- Enrollment
- 712
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Independence, IA
West Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for West Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 191458000869
👥 S:T ratio 58
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 28
📋 Attendance 66
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Elementary School earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 90% of Iowa schools.
- #1 of 3
- elementary schools in Independence · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.6:1
- small classes for Iowa
- 34.6%
- free-lunch eligible
West Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 90% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Independence, IA.
School address
District: Independence Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 191458000869 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-10 students YoY
West Elementary School held near 371 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 34.2 → 34.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-10 students YoY 191458000869 · Independence, IA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
360 enr · 10.6:1 · 34.6% lunch · RII 55
Nearest enrollment peer: Independence Junior Senior High School (712 students)
West Elementary School held near 371 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount). Teacher FTE held 34.2 → 34.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
West Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Independence J
Independence Junior Senior High School
712 students
- This school
West Elementary School
360 students
- East Elementar 265
East Elementary School
265 students
- Early Childhoo 46
Early Childhood Center
46 students
What this shows West Elementary School reports 360 students on the CCD universe file.
How West Elementary School compares
West Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.6:1 | ▼ 28% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 34.6% | ▼ 5% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 360 | top 39% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.6:1
Leaner classes than 85% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
360
Bigger than 41% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
34.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 5% below the Iowa average of 36.4%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
10.6:1
students per teacher
- 28% below state mean
Top 10% in Iowa - lower ratio than 90% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
13.6%
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
$12,274
per pupil, district-wide
- below Iowa avg of $13,441
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 360 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
21
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 88.9%
Two or More 5.6%
Hispanic or Latino 5.0%
African American 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 88.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 20.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 20.4, West Elementary School is less mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Independence Comm School District reports $12,274 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How West Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence Junior Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Early Childhood Center | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 265
- Students per teacher
- 11:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 46
- Students per teacher
- 46:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
Similar elementary schools in Independence
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary 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 (~360 students)
Frequently asked questions about West Elementary School
How many students attend West Elementary School?
West Elementary School has 360 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Independence, IA. CCD year-over-year: 381 (2022-23) → 371 (2023-24), nearly flat (-10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at West Elementary School is 10.6:1, which is 28% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 32% lower 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 West Elementary School?
34.6% of students at West Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at West Elementary School is White at 88.9% of enrollment, in Independence, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Elementary School?
West Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (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 West Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Independence?
By Resource Investment Index, West Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Independence, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Independence on the city page.
What other schools are in Independence Comm School District?
Besides West Elementary School, Independence Comm School District also operates Independence Junior Senior High School (712 students), East Elementary School (265 students), and Early Childhood Center (46 students). See the Independence Comm School District district page for the complete list.