United StatesIAIndependence Community School District

School district or education agency · NCES 1914580

Independence Community School District

Independence, IA

Students1,480

Student membership reported by NCES for 2023–24.

Schools4

operational schools · 2023–24

Students1,480

students in linked records

Latest attendance year2022–23

federal comparable series

Latest finance record$12,274

per student

Student outcomes

How are students doing?

Four views answer different questions. State test percentages show grade-level expectations; the national research trend shows change over time; graduation and dropout measures describe high-school outcomes.

Nationally comparable trend · 2019–2025

Are results improving over time?

42ndlatest estimated national standing
20192022202320242025

10 percentile points lower than 2019.

Annual dropout · 2023–24

How many high-school students left during the year?

1.5%of students enrolled in grades 9–12
District1.5%
IA2.8%
U.S.2.6%

Lower is better. This annual rate is not the opposite of the graduation rate because the measures use different students and time periods.

State proficiency standards differ and should not be used for cross-state rankings. Graduation ranges and privacy protections are preserved exactly. The academic trend uses Stanford Education Data Archive estimates and is not a state proficiency percentage.

Graduation · 2022–23

How many students graduated within four years?

Loading the district's official graduation record…

What has changed?

The district’s recent direction

Each card uses its own clearly labeled period. Measures from different sources are never blended.

Academic standing9 percentile points

Lower than the first comparable year.

2019–2025 · Stanford research estimate
Chronic absence3.3 points

Higher than the first year. More students were chronically absent.

2020–21–2022–23
Enrollment+3.9%

Student enrollment grew.

2021–22 to 2023–24 · NCES
Operating spending+3.8%

Spending per student increased before adjusting for inflation.

FY 2022 to FY 2023 · NCES F-33
Enrollment 2023–24Finance 2022–23Attendance 2022–23State tests 2024–25 where published

Enrollment · 2023–24

Who attends this district?

Pre-K104 students
7.0%
Kindergarten–grade 5556 students
37.6%
Grades 6–8302 students
20.4%
Grades 9–12518 students
35.0%
See enrollment for every grade
Pre-Kindergarten104
Kindergarten104
Grade 189
Grade 288
Grade 3104
Grade 480
Grade 591
Grade 696
Grade 7114
Grade 892
Grade 9133
Grade 10131
Grade 11122
Grade 12132

Students by race and ethnicity

White1,343 (90.7%)
Two or more races68 (4.6%)
Hispanic/Latino59 (4.0%)
Black or African American8 (0.5%)
Asian1 (0.1%)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander1 (0.1%)

Final NCES Common Core of Data membership file, 2023–24. Suppressed or missing cells are not estimated.

Early learning · 2023–24

How much public pre-K is reported?

104Students enrolled in pre-K
2Pre-K teachers, full-time equivalent
53.1:1Reported pre-K students per pre-K teacher

Pre-K students as a share of district enrollment

District7.0%
IA5.8%
United States2.9%

Final NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2023–24. Enrollment shows children attending district-run public pre-K. It does not show open seats, waitlists, private providers, program hours, eligibility or the cost to families.

Current staffing · 2023–24

How many staff members support students?

207.3All district staff, full-time equivalent
102.4Teachers, full-time equivalent
4School counselors, full-time equivalent
32.9Instructional aides, full-time equivalent
0.8Librarians and media specialists, full-time equivalent
5School administrators, full-time equivalent
3.1Student support staff, full-time equivalent
See detailed staffing
Pre-K teachers2 FTE
Kindergarten teachers7.8 FTE
Elementary teachers57.4 FTE
Secondary teachers35.3 FTE
Instructional coordinators7.9 FTE
District administrators5.2 FTE
District administrative support5.3 FTE
School administrative support8 FTE
Library and media support2.8 FTE
Other support staff30 FTE

Final NCES Common Core of Data staff file, 2023–24. These are full-time-equivalent positions, not employee headcounts, vacancies or caseloads.

High-school outcomes · 2023–24

How many students completed school or dropped out?

111Total completers
110Regular diplomas
1Other state-recognized credentials
8Reported dropouts, grades 9–12

Regular diplomas among completers

District99.1%
IA99.5%
United States99.0%

Annual dropouts among students in grades 9–12

District1.5%
IA2.8%
United States2.6%

Final NCES Common Core of Data completer and dropout files, 2023–24. The dropout rate divides the reported annual grades 9–12 dropout count by complete grades 9–12 enrollment. It is not a cohort graduation rate. The diploma share describes credentials among completers and should not be read as a graduation rate.

Teachers and staff

Teacher workforce

Loading the district’s workforce comparison…

Community context · 2024

How many school-age children live in poverty?

This Census estimate provides context about families in the district. It does not measure school quality or describe every student enrolled in the district.

1,550children ages 5 to 17
207estimated to live in families below the poverty line
13.4%about 1 in 7 school-age children
District13.4%
IA12.1%
United States14.4%

U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. The estimate covers related children ages 5 to 17 in families in poverty and uses 2024–25 district boundaries.

