5.6 avg / 10

Best Schools in Independence, Missouri

39 schools · 25 Elementary · 6 Middle · 4 High · 4 Other

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 36

Private: 3

Districts: 3

Avg Rating: 5.6/10

Estimated Scores: 5%

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Independence?

Use this page to compare every school in Independence by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Explore the map How we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Elementary · Fort Osage R-i. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Elementary · Independence 30. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Independence for 2026 are Buckner Elem. (9.0/10), Procter Elem. (7.8/10), and Spring Branch Elem. (7.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 35 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Best value · beats the odds

Buckner Elem.

Rates 9.0/10 despite 40% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.0 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Independence schools.

Top-Rated Schools in Independence

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (35 of 39). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Buckner Elem.	9.0 / 10	Elementary	+3.0	98th
2	Procter Elem.	7.8 / 10	Elementary	+2.5	83th
3	Spring Branch Elem.	7.6 / 10	Elementary	+2.0	78th
4	Pioneer Ridge Middle	7.2 / 10	Middle	+1.5	70th
5	Mill Creek Elem.	7.1 / 10	Elementary	+1.5	67th
6	Randall Elem.	7.0 / 10	Elementary	+1.7	64th
7	Sycamore Hills Elem.	6.9 / 10	Elementary	+1.2	62th
8	Center Place Restoration School	6.8 / 10	Other	—	62th
9	William Southern Elem.	6.7 / 10	Elementary	+1.2	57th
10	Bingham Middle	6.7 / 10	Middle	+1.2	57th

See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 5.6/10
Median household income: $61,694
Median home value: $161,214
Bachelor's degree or higher: 19%
Avg commute: 25 min
Owner-occupied homes: 62%

How Independence compares

Missouri rank

#211 of 258

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.7

below Missouri avg (6.3)

Median household income

$62k

94% of Missouri median

Schools in this city

37

About Schools in Independence, Missouri

Independence, Missouri has 35 ranked public schools with a citywide average score of 5.2 out of 10. That average places the city in the middle of the performance spectrum — neither a standout market nor a struggling one. Only 5 schools, or 14% of the ranked pool, score 7 or higher, which tells parents that high-performing options exist but are genuinely selective, not broadly distributed across the city.

The top-rated school is William Yates Elementary, scoring 8.8 out of 10 — a clear outlier that sits 3.6 points above the city average. That gap signals real differentiation at the top of the market. Cler-Mont Elementary (7.8) and Three Trails Elementary (7.6) form a strong secondary tier, with Buckner Elementary (7.1) and Mill Creek Elementary (7.0) rounding out the list of 7-plus performers. All five schools above the 7-point threshold are elementary schools — a meaningful pattern for families thinking beyond the early grades, since the upper-grade landscape offers a narrower set of standout options.

The concentration of high scorers at the elementary level means the performance picture shifts as students advance. School attendance boundaries carry real weight here. Proximity to William Yates, Cler-Mont, or Three Trails can mean the difference between a school scoring near 9 and one landing closer to the city mean of 5.2. Families who don't research boundaries before choosing a neighborhood may find themselves assigned to a school well below what the top tier offers.

Parents researching Independence should map housing options against school boundaries before committing to a neighborhood. The city's 35 ranked schools span a meaningful range around that 5.2 average, but the highest-performing schools are elementary-level and geographically specific. Families with young children who prioritize academics gain the most from targeting the top-rated boundary zones early. Those with older students or flexibility across grade levels should look closely at individual school profiles to identify which options rise above the city norm.

Filter by Level: All Levels (39) Elementary (25) Middle (6) High (4)

Filter by Type: All Types (39) Public (36) Private (3)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (39) Academics (35) Growth (33) Diversity (33) Resources (35)

Filter by ZIP: 64056 (12) 64055 (9) 64050 (6) 64052 (5) 64057 (5)

Elementary Schools

25 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Buckner Elem. 320 students · Kindergarten–4th	320	Kindergarten–4th	9.0
2	Procter Elem. 200 students · Pre-K–5th	200	Pre-K–5th	7.8
3	Spring Branch Elem. 245 students · Pre-K–5th	245	Pre-K–5th	7.6
4	Mill Creek Elem. 274 students · Pre-K–5th	274	Pre-K–5th	7.1
5	Randall Elem. 280 students · Pre-K–5th	280	Pre-K–5th	7.0
6	Sycamore Hills Elem. 537 students · Pre-K–5th	537	Pre-K–5th	6.9
7	William Southern Elem. 452 students · Pre-K–5th	452	Pre-K–5th	6.7
8	Blackburn Elem. 365 students · Pre-K–5th	365	Pre-K–5th	6.6
9	Blue Hills Elem. 347 students · Kindergarten–4th	347	Kindergarten–4th	6.5
10	Glendale Elem. 391 students · Pre-K–5th	391	Pre-K–5th	6.4

Show all 25 elementary schools in Independence

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.

