Needs Improvement
#2214 of 2,216 schools in MO
William Southern Elem.
Elementary School · INDEPENDENCE 30
4300 S PHELPS RD, Independence, MO 64055
Enrollment
452
Student-Teacher
18.1:1
Score
2.3
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
452
Student-Teacher
18.1:1
Score
2.3
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Independence
#35 of 35
public schools
Missouri elementary schools
#1,200 of 1,202
In district
#28 of 28
INDEPENDENCE 30
About William Southern Elem.
William Southern Elem is a regular public elementary school located in Independence, Missouri. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, the school has an enrollment of 452 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 18.1:1 with 25 full-time equivalent teachers. The academic performance at William Southern Elem shows room for improvement, as reflected by its MySchoolScout rating of 3.2 out of 10 and state ranking of #2075 out of 2234 schools in Missouri (placing it in the 7th percentile).
The school’s ELA/Reading proficiency rate is 40%, while Math proficiency stands at 34%. These numbers indicate areas where focused attention could enhance student outcomes. William Southern Elem sits in a large suburban area, offering students access to typical amenities of this setting such as parks and community centers.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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William Southern Elem. — Students at William Southern Elem. score 24% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 31%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
75.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MO EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 test records from MO state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 1.3/10.
How William Southern Elem. Compares
See how William Southern Elem. performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 52% (2019) to 22% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 57% (2019) to 27% (2022).
Location
4300 S PHELPS RD, Independence, MO 64055
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering William Southern Elem. may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. WILLIAM YATES ELEM. (rated 8.4/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is THREE TRAILS ELEM. (rated 7.8/10, 2.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, GLENDALE ELEM. (rated 6.7/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Independence, see our Independence schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.6 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| SYCAMORE HILLS ELEM. Independence | 0.7 mi | 6.3 |
| THE SCHOOLHOUSE, INC. Independence | 1.0 mi | — |
| TRUMAN HIGH Independence | 1.4 mi | 3.8 |
| JOHN W. LUFF ELEM. Independence | 1.5 mi | 5.5 |
| WILLIAM YATES ELEM. Independence | 1.6 mi | 8.4 |
| HANTHORN EARLY EDUCATION Independence | 2.2 mi | — |
| FLEETRIDGE ELEM. Kansas City | 2.0 mi | 3.4 |
| GLENDALE ELEM. Independence | 2.2 mi | 6.7 |
| LITTLE BLUE ELEMENTARY Kansas City | 2.3 mi | 4.5 |
| VOY SPEARS JR. ELEM. Lee's Summit | 2.3 mi | 6.5 |
| SANTA FE TRAIL ELEM. Independence | 2.8 mi | 3.8 |
| NORFLEET ELEM. Kansas City | 2.7 mi | 3.7 |
| BLACKBURN ELEM. Independence | 2.8 mi | 4.6 |
| THREE TRAILS ELEM. Independence | 2.6 mi | 7.8 |
| THOMAS HART BENTON ELEM. Independence | 3.2 mi | 5.4 |
| PROCTER ELEM. Independence | 3.4 mi | 6.5 |
| BRIDGER MIDDLE Independence | 3.4 mi | 6.5 |
| CASSELL PARK ELEMENTARY Independence | 3.3 mi | 3.1 |
| BINGHAM MIDDLE Independence | 3.6 mi | 4.1 |
| ROBINSON ELEM. Raytown | 3.6 mi | 6.1 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 64055 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$64,646
Median Home Value
$173,400
Median Rent
$1,098/mo
Population
36,092
College Educated
23.9%
Homeownership
69.5%
Avg Commute
23.5 min
Poverty Rate
13%
Median Age
40
Community Profile
The community surrounding William Southern Elem. has a median household income of $64,646. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $173,400, with a median rent of $1,098/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.0%. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| CARROLLTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Carrollton, MO | 2.3 |
| BARRINGTON ELEM. Florissant, MO | 2.5 |
| WALKER ELEM. Florissant, MO | 2.5 |
| BROWN ELEM. Florissant, MO | 2.7 |
| MINNIE CLINE ELEM. Savannah, MO | 2.8 |
| ELM GROVE ELEM. Independence, MO | 2.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about William Southern Elem.
What grades does William Southern Elem. serve?
William Southern Elem. serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend William Southern Elem.?
William Southern Elem. has an enrollment of approximately 452 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at William Southern Elem.?
The student-teacher ratio at William Southern Elem. is 18.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does William Southern Elem. rank in MO?
William Southern Elem. is ranked #2214 out of 2,216 schools in MO.
What is William Southern Elem.'s MySchoolScout rating?
William Southern Elem. has a composite rating of 2.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at William Southern Elem.?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, William Southern Elem. has 33.7% math proficiency and 40.3% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is William Southern Elem. a charter school?
No, William Southern Elem. is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is William Southern Elem. a Title I school?
No, William Southern Elem. is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for William Southern Elem.?
75.4% of students at William Southern 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (4,110/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Independence). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 452
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 25
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 75.4%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Jackson County
- Phone
- (816) 521-5475
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
INDEPENDENCE 30- District Enrollment
- 14,168
- Schools in District
- 31
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,302
- District Rank
- #28 of 28
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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