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#806 of 1,280 schools in IA

Independence Junior Senior High School

High School · Independence Comm School District · Independence, IA

An Independence Comm School District high school where students score 5 points below what's typical for similar communities.

700 20th Ave SW, Independence, IA 50644

  • Math 69% vs IA 70% (2025)
  • Reading 72% vs IA 76% (2025)
  • 87.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress6.6Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.61 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics4.9Below Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency69% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency71.7% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg-3.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-4.1 pts
Overall Proficiency70% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)76% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected-5.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile30th
College Readiness6.7Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate87%
AP Participation2.3%
IB ProgramYes
Resources & Environment4.5Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.5:1
District spending per student$12,940
Chronic Absenteeism18%

Students at Independence Junior Senior High School score 70% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 76%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 ISASP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.

Math Proficiency69%(2025 ISASP)
School
State
70%(2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency72%(2025 ISASP)
School
State
76%(2025 ISASP)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 5 points since 2020, to 70% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
87%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
87%
ELA
87%
2011
Math
75%
ELA
68%
2012
Math
79%
ELA
68%
2013
Math
86%
ELA
72%
2014
Math
83%
ELA
75%
2015
Math
81%
ELA
67%
2016
Math
85%
ELA
75%
2017
Math
85%
ELA
75%
2018
Math
77%
ELA
71%
2019
Math
77%
ELA
71%
2020*
Math
74%
ELA
77%
2021*
Math
74%
ELA
77%
2022
Math
71%
ELA
76%
2025
Math
69%
ELA
72%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 77% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 74% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 40 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

34.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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

The neighborhood

Where Independence Junior Senior High School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 11Car-Dependent
  • Bike 29Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: Elevated820/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Independence), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$79,861

Median home value

$174,000

Median rent

$770/mo

College educated

23.7%

Homeownership

77.6%

Poverty rate

7.2%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50644; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs1AP course offeredIB Programme
2.3% participation·State avg: 1.7 AP courses·0 IB enrolled·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics19sports offered
9 boys'·10 girls'·42 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

1 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Independence Christian AcademyPrivate · tuitionNot rated4–102.0 mi2Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Independence Comm School District

Schools in district
4
Rank in district
#3 of 4
District spending per student
$12,940NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
13.4%Census SAIPE · 2024

Independence Junior Senior High School is listed in Independence Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Independence Junior Senior High School

Independence Junior Senior High School is a public high school in Independence, IA, part of Independence Comm School District, serving approximately 724 students in grades 7th-12th with a 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 out of 10 and ranks #806 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 77% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Independence Junior Senior High School

What grades does Independence Junior Senior High School serve?

Independence Junior Senior High School serves students in grades 7th through 12th.

How many students attend Independence Junior Senior High School?

Independence Junior Senior High School has an enrollment of approximately 724 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Independence Junior Senior High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Independence Junior Senior High School is 16.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Independence Junior Senior High School rank in IA?

Independence Junior Senior High School ranks #806 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Independence Junior Senior High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Independence Junior Senior High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Independence Junior Senior High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Independence Junior Senior High School has 77% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Independence Junior Senior High School a charter school?

No, Independence Junior Senior High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Independence Junior Senior High School a Title I school?

No, Independence Junior Senior High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Independence Junior Senior High School?

34.7% of students at Independence Junior Senior High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
7th – 12th
Enrollment
724
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
44
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Town
County
Buchanan County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
18.0%
4-Year Graduation
87.0%
Area population (ZIP 50644)
8,475
Area average commute
22.7 min
Area median age
42.9
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 50644; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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