John W. Luff Elem. Thomas Hart Benton Elem. William Yates Elem. Bryant Elem. Elm Grove Elem. Indian Trails Elem. Little Blue Elementary Cler-mont Elem. Santa Fe Trail Elem. Korte Elem. Three Trails Elem. Ott Elem. Cassell Park Elementary Fairmount Elem. The Schoolhouse, Inc. Private

Middle Schools

6 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Pioneer Ridge Middle 817 students · 7th–8th	817	7th–8th	7.2
2	Bingham Middle 758 students · 7th–8th	758	7th–8th	6.7
3	Clifford H. Nowlin Middle 886 students · 6th–8th	886	6th–8th	6.2
4	Fire Prairie Middle 693 students · 5th–6th	693	5th–6th	5.7
5	Bridger Middle 696 students · 6th–6th	696	6th–6th	5.4
6	Osage Trail Middle 724 students · 7th–8th	724	7th–8th	3.1

High Schools

4 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	William Chrisman High 1,441 students · 9th–12th	1,441	9th–12th	5.9
2	Truman High 1,700 students · 9th–12th	1,700	9th–12th	5.0
3	Fort Osage High 1,575 students · 9th–12th	1,575	9th–12th	4.9
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Shelterwood Private 33 students · 8th–12th	33	8th–12th	6.1

Other Schools

4 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Early Childhood Ctr. 134 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	134	Pre-K–Pre-K	5.0
2	Sunshine Center 96 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	96	Pre-K–Pre-K	3.2
3	Hanthorn Early Education 8 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	8	Pre-K–Pre-K	—
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Center Place Restoration School Private 194 students · Pre-K–12th	194	Pre-K–12th	6.8

Schools in Independence

Independence, Missouri · 39 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 7 ZIP codes

Median Income

$61,694

Median Home Value

$161,214

Median Rent

$1,106/mo

Population

125,109

College Educated

19%

Homeownership

62%

Avg Commute

25 min

Poverty Rate

15.6%

Community Profile

Independence has a median household income of $61,694. It is a community where 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $161,214, with a median rent of $1,106/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.6%. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: Missouri
Elementary: 25
Middle: 6
High: 4
Other: 4

Resources

🔍 Google "Independence schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Independence 📊 Niche Independence Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (3)

BLUE SPRINGS R-IV

21 schools · 14,744 students

FORT OSAGE R-I

11 schools · 4,796 students

INDEPENDENCE 30

31 schools · 14,168 students

Nearby Cities

Sugar Creek (2 schools)

3 mi

Independnce (1 school)

5 mi

Blue Springs (20 schools)

Missouri City (1 school)

11 mi

Lee'S Summit (33 schools)

12 mi

Kansas City (197 schools)

10 mi

Grain Valley (8 schools)

10 mi

Gladstone (7 schools)

13 mi

Greenwood (1 school)

17 mi

Grandview (8 schools)

Oak Grove (4 schools)

15 mi

Other Major Cities in Missouri

Top metros statewide by school count.

St. Louis 290 schools Springfield 82 schools Columbia 47 schools St. Charles 41 schools Florissant 35 schools

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Independence, Missouri

How many schools are in Independence, Missouri?

Independence has 39 schools, including 36 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Independence, Missouri?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Independence is 5.6 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

What is the top-ranked school in Independence, Missouri?

The top-ranked school in Independence on MySchoolScout is Buckner Elem. with a composite score of 9.0/10.

What is the best elementary school in Independence, Missouri?

The top-ranked elementary school in Independence on MySchoolScout is Buckner Elem. with a composite score of 9.0/10.

What is the best middle school in Independence, Missouri?

The top-ranked middle school in Independence on MySchoolScout is Pioneer Ridge Middle with a composite score of 7.2/10.

What is the best high school in Independence, Missouri?

The top-ranked high school in Independence on MySchoolScout is Shelterwood with a composite score of 6.1/10.

How many school districts serve Independence, Missouri?

Independence is served by 3 school districts: Blue Springs R-iv, Fort Osage R-i, Independence 30.

What is the education level in Independence, Missouri?

According to Census data, 19% of adults in Independence have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Independence, Missouri?

The median household income in Independence is approximately $61,694 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Independence, Missouri?

Yes, Independence has 3 private schools alongside 36 public schools. The top-rated private school is Center Place Restoration School with a score of 6.8/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Independence, Missouri?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Independence is 13.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Independence, Missouri?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.