District geography · 2024–25

What area does this district cover?

NCES publishes a geographic boundary for traditional school districts. Charter agencies and some special-purpose agencies may not have one.

Loading the official district boundary…

Source: NCES EDGE School District Boundaries, school year 2024–25.

Comparable districts

Districts serving a similar student population

These peers are matched using enrollment and available student population measures. Districts in IA receive geographic preference, but a closer national match may appear when it is more comparable. Open any profile for a full comparison.

District, state and country

How does this district compare?

State and national figures use the same measure and reporting period. They are weighted by students or staffing whenever the source provides a denominator.

MeasureDistrictIAUnited States
Academic standing2025
42nd percentile48th percentile45th percentile

This district is 6 percentile points lower than the state figure and 3 percentile points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students chronically absent2022–23
15.7%24.7%27.8%

This district is 9.0 percentage points lower than the state figure and 12.1 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Revenue per studentFY 2023
$16,184$17,383$19,509

This district is $1,199 per student lower than the state figure and $3,325 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Spending per studentFY 2023
$12,274$13,078$15,859

This district is $804 per student lower than the state figure and $3,585 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Capital outlay per studentFY 2023
$1,029$2,677$1,964

This district is $1,648 per student lower than the state figure and $935 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Equipment spending per studentFY 2023
$430$479$336

This district is $49 per student lower than the state figure and $94 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Special-education spending per studentFY 2023
$1,676$1,945$1,793

This district is $269 per student lower than the state figure and $117 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Salaries per studentFY 2023
$7,471$8,057$8,742

This district is $586 per student lower than the state figure and $1,271 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Benefits per studentFY 2023
$2,547$2,701$3,769

This district is $154 per student lower than the state figure and $1,222 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Debt outstanding per studentFY 2023
$6,706$10,269$11,715

This district is $3,563 per student lower than the state figure and $5,009 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Debt retired per studentFY 2023
$1,251$960$869

This district is $291 per student higher than the state figure and $382 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Students per teacher2023–24
14:114:115:1

This district is about the same as the state figure and 1.0 students per teacher lower than the U.S. figure.

Students per counselor2023–24
366:1348:1376:1

This district is 18 students per counselor higher than the state figure and 10 students per counselor lower than the U.S. figure.

District staff per 1,000 students2023–24
140.1153.3138.9

This district is 13.2 staff per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 1.2 staff per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.

Instructional aides per 1,000 students2023–24
22.228.218.5

This district is 6.0 aides per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 3.7 aides per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.

School psychologists per 1,000 students2023–24
0.00.60.9

This district is 0.6 psychologists per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 0.9 psychologists per 1,000 students lower than the U.S. figure.

Regular diplomas among completers2023–24
99.1%99.5%99.0%

This district is 0.4 percentage points lower than the state figure and 0.1 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Annual dropouts among students in grades 9–122023–24
1.5%2.8%2.6%

This district is 1.3 percentage points lower than the state figure and 1.1 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Pre-K students as a share of enrollment2023–24
7.0%5.8%2.9%

This district is 1.2 percentage points higher than the state figure and 4.1 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Students learning English2021–22 · reporting schools
0.2%7.7%12.0%

This district is 7.5 percentage points lower than the state figure and 11.8 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · reporting schools
13.4%12.9%14.0%

This district is 0.5 percentage points higher than the state figure and 0.6 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Teachers reported as certified2021–22 · reporting schools
100.0%100.0%95.8%

This district is about the same as the state figure and 4.2 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Enrollment change2021–22 to 2023–24
+3.9%+0.9%+0.5%

This district is 3.0 percentage points higher than the state figure and 3.4 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Students eligible for free or reduced-price meals2021–22 · valid district records
34.7%40.1%50.6%

This district is 5.4 percentage points lower than the state figure and 15.9 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · matched enrollment
12.2%13.2%9.0%

This district is 1.0 percentage points lower than the state figure and 3.2 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Students enrolled in district distance education2021–22 · matched enrollment
0.0%6.2%5.1%

This district is 6.2 percentage points lower than the state figure and 5.1 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

School-age children in poverty2024 Census estimate
13.4%12.1%14.4%

This district is 1.3 percentage points higher than the state figure and 1.0 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Learning support · 2021–22 federal snapshot

How many students may need specialized support?

Counts and shares use only schools with a usable value for that measure. The reporting-school denominator prevents missing schools from being counted as zero.

0.2%Students learning English2 students · 2 of 3 schools reported both this measure and enrollment
District0.2%
IA7.7%
U.S.12.0%
13.4%Students receiving IDEA special-education services188 students · 3 of 3 schools reported both this measure and enrollment
District13.4%
IA12.9%
U.S.14.0%
0.0%English learners also receiving IDEA services0 students · 3 of 3 schools reported both this measure and enrollment
District0.0%
IA1.2%
U.S.1.7%

U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Public-use counts are privacy-protected. These figures describe the reporting year, not current enrollment, diagnoses, service quality or unmet need.

