Public schools in Independence, MO
40 open public schools with an address in Independence, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
40
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
17,970
40 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.7:1
Missouri median 12.3:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Independence public schools
The federal directory lists 40 public schools in Independence, MO: 24 elementary, 6 middle, 5 high, 5 combined or other. The 40 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 17,970 students, an average of 449 per school. The largest campus is Truman High (1,720 students), and the largest elementary school is Sycamore Hills Elem. (574).
Independence 30 operates the most schools here (28), and 3 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 13.7:1, higher than the statewide school median of 12.3:1. 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.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 3 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 66% 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
24| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackburn Elem. Independence 30 | PK–05 | 363 | 13.7:1 | |
| Blue Hills Elem. Fort Osage R-I | KG–04 | 357 | 14:1 | |
| Bryant Elem. Independence 30 | PK–05 | 193 | 11.8:1 | |
| Buckner Elem. Fort Osage R-I | KG–04 | 327 | 12:1 | |
| Cassell Park Elementary Independence 30 | PK–05 | 362 | 13.4:1 | |
| Cler-Mont Elem. Fort Osage R-I | KG–04 | 298 | 13.5:1 | |
| Elm Grove Elem. Fort Osage R-I | KG–04 | 305 | 12.2:1 | |
| Fairmount Elem. Independence 30 | PK–05 | 313 | 13.2:1 | |
| Glendale Elem. Independence 30 | PK–05 | 417 | 13.7:1 | |
| Indian Trails Elem. Fort Osage R-I | PK–04 | 365 | 13.1:1 | |
| John W. Luff Elem. Independence 30 | PK–05 | 362 | 14.7:1 | |
| Korte Elem. Independence 30 | PK–05 | 444 | 14.8:1 | |
| Little Blue Elementary Independence 30 | PK–05 | 263 | 11:1 | |
| Mill Creek Elem. Independence 30 | PK–05 | 250 | 14.1:1 | |
| Ott Elem. Independence 30 | PK–05 | 384 | 15.3:1 | |
| Procter Elem. Independence 30 | PK–05 | 221 | 13.5:1 | |
| Randall Elem. Independence 30 | PK–05 | 284 | 12.7:1 | |
| Santa Fe Trail Elem. Independence 30 | PK–05 | 364 | 14.6:1 | |
| Spring Branch Elem. Independence 30 | PK–05 | 278 | 11.9:1 | |
| Sycamore Hills Elem. Independence 30 | PK–05 | 574 | 17.6:1 | |
| Thomas Hart Benton Elem. Independence 30 | PK–05 | 401 | 14.6:1 | |
| Three Trails Elem. Independence 30 | PK–05 | 328 | 14:1 | |
| William Southern Elem. Independence 30 | PK–05 | 458 | 17.7:1 | |
| William Yates Elem. Blue Springs R-IV | KG–05 | 463 | 13.6:1 |
Middle schools in Independence
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bingham Middle Independence 30 | 07–08 | 730 | 14.6:1 | |
| Bridger Middle Independence 30 | 06–06 | 744 | 15.7:1 | |
| Clifford H. Nowlin Middle Independence 30 | 06–08 | 902 | 16.8:1 | |
| Fire Prairie Middle Fort Osage R-I | 05–06 | 713 | 14.1:1 | |
| Osage Trail Middle Fort Osage R-I | 07–08 | 675 | 13:1 | |
| Pioneer Ridge Middle Independence 30 | 07–08 | 731 | 14.3:1 |
High schools in Independence
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car. Tech. Ctr. at Ft. Osage Fort Osage R-I · Career and Technical School | 11–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| Fort Osage High Fort Osage R-I | 09–12 | 1,545 | 17.7:1 | |
| Independence Academy Independence 30 · Alternative School | 09–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| Truman High Independence 30 | 09–12 | 1,720 | 18.6:1 | |
| William Chrisman High Independence 30 | 09–12 | 1,417 | 17:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Independence
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Treatment Independence 30 | KG–12 | 0 | — | |
| Early Childhood Ctr. Fort Osage R-I | PK–PK | 133 | 11.3:1 | |
| Hanthorn Early Education Independence 30 | PK–PK | 180 | 12.9:1 | |
| Lewis and Clark Learning Ctr. Fort Osage R-I · Alternative School | KG–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| Sunshine Center Independence 30 | PK–PK | 106 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White51.4%
- Hispanic22.4%
- Black14.3%
- Asian0.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander1.3%
- Multiracial9.6%
Enrollment-weighted across 36 Independence schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (17,970 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Independence
How many public schools are in Independence, MO?
The current NCES directory lists 40 open public schools with a location address in Independence: 24 elementary, 6 middle, 5 high, 5 combined or other. Together they reported 17,970 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 3 education agencies, led by Independence 30 (28 schools), Fort Osage R-I (11 schools), Blue Springs R-IV (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?
Truman High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Independence, with 1,720 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). 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 Missouri.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Independence schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Independence public schools is 13.7:1, higher than the Missouri school median of 12.3:1. 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 Missouri 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 Missouri cities