Independence 30, MO - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Independence 30

Independence 30 is a public school district serving roughly fourteen thousand students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade in the Kansas City metropolitan area. The district, which bears the name of its primary city, draws from Independence and small portions of several nearby communities including Sugar Creek, Kansas City, Raytown, and Lee’s Summit. It is one of the larger districts in Jackson County and operates over thirty schools: a mix of elementary schools, middle schools, three comprehensive high schools, an early education center, and several alternative or special-program sites.

The student body is predominantly White, with Hispanic students making up about a quarter of enrollment and Black students about one in seven. Smaller shares of students identify as two or more races, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, or American Indian or Alaska Native. Data on economic disadvantage, special education, and English learner status was not available from the source we used, so a reader who wants a fuller picture of student support needs would need to look into those figures directly with the district.

State testing results are available for grades three through eight; we do not have high school assessment or graduation data from the provided source. Across the tested grades, in math the share of students scoring proficient or above varies by grade, with the middle school years generally falling in a range that families will want to examine closely. English language arts proficiency rates are somewhat higher in the elementary grades and dip in middle school. Science results for fifth and eighth grade hover just above a third proficient. Participation rates on the tests were high, so the results reflect nearly all enrolled students in those grades.

When placed among Jackson County’s districts, the district’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades is above the midpoint. Its chronic absenteeism rate also sits above the midpoint among the county’s districts, meaning that a notable share of students are missing enough school to affect learning. Per-pupil current spending is in the lower range relative to other districts in the county, a factor that may matter for families comparing resource levels.

Housing conditions for the district’s attendance area show a wide spread. Home values range from modest to well above the district average, with the higher end concentrated in a few zip codes, particularly in the Lee’s Summit portion. Rents also vary, and overall the cost of housing is somewhat below the national median. The estimated monthly mortgage payment for a median-priced home in the district is roughly comparable to the average rent, and rent as a share of median household income is within a moderate range.

A lasting structural change took effect with the 2023–2024 school year: the Independence School District moved to a four-day instructional week while maintaining the same number of educational minutes. Built on that calendar are additional enrichment opportunities on selected non-school Mondays, an arrangement that has implications for family schedules, childcare arrangements, and the rhythm of the school year. This is a central fact for any family evaluating the fit of this district, as it reshapes the typical school week.

Independence 30 offers a large, diverse public school system with a wide range of neighborhoods and housing options. The academic picture is mixed: proficiency rates in the tested grades are generally at or below state averages, though the district sits above the midpoint among its county peers. The four-day week is a distinctive feature that families will want to weigh alongside the district’s spending level, attendance patterns, and the missing data on high school outcomes and student support populations.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

14,168

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 26%

Black 15%

White 51%

Asian 1%

Two+ 7%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 1%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

28%

51%

Gr 4

30%

57%

Gr 5

34%

61%

Gr 6

25%

51%

Gr 7

24%

44%

Gr 8

32%

50%

Math

Gr 3

30%

53%

Gr 4

28%

45%

Gr 5

26%

50%

Gr 6

31%

59%

Gr 7

24%

48%

Gr 8

10%

22%

Science

Gr 5

30%

55%

Gr 8

30%

49%

Schools in this District

31 schools are officially reported under this district.

THOMAS HART BENTON ELEM.

WILLIAM CHRISMAN HIGH

WILLIAM SOUTHERN ELEM.

DAY TREATMENT

HANTHORN EARLY EDUCATION

CLIFFORD H. NOWLIN MIDDLE

ABRAHAM MALLINSON ELEMENTARY

LITTLE BLUE ELEMENTARY

CASSELL PARK ELEMENTARY

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

36%

Grade 3

33%

Grade 4

32%

Grade 5

38%

Grade 6

30%

Grade 7

12%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

34%

Grade 3

37%

Grade 4

41%

Grade 5

32%

Grade 6

29%

Grade 7

37%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

36%

Grade 5

35%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$208,657

Year-over-year change+2.8%

Range across 13 ZIP codes$88K to $437K

vs. state typical0.79x

vs. national typical0.57x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (13 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
64050	Independence	$176K	+4.7%	21.2%
64055	Independence	$228K	+2.8%	20.9%
64057	Independence	$294K	+1.7%	14.6%
64052	Independence	$170K	+0.8%	13.6%
64056	Independence	$231K	+3.9%	12.4%
64054	Sugar Creek	$164K	+2.9%	7.3%
64053	Independence	$123K	-1.6%	4.8%
64136	Kansas City	$271K	+4.3%	3.5%
64126	Kansas City	$93K	+3.8%	1.6%
64129	Kansas City	$154K	+2.0%	0.1%
64064	Lees Summit	$437K	+2.1%	0.1%
64133	Raytown	$215K	+1.4%	0.1%
64125	Kansas City	$88K	+13.4%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,357/mo

Year-over-year change+4.2%

Range across 9 ZIP codes$1,066 to $1,707/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (9 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
64050	Independence	$1,211	+3.1%	21.2%
64055	Independence	$1,415	+4.5%	20.9%
64057	Independence	$1,454	+4.0%	14.6%
64052	Independence	$1,172	+5.4%	13.6%
64056	Independence	$1,707	+4.5%	12.4%
64053	Independence	$1,066	—	4.8%
64129	Kansas City	$1,323	—	0.1%
64064	Lees Summit	$1,681	+6.8%	0.1%
64133	Raytown	$1,299	+0.7%	0.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,053/mo

Home price / national median income2.5x

Annual rent / national median income19.4%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$304/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$265,398 (+2.8% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.