Pioneer Ridge Middle
How many students attend Pioneer Ridge Middle?
Pioneer Ridge Middle has 731 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Independence, MO.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pioneer Ridge Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Pioneer Ridge Middle is 15.6:1, which is 22% higher than the Missouri average of 12.8:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Pioneer Ridge Middle?
46.8% of students at Pioneer Ridge Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Pioneer Ridge Middle?
The largest demographic group at Pioneer Ridge Middle is White at 51.2% of enrollment, in Independence, MO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Pioneer Ridge Middle?
Pioneer Ridge Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (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 Pioneer Ridge Middle rank among middle schools in Independence?
By Resource Investment Index, Pioneer Ridge Middle ranks #1 of 5 middle schools in Independence, MO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Independence on the city page.
Is Pioneer Ridge Middle a good school?
Pioneer Ridge Middle earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 85% of Missouri schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Missouri 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 Independence 30?
Besides Pioneer Ridge Middle, Independence 30 also operates Truman High (1,720 students), William Chrisman High (1,417 students), and Van Horn High (1,067 students). See the Independence 30 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.