Average
#1413 of 2,221 schools in MO
Thomas Hart Benton Elem.
Elementary School · Independence 30 · Independence, MO
An Independence 30 elementary school where students score 6 points above what's typical for similar communities.
429 S LESLIE, Independence, MO 64050
- Math 35% vs MO 48% (2025)
- Reading 36% vs MO 47% (2025)
- 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Thomas Hart Benton Elem. score 35% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 30%).
2025 MAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MO average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency has held near 35% across the 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 16 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 33% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 38% (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 39 test records from MO state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
88.4%
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Thomas Hart Benton Elem. sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Kansas City map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 40Car-Dependent
- Transit 26Some Transit
- Bike 23Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,110/100K
Powered by
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
$46,561
Median home value
$137,200
Median rent
$915/mo
College educated
15%
Homeownership
49.1%
Poverty rate
17.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 64050; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanthorn Early EducationEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | PK | 1.1 mi | 8 | Compare → |
| Center Place Restoration SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.8private | PK–12 | 1.2 mi | 194 | Compare → |
| Bryant Elem.Enrollment path unverified | 5.4 | PK–5 | 1.3 mi | 227 | Compare → |
| Santa Fe Trail Elem.Enrollment path unverified | 4.1 | PK–5 | 1.3 mi | 356 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Independence 30
- Schools in district
- 31
- Rank in district
- #16 of 28
- District spending per student
- $12,302NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 18.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
Thomas Hart Benton Elem. is listed in INDEPENDENCE 30; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Thomas Hart Benton Elem.
Thomas Hart Benton Elem. is a public elementary school in Independence, MO, part of Independence 30, serving approximately 397 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 out of 10 and ranks #1,413 of 2,221 schools in MO. State assessment records show 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Thomas Hart Benton Elem.
What grades does Thomas Hart Benton Elem. serve?
Thomas Hart Benton Elem. serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Thomas Hart Benton Elem.?
Thomas Hart Benton Elem. has an enrollment of approximately 397 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomas Hart Benton Elem.?
The student-teacher ratio at Thomas Hart Benton Elem. is 15.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Thomas Hart Benton Elem. rank in MO?
Thomas Hart Benton Elem. ranks #1,413 of 2,221 schools in MO.
What is Thomas Hart Benton Elem.'s MySchoolScout rating?
Thomas Hart Benton Elem. has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 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 Thomas Hart Benton Elem.?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Thomas Hart Benton Elem. has 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Thomas Hart Benton Elem. a charter school?
No, Thomas Hart Benton Elem. is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Thomas Hart Benton Elem. a Title I school?
No, Thomas Hart Benton Elem. is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Thomas Hart Benton Elem.?
88.4% of students at Thomas Hart Benton 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 397
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 25
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Jackson County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 27.2%
- Phone
- (816) 521-5390
- Area population (ZIP 64050)
- 20,528
- Area average commute
- 23.9 min
- Area median age
- 42.1
Official sources & links
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 MAP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MAP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- State assessments · 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 64050; 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
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