The top reported proficiency rate is 73% in English language arts. The lowest is 71% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Independence Elem.
Independence Elementary is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in St. Charles, Missouri, part of the Francis Howell R-III school district. It sits within a larger suburban community northwest of St. Louis that blends a historic downtown along the Missouri River with residential subdivisions and commercial corridors. The school itself is a typical neighborhood elementary, drawing from the surrounding area.
Academically, this school performs well. On the Missouri Assessment Program, student proficiency rates across math, English language arts, and science are consistently solid at every tested grade level. The overall proficiency index places Independence Elementary in the top quartile relative to other districts in St. Charles County, a useful benchmark given the county contains several highly regarded school systems. The results suggest a learning environment where the majority of students are meeting state standards, and the pattern is steady rather than uneven from grade to grade.
The student body is large for an elementary school serving these grade levels. The demographic picture is one of limited economic diversity: the share of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch is modest, well below the state average. The student population is predominantly white, with small shares of Black, Hispanic, Asian, multiracial, and other groups represented. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a family wanting to understand how the school serves those populations would need to ask directly.
The school's setting in St. Charles reflects a city that has grown steadily in recent years. Home values in the school's zip code are meaningfully above both the Missouri state median and the national median, and rents are within a typical range relative to local incomes. This points to a relatively affluent residential area. The city itself has a historic core with walkable Main Street, Frontier Park, and civic anchors like Lindenwood University and the county courthouse, but much of the built environment is car-dependent suburban development.
The Francis Howell district, which oversees Independence Elementary, has seen several debated policy decisions in recent years that may matter to parents. In 2024, voters approved a bond issue funding capital improvements and safety upgrades after an earlier attempt had failed. Also in 2024, the school board voted to restore abstinence-only sex education, reversing a prior broader curriculum, and approved a policy restricting classroom displays to official U.S., Missouri, and district flags only. In 2023, the district removed eight books from library shelves following complaints. These are publicly reported changes that affect curriculum and school culture; families may want to explore how they play out at the elementary level.
Because Independence Elementary serves only kindergarten through fifth grade, several common school metrics do not apply here. There is no graduation rate, no four-year or extended-year graduation data, and no chronic absenteeism rate reported. State science testing is administered only in grade five and is included in the school's proficiency results. A parent will also find no data on discipline, staffing ratios, or course access, as those fields were not available for this school. The school does not appear to have an identified Title I status, which aligns with the relatively low share of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch.
Overall, Independence Elementary offers a consistently strong academic record in an economically stable suburban setting. The student body is large but relatively homogeneous in terms of income. The district has made recent policy shifts that reflect broader cultural debates, so families should weigh those alongside the school's solid test results. The school is part of a county where district performance overall is high, and it sits near the top of that group. For a family whose priority is a reliably performing elementary within an affluent, growing suburb, this school is a strong candidate. Those seeking a more diverse student body in terms of income or race, or wanting detailed data on special education and English learner services, may want to investigate further with the school directly.
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