Independence Elementary

As a mid-tier elementary-level community in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Independence Elementary serves 583 students from grades pre-K through 5, one of the schools within York 03.

Within York 03, which oversees 24 schools and 16,034 students, Independence Elementary is one campus in the system.

Looking at the student body, Independence Elementary shows that the most-represented group is Black (42%), with the rest of the student body spread across multiple groups; the rest looks like 27% White, 17% Hispanic, 10% multiracial, 2% Asian. By comparison, York County as a whole is about 18% Black, so the school skews considerably more Black than its surroundings.

In terms of school funding signals, Staff filings list 42 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 13.9:1 students per teacher. The state averages about 13.3:1, putting this campus right in line with peers.

In the area at large, ACS estimates for York County put the typical household earns roughly $89,095 per year, roughly 39% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Independence Elementary is one of 69 public schools in York County (combined enrollment of about 52,364 students).

Nearest neighbor: Rock Hill High, around 0.2 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

The campus sits in a suburban setting.

Five-year trend. Over the past 7-year window, the student count rose 5%: 553 students in 2018 compared to 583 in 2025. White enrollment moved from 44% to 27% across the same window. The student-to-teacher ratio tightened from 16.8:1 in 2018 to 13.9:1 today.

In the discussion threads here, the feed for Independence Elementary typically covers school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.