- Enrollment
- 1,720
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Independence, MO
William Southern Elem.
Federal NCES profile for William Southern Elem., including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 291548000725
👥 S:T ratio 17
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 8
📋 Attendance 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
William Southern Elem. earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Missouri schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Missouri schools.
- #21 of 22
- schools in Independence · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20.8:1
- large classes for Missouri
- 58.4%
- free-lunch eligible
William Southern Elem. has class sizes larger than 98% of Missouri schools. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, William Southern Elem. ranks #21 of 22 schools in Independence, MO.
School address
District: Independence 30 · Missouri
NCES ID 291548000725 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+22 students YoY
William Southern Elem. grew from 430 students in 2022-23 to 452 in 2023-24 (+5.1%).
Teacher FTE added 22.9 → 25.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+22 students YoY 291548000725 · Independence, MO Other · SMALL · TRAD
458 enr · 20.8:1 · 58.4% lunch · RII 31
Nearest enrollment peer: Truman High (1,720 students)
William Southern Elem. grew from 430 students in 2022-23 to 452 in 2023-24 (+5.1%). Teacher FTE added 22.9 → 25.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Missouri schools → · Find another →
William Southern 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 458
William Southern Elem.
458 students
What this shows William Southern Elem. reports 458 students on the CCD universe file.
How William Southern Elem. compares
William Southern Elem. is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Missouri and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Missouri | Missouri avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.8:1 | ▲ 63% | 12.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 58.4% | ▲ 27% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 458 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.8:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
458
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
58.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 27% 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
20.8:1
students per teacher
- 63% above state mean
Top 98% in Missouri - lower ratio than 2% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
28.2%
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 458 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
46
in-school suspensions + 57 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 22.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 36.9%
African American 34.3%
Hispanic or Latino 17.7%
Two or More 9.0%
Asian 1.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.9%
Largest group: White at 36.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.7, William Southern 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 William Southern Elem. Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truman High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| William Chrisman High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Van Horn High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Clifford H. Nowlin Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bridger Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to William Southern 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 (~458 students)
Frequently asked questions about William Southern Elem.
How many students attend William Southern Elem.?
William Southern Elem. has 458 students enrolled. It is a public school in Independence, MO. CCD year-over-year: 430 (2022-23) → 452 (2023-24), up 22.
What is the student-teacher ratio at William Southern Elem.?
The student-teacher ratio at William Southern Elem. is 20.8:1, which is 63% higher than the Missouri average of 12.8:1 and 32% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at William Southern Elem.?
58.4% of students at William Southern Elem. are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of William Southern Elem.?
The largest demographic group at William Southern Elem. is White at 36.9% of enrollment, in Independence, MO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for William Southern Elem.?
William Southern Elem. has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (lower 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 William Southern Elem. rank among schools in Independence?
By Resource Investment Index, William Southern Elem. ranks #21 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 William Southern 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.