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Excellent

#158 of 2,221 schools in MO

Top 7% in state

Independence Elem.

Elementary School · FRANCIS HOWELL R-III

4800 MEADOWS PKWY, St. Charles, MO 63304

Enrollment

739

Student-Teacher

13.9:1

Score

8.5

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Missouri schools

#158 of 2,221

In St. Charles

#5 of 33

public schools

In district

#1 of 21

FRANCIS HOWELL R-III

Academic performance

9.5 / 10

Excellent

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Independence Elem.

8.5/10

Elementary School in St. Charles · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Early Child. Family Educ. Ctr

5.0/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Bryan Middle

5.8/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Independence Elem.

Independence Elem. is a public elementary school in St. Charles, MO, part of FRANCIS HOWELL R-III. Independence Elem. serves approximately 739 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio.

Independence Elem. has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10 and ranks #158 of 2,221 schools in MO. Structured state assessment records for Independence Elem. show 71% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.3 pts above district
  • This school 8.5 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.2
  • MO avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

Independence Elem. sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.5Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data16
Annual Change+2.92 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendImproving
Academics9.5Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency71.5% (2025 MAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency73.1% (2025 MAP)
Math vs. State Avg+23.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+26.8 pts
Overall Proficiency72% (2025 MAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)59% (model expectation from 2025 MAP)
vs. Expected+13.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile92th
Resources & Environment6.9Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,462
Chronic Absenteeism11.4%

Independence Elem. — Students at Independence Elem. score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 59%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

11.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MO MAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 71.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
47.4% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)
ELA Proficiency 73.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
47.0% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)

Based on 39 test records from MO state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
75%
ELA
67%
2010
Math
69%
ELA
67%
2011
Math
71%
ELA
71%
2012
Math
75%
ELA
74%
2013
Math
75%
ELA
73%
2014
Math
75%
ELA
88%
2015
Math
83%
ELA
87%
2016
Math
82%
ELA
89%
2017
Math
72%
ELA
77%
2018
Math
70%
ELA
71%
2019
Math
70%
ELA
71%
2020*
Math
63%
ELA
69%
2021*
Math
63%
ELA
69%
2022
Math
67%
ELA
65%
2024
Math
67.1%
ELA
71.6%
2025
Math
71.5%
ELA
73.1%

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

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.5/10.

How Independence Elem. Compares

See how Independence Elem. performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.5/10
93th percentile in MO
Academic
9.5/10
Excellent
Growth
8.5/10
Excellent
Environment
6.9/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
12%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
53 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
11.4%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

4800 MEADOWS PKWY, St. Charles, MO 63304

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Independence Elem. may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. EMGE ELEM. (rated 9.1/10, 4.3 miles away, in nearby O'Fallon), which scores slightly higher. Another option is WARREN ELEM. (rated 8.4/10, 3.7 miles away, in nearby St. Peters), with a very similar rating. Additionally, CHESTERFIELD ELEM. (rated 8.4/10, 4.0 miles away, in nearby Chesterfield), with a very similar rating. For more schools in St. Charles, see our St. Charles schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.9 mi
School Distance Rating
EARLY CHILD. FAMILY EDUC. CTR St. Charles 0.2 mi 5.0
BRYAN MIDDLE St. Charles 0.3 mi 5.8
FRANCIS HOWELL MIDDLE St. Charles 1.0 mi 7.2
ST JOSEPH SCHOOL St. Charles 2.6 mi 4.3
SAEGER MIDDLE St. Charles 2.9 mi 5.9
FRANCIS HOWELL CENTRAL HIGH St. Charles 3.0 mi 5.2
PHEASANT POINT ELEM. O'Fallon 3.2 mi 7.9
FRANCIS HOWELL HIGH St. Charles 2.7 mi 6.6
FT. ZUWMALT WEST MIDDLE O'Fallon 3.3 mi 8.2
WARREN ELEM. St. Peters 3.7 mi 8.4
JOHN WELDON ELEM. Dardenne Prairie 3.2 mi 7.8
BARAT ACADEMY Chesterfield 3.9 mi 7.8
BARAT ACADEMY Chesterfield 3.9 mi 7.5
CHESTERFIELD ELEM. Chesterfield 4.0 mi 8.4
HOLLENBECK MIDDLE St. Charles 3.8 mi 5.9
EMGE ELEM. O'Fallon 4.3 mi 9.1
CENTRAL ELEM. St. Charles 3.9 mi 7.2
EARLY CHILD FAMILY EDUC. CTR. St. Charles 4.0 mi 4.0
Boonslick St. Peters 4.8 mi
CASTLIO ELEM. St. Charles 3.9 mi 8.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 63304 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$114,124

Median Home Value

$331,300

Median Rent

$1,618/mo

Population

43,389

College Educated

48%

Homeownership

88.4%

Avg Commute

24.9 min

Poverty Rate

4%

Median Age

41.3

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
CENTRAL ELEM. Union, MO 8.5
ELLISVILLE ELEM. Ellisville, MO 8.5
SWEENY ELEMENTARY Republic, MO 8.5
CARVER DUAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL Kansas City, MO 8.4
PRICE ELEMENTARY Republic, MO 8.6
VINELAND ELEM. Desoto, MO 8.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Independence Elem.

What grades does Independence Elem. serve?

Independence Elem. serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Independence Elem.?

Independence Elem. has an enrollment of approximately 739 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Independence Elem.?

The student-teacher ratio at Independence Elem. is 13.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Independence Elem. rank in MO?

Independence Elem. ranks #158 of 2,221 schools in MO.

What is Independence Elem.'s MySchoolScout rating?

Independence Elem. has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 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 Elem.?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Independence Elem. has 71% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Independence Elem. a charter school?

No, Independence Elem. is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Independence Elem. a Title I school?

No, Independence Elem. is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Independence Elem.?

11.6% of students at Independence Elem. qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
6 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
28 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
739
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
53
Free/Reduced Lunch
11.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
St. Charles County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
11.4%

District

FRANCIS HOWELL R-III
District Enrollment
17,241
Schools in District
23
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,462
District Rank
#1 of 21

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