- Enrollment
- 1,720
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Independence, MO
Thomas Hart Benton Elem.
Federal NCES profile for Thomas Hart Benton Elem., including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 291548000707
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 20
📋 Attendance 25
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Thomas Hart Benton Elem. earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Missouri schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Missouri schools.
- #15 of 22
- schools in Independence · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.4:1
- large classes for Missouri
- 69.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Thomas Hart Benton Elem. has class sizes larger than 83% of Missouri schools. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas Hart Benton Elem. ranks #15 of 22 schools in Independence, MO.
School address
District: Independence 30 · Missouri
NCES ID 291548000707 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+0 students YoY
Thomas Hart Benton Elem. held near 397 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+0 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 26.8 → 25.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+0 students YoY 291548000707 · Independence, MO Other · SMALL · TRAD
401 enr · 15.4:1 · 69.0% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Truman High (1,720 students)
Thomas Hart Benton Elem. held near 397 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+0 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 26.8 → 25.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Missouri schools → · Find another →
Thomas Hart Benton Elem. in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Truman High
Truman High
1,720 students
- William Chrism
William Chrisman High
1,417 students
- Van Horn High
Van Horn High
1,067 students
- Clifford H. No
Clifford H. Nowlin Middle
902 students
- Bridger Middle
Bridger Middle
744 students
- This school 401
Thomas Hart Benton Elem.
401 students
What this shows Thomas Hart Benton Elem. reports 401 students on the CCD universe file.
How Thomas Hart Benton Elem. compares
Thomas Hart Benton Elem. held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Missouri and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Missouri | Missouri avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.4:1 | ▲ 20% | 12.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 69.0% | ▲ 50% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 401 | top 35% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
401
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
69.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% 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
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 20% above state mean
Top 83% in Missouri - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
29.9%
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
$12,302
per pupil, district-wide
- below Missouri avg of $14,087
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 401 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
19
in-school suspensions + 26 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 44.4%
Hispanic or Latino 26.7%
African American 18.0%
Two or More 10.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
Largest group: White at 44.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.9, Thomas Hart Benton Elem. is more mixed than the Missouri school average of 31.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Independence 30 reports $12,302 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Thomas Hart Benton Elem. Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truman High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| William Chrisman High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Van Horn High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Clifford H. Nowlin Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bridger Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Thomas Hart Benton Elem.'s own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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
Nationwide other 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 (~401 students)
Frequently asked questions about Thomas Hart Benton Elem.
How many students attend Thomas Hart Benton Elem.?
Thomas Hart Benton Elem. has 401 students enrolled. It is a public school in Independence, MO. CCD year-over-year: 397 (2022-23) → 397 (2023-24), nearly flat (+0).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomas Hart Benton Elem.?
The student-teacher ratio at Thomas Hart Benton Elem. is 15.4:1, which is 20% higher than the Missouri average of 12.8:1 and 2% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Thomas Hart Benton Elem.?
69.0% of students at Thomas Hart Benton Elem. are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Thomas Hart Benton Elem.?
The largest demographic group at Thomas Hart Benton Elem. is White at 44.4% of enrollment, in Independence, MO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Thomas Hart Benton Elem.?
Thomas Hart Benton Elem. has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 Thomas Hart Benton Elem. rank among schools in Independence?
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas Hart Benton Elem. ranks #15 of 22 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 schools in Independence on the city page.
What other schools are in Independence 30?
Besides Thomas Hart Benton Elem., 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.