VAN HORN HIGH

VAN HORN HIGH is one of the sizable secondary schools in INDEPENDNCE, Missouri, operated by INDEPENDENCE 30, with 1,067 students on its rolls from grades 9 through 12. Compared to the state average of about 501 students per school, that is 113% above typical.

INDEPENDENCE 30 comprises 29 schools with combined enrollment of 14,272 students; VAN HORN HIGH is among them.

On the student-mix side, VAN HORN HIGH lists that the most-represented group is Hispanic (39%), with the rest of the student body spread across multiple groups. Other groups include 35% White, 15% Black, 11% multiracial. By comparison, Jackson County as a whole is about 11% Hispanic, so the school skews noticeably more Hispanic than its surroundings.

On the income-and-resources front, On paper, VAN HORN HIGH has 64 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 16.8:1. The state averages around 12.2:1, so this campus is higher than the state norm typical. About 78% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy. Set against Jackson County (around 60%), the school's rate is somewhat above typical.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), VAN HORN HIGH tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 49.8% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 48.4%.

In the area at large, census data for Jackson County shows median household earnings sit near $68,577, about 34% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 10% of residents live below the federal poverty line. In all, Jackson County runs 244 public schools (combined enrollment of about 105,714 students), of which VAN HORN HIGH is one.

Nearest neighbor: FAIRMOUNT ELEM., around 1.1 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around VAN HORN HIGH. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts VAN HORN HIGH at 6th of 8; the average score across the group is 50.1%.

The campus sits in a commuter-belt setting.

Over the past 7-year window. VAN HORN HIGH's enrollment has climbed 12% since 2018, when it stood at 950 (now 1,067). The White share of enrollment shrank from 50% to 35% over that span.

On this page, the feed for VAN HORN HIGH typically covers school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.