Teacher quality and early learning · 2021–22

What did the district report about teachers and preschool?

100.0%Teachers reported as certified
99Children ages 3–5 in district preschool

Teacher certification comparison

District100.0%
IA100.0%
United States95.8%

U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Certification status is district-reported and may not match current staffing. Preschool counts cover the federal reporting year and are not a measure of available seats.

Academic results · 2025

How do results differ among student groups?

Students not economically disadvantaged726 assessments
50 out of 100
Mal588 assessments
44 out of 100
White students1,034 assessments
44 out of 100
Fem566 assessments
40 out of 100
Economically disadvantaged students428 assessments
31 out of 100

A score of 50 marks the national 2019 midpoint. Higher numbers indicate stronger results on the comparable Stanford research scale. This is not a state proficiency rate.

District makeup

What kinds of schools are in the district?

1Prekindergarten schools
2Elementary schools
1High schools
2Town setting
2Rural setting

School levels, settings and types use the NCES 2021–22 directory matched to the federal civil-rights collection.

District finances

How is the district funded, and how does it spend?

Sources of funds

Where the money comes from

Share of district revenue supplied by each level of government.

8.2%Federal
52.1%State
39.6%Local
Uses of funds

Where the money goes

Annual spending for each enrolled student.

$12,274Total current spending per student
$7,738Instruction per student
$4,135Support services per student
Revenue by source: percentages and dollars
$2MFederal revenue8.2% of total revenue
$12.6MState revenue52.1% of total revenue
$9.6MLocal revenue39.6% of total revenue
How operating money was used
$7,738Instructionper student
$4,135Student and instructional supportper student
$1,676Special educationper student
$1,180Building operations and maintenanceper student
$480Student transportationper student
$401Food servicesper student
$217Technologyper student
People costs
$11.2MSalaries$7,471 per student
$3.8MEmployee benefits$2,547 per student
Equipment, buildings and debt
$644KEquipmentFY 2023
$1.5MCapital outlay$1,029 per student
$895KConstructionincluded in capital outlay
$10MDebt outstanding at year end$6,706 per student
$0New debt issuedFY 2023
$1.9MDebt principal retiredFY 2023
$253KInterest paid on debtFY 2023
Selected federal program revenue
$223KTitle I$149 per student
$69KIDEA special education$46 per student
$16KCareer and technical education$11 per student
$416KChild nutrition$278 per student
What changed since FY 2022
Operating spending per student
FY 2022$11,829
FY 2023$12,274+3.8% year over year
Capital spending per student
FY 2022$1,717
FY 2023$1,029-40.1% year over year
Debt outstanding per student
FY 2022$7,957
FY 2023$6,706-15.7% year over year

Revenue shares and spending categories answer different questions and should not be added together. Source: NCES F-33 district finance, FY 2023.

Attendance

How has chronic absence changed?

2020–2112.4%

170 of 1,370 students

2021–2217.8%

248 of 1,397 students

2022–2315.7%

216 of 1,380 students

Specialized support and security · 2021–22

What specialized roles were reported?

0Sworn law-enforcement officer FTE4 reporting schools
0Security staff FTE4 reporting schools

Staffing is reported as full-time equivalents in the 2021–22 CRDC collection.

Learning opportunities

What do district schools offer?

Algebra I1 reporting schools
100%
Calculus1 reporting schools
100%
Biology1 reporting schools
100%
Chemistry1 reporting schools
100%
Physics1 reporting schools
100%
Computer science1 reporting schools
100%
Advanced Placement1 reporting schools
100%
Dual enrollment1 reporting schools
100%
Gifted programs4 reporting schools
75%
International Baccalaureate1 reporting schools
100%
Athletics1 reporting schools
100%

Shares use only schools for which the program was applicable and reported. A districtwide percentage does not guarantee availability at every grade or campus. Source: 2021–22 CRDC.

Safety and discipline

What was reported across district schools?

Counts are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Open a measure to see the schools behind the district total.

Technology and safety · 2021–22

What access and incident data is available?

Technology and incident figures are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Device counts describe the reporting year, not current inventory.

Six questions parents ask

What the available data says

Each answer shows its reporting year and opens a deeper comparison. Missing and suppressed results are never shown as zero.

Data status

8 of 8 national data layers are matched to this NCES district ID. Identity and school counts use NCES records. Academic estimates use SEDA, attendance uses EDFacts, finance uses NCES F-33, staffing and enrollment use 2023–24 NCES CCD where available, teacher certification, preschool and policy fields use the 2021–22 CRDC, and community poverty context uses Census SAIPE. Four-year graduation rates use 2022–23 EDFacts. Every detailed view preserves its reporting year.

See all sources →