Public schools in Independence, IA
5 open public schools with an address in Independence, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
5
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
1,412
5 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.8:1
Iowa median 13.7:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Independence public schools
The federal directory lists 5 public schools in Independence, IA: 3 elementary, 1 high, 1 combined or other. The 5 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 1,412 students, an average of 282 per school. The largest campus is Independence Junior Senior High School (712 students), and the largest elementary school is West Elementary School (360).
Independence Comm School District operates the most schools here (4), and 2 regular districts have at least one Independence campus. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 14.8:1, higher than the statewide school median of 13.7:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
About 34% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Independence
Elementary schools in Independence
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Elementary School Independence Comm School District | KG–02 | 265 | 12.3:1 | |
| Perry #1 Elementary School Jesup Comm School District | KG–08 | 29 | 14.8:1 | |
| West Elementary School Independence Comm School District | 03–06 | 360 | 11.3:1 |
High schools in Independence
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence Junior Senior High School Independence Comm School District | 07–12 | 712 | 15.8:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Independence
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood Center Independence Comm School District | PK–PK | 46 | 24.2:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White90.5%
- Hispanic3.9%
- Black0.8%
- Asian0.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial4.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 5 Independence schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (1,412 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Independence
How many public schools are in Independence, IA?
The current NCES directory lists 5 open public schools with a location address in Independence: 3 elementary, 1 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 1,412 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Independence?
Schools with an address in Independence belong to 2 education agencies, led by Independence Comm School District (4 schools), Jesup Comm School District (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Independence?
Independence Junior Senior High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Independence, with 712 students in 2024–25 (grades 07–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Independence?
No school with an address in Independence is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Iowa.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Independence schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Independence public schools is 14.8:1, higher than the Iowa school median of 13.7:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Independence guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Iowa cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Iowa cities