Average
#959 of 2,221 schools in MO
Top 43% in state
William Southern Elem.
Elementary School · INDEPENDENCE 30
4300 S PHELPS RD, Independence, MO 64055
Enrollment
452
Student-Teacher
18.1:1
Score
6.7
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
452
Student-Teacher
18.1:1
Score
6.7
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Missouri schools
#959 of 2,221
In Independence
#8 of 35
public schools
In district
#8 of 28
INDEPENDENCE 30
Academic growth
8.4 / 10
Excellent
Shortlisting around William Southern Elem.?
Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.
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Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
William Southern Elem.
Elementary School in Independence · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Sycamore Hills Elem.
0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
The Schoolhouse, Inc.
1.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About William Southern Elem.
William Southern Elem. is a public elementary school in Independence, MO, part of INDEPENDENCE 30. William Southern Elem. serves approximately 452 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 18.1:1 student-teacher ratio. William Southern Elem. has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 out of 10 and ranks #959 of 2,221 schools in MO.
Structured state assessment records for William Southern Elem. show 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
- This school 6.7 · Average
- District avg 5.7
- MO avg 6.4
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
William Southern Elem. — Students at William Southern Elem. score 41% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 35%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
75.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MO MAP (2024-25)
Based on 40 test records from MO state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage 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: 8.4/10.
How William Southern Elem. Compares
See how William Southern Elem. performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
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. ROBINSON ELEM. (rated 8.4/10, 3.6 miles away, in nearby Raytown), which scores notably higher. Another option is VOY SPEARS JR. ELEM. (rated 7.9/10, 2.3 miles away, in nearby Lee'S Summit), which scores notably higher. Additionally, PROCTER ELEM. (rated 7.8/10, 3.4 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 | 6.9 |
| THE SCHOOLHOUSE, INC. Independence | 1.0 mi | — |
| TRUMAN HIGH Independence | 1.4 mi | 5.0 |
| JOHN W. LUFF ELEM. Independence | 1.5 mi | 6.4 |
| WILLIAM YATES ELEM. Independence | 1.6 mi | 5.5 |
| HANTHORN EARLY EDUCATION Independence | 2.2 mi | — |
| FLEETRIDGE ELEM. Kansas City | 2.0 mi | 7.0 |
| GLENDALE ELEM. Independence | 2.2 mi | 6.4 |
| LITTLE BLUE ELEMENTARY Kansas City | 2.3 mi | 6.5 |
| VOY SPEARS JR. ELEM. Lee'S Summit | 2.3 mi | 7.9 |
| SANTA FE TRAIL ELEM. Independence | 2.8 mi | 4.1 |
| NORFLEET ELEM. Kansas City | 2.7 mi | 5.0 |
| BLACKBURN ELEM. Independence | 2.8 mi | 6.6 |
| THREE TRAILS ELEM. Independence | 2.6 mi | 3.7 |
| THOMAS HART BENTON ELEM. Independence | 3.2 mi | 5.7 |
| PROCTER ELEM. Independence | 3.4 mi | 7.8 |
| BRIDGER MIDDLE Independence | 3.4 mi | 5.4 |
| CASSELL PARK ELEMENTARY Independence | 3.3 mi | 3.5 |
| BINGHAM MIDDLE Independence | 3.6 mi | 6.7 |
| ROBINSON ELEM. Raytown | 3.6 mi | 8.4 |
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
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| ABRAHAM MALLINSON ELEMENTARY Sugar Creek, MO | 6.7 |
| CARMAN TRAILS ELEM. Manchester, MO | 6.7 |
| CASSVILLE INTERMEDIATE Cassville, MO | 6.7 |
| DAVID BARTON ELEM. Boonville, MO | 6.7 |
| LESLIE BELL ELEM. Lexington, MO | 6.7 |
| MARVIN ELEM. St. Louis, MO | 6.7 |
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. ranks #959 of 2,221 schools in MO.
What is William Southern Elem.'s MySchoolScout rating?
William Southern Elem. has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 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 William Southern Elem.?
Based on loaded state assessment records, William Southern Elem. has 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
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.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
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
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 22.8%
- Phone
- (816) 521-5475
Resources & Links
District
INDEPENDENCE 30- District Enrollment
- 14,168
- Schools in District
- 31
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,302
- District Rank
- #8 of 28
Other Schools in This District
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