Total enrollment
17,970
-1,213 (-6%) vs SY 2017-18
40 schools in Independence
Missouri · Public K-12
For families in Independence, public-school options total 40 K-12 campuses, with combined enrollment near 17,970 (27 elementary, 6 middle, and 5 high).
7-year change in Independence
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
36
+1 (+3%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
51%
was 62%
% Hispanic
22%
was 16%
% Black
14%
was 12%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
121,740
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Students
17,970
public K-12 · NCES
Schools
40
public K-12
About Independence
Independence is a high-population Missouri city in terms of public-school footprint, with 40 schools and 17,970 students total.
On the school-mix side, the city spans 27 elementary, 6 middle, 5 high, and 2 other.
Schools in Independence average about 449 students each, 18% above the Missouri norm.
Five-year track record. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 6%: 19,183 students in SY 2017-18 versus 17,970 in SY 2024-25. The school count climbed from 35 to 36 across the same 7-year window. On the demographic side, White enrollment moved from 62% to 51% over the same window.
On allk12, the community for Independence discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.