The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in Science. The lowest is 35% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Thomas Hart Benton Elem.
Thomas Hart Benton Elementary is a regular public school in Independence, Missouri, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It sits within the Independence 30 school district, the city’s largest employer, and is one of many elementary schools spread across a large, mixed suburban city that also functions as a commuter hub for Kansas City. The school’s academic results tell a story of a building with some bright spots and other areas where families will want to look closely.
On state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, performance varied noticeably by grade and subject. In fifth grade, more than two out of five students reached proficiency in math, nearly half did so in English language arts, and a similar share hit the mark in science. That is the strongest year at the school. Third grade math saw about a third of students proficient, but third grade English was lower, with roughly one in five students meeting the bar. Fourth grade math came in below a third, and fourth grade English results were suppressed, meaning they were not reported, so there is no clear picture for that grade. When the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades is averaged, it lands in the top quarter when compared with other elementary schools across Jackson County districts. That position suggests that despite the uneven grade-level results, Thomas Hart Benton Elementary performs relatively well among its peers in the county.
The student body of around 400 children is diverse. About half are white, a quarter are Hispanic, a fifth are Black, and nearly one in ten identifies as two or more races. A very small share is Asian. The economic profile is striking: a large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a high-poverty context. That level of need often correlates with additional supports and challenges, and it is a central fact for any family considering the school. Data on special education and English learner enrollment was not available in the source material, so the full picture of student support needs is incomplete.
Independence itself offers a relatively affordable housing market. Home values and rents in the area are below national medians, and the cost of buying versus renting leans toward renting being cheaper on a monthly basis. The city has a historic downtown, the Truman Presidential Library, and a mix of older homes near the center and newer subdivisions farther out. Major employers include the school district, a medical center, and a defense contractor, and the economy has seen steady but modest growth. This is not a fast-booming suburb, but a stable, broad middle-class and working-class city where housing is within reach for many families.
A major structural change for the district took effect in the 2023-24 school year: the Independence 30 district moved to a four-day instructional week. The school day was lengthened to maintain the same total minutes, and the district offers optional enrichment activities on some of the non-school Mondays. For families, this is a significant schedule shift that affects childcare, extracurricular plans, and weekly routines. Anyone considering the school should confirm how the four-day schedule aligns with their own work and family commitments.
Thomas Hart Benton Elementary presents a mixed academic profile, strongest in fifth grade and relatively favorable when stacked against other Jackson County elementary schools, but with clear soft spots in third and fourth grade English and math. The high rate of economic disadvantage is an important backdrop, and the district’s four-day week is a defining feature of daily life. A parent who values a school that performs above the county median on proficiency may find this a reasonable option, but should also dig into the grade-level gaps and ask the school how it supports students who are not yet meeting benchmarks.
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