Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

INDEPENDENCE 30

Missouri · Public School District
31
Schools
14,406
Students
$16,029
Per-Pupil Spend
+12% nat'l
68.4%
Free Lunch Rate
+16pp vs nat'l
92.8%
Graduation Rate
+6.3pp vs nat'l
District Overview

INDEPENDENCE 30 is a public school district in Missouri serving 14,406 students across 31 schools. It includes 20 elementary, 4 middle, 4 high schools. Its graduation rate of 92.8% is above the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $16,029 is above average for a US public school district. 68% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 44/100.

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All Schools (31)
Elementary Schools20 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
ABRAHAM MALLINSON ELEMENTARY02–05272
BLACKBURN ELEM.PK–05372
BRYANT ELEM.PK–05235
CASSELL PARK ELEMENTARYPK–05375
FAIRMOUNT ELEM.PK–05312
GLENDALE ELEM.PK–05458
JOHN W. LUFF ELEM.PK–05354
KORTE ELEM.PK–05447
LITTLE BLUE ELEMENTARYPK–05295
MILL CREEK ELEM.PK–05290
OTT ELEM.PK–05398
PROCTER ELEM.PK–05208
RANDALL ELEM.PK–05260
SANTA FE TRAIL ELEM.PK–05386
SPRING BRANCH ELEM.PK–05250
SUGAR CREEK ELEM.PK–01140
SYCAMORE HILLS ELEM.PK–05543
THOMAS HART BENTON ELEM.PK–05397
THREE TRAILS ELEM.PK–05317
WILLIAM SOUTHERN ELEM.PK–05430
Middle Schools4 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
BINGHAM MIDDLE07–08774
BRIDGER MIDDLE06–06770
CLIFFORD H. NOWLIN MIDDLE06–08875
PIONEER RIDGE MIDDLE07–08806
High Schools4 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
INDEPENDENCE ACADEMY09–120
TRUMAN HIGH09–121,662
VAN HORN HIGH09–121,047
WILLIAM CHRISMAN HIGH09–121,406
Other Schools3 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
DAY TREATMENTKG–120
HANTHORN EARLY EDUCATIONPK–PK220
SUNSHINE CENTERPK–PK107
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$16,029+12% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
35%
43%
State
35.4%
Local (property tax)
42.9%
Federal
21.8%

Funding is shared between state (35%) and local sources (43%), with notable federal support (22%).

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
31
Schools
14,406
Students
68%
Free Lunch
$16K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate92.8%
Opportunity Score44/100
StateMissouri →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Strong graduation outcomes
92.8% graduation rate — 6.3 points above the national average of 86.5%.
Range of school options
With 31 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
High economic need in community
68% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
22% of revenue comes from federal sources. High federal reliance typically signals a limited local tax base or high concentration of low-income families.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in INDEPENDENCE 30?
INDEPENDENCE 30 has 31 public schools, serving a total of 14,406 students.
What is the graduation rate for INDEPENDENCE 30?
The graduation rate is 92.8%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does INDEPENDENCE 30 spend per student?
INDEPENDENCE 30 spends $16,029 per pupil — 12% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in INDEPENDENCE 30?
68% of students in INDEPENDENCE 30 qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in INDEPENDENCE 30?
No, INDEPENDENCE 30 does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does INDEPENDENCE 30 serve?
INDEPENDENCE 30 serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for INDEPENDENCE 30?
The median opportunity score across schools in INDEPENDENCE 30 is 44/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.