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Independence Junior High School

Public Grades 6-8

125^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,368 Illinois Middle Schools

Better than 91% of Illinois middle schools

Summary

Independence Junior High School is a public middle school located in Palos Heights, Illinois, serving grades 6-8 with a student enrollment of 208. The school is part of the Palos Heights School District 128, which is ranked 160 out of 811 school districts in Illinois and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Independence Junior High School consistently ranks among the top 20% of Illinois middle schools, with exceptional academic performance. In the 2024-2025 school year, 87.4% of students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, and 49.8% were proficient or better in Mathematics, significantly outperforming the state averages of 53.1% and 38.5%, respectively. The school's 8th-grade students also excelled on the Illinois Science Assessment, with 74.7% proficient or better, compared to the state average of 45.4%. This high level of achievement extends across various student subgroups, including female, male, Hispanic, white, special education, and low-socioeconomic status students.

When compared to nearby middle schools, such as Hamlin Upper Grade Center, Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School, and Jerling Junior High School, Independence Junior High School outperforms them significantly in academic achievement. This exceptional performance, coupled with the school's efficient use of resources, with a per-student expenditure of $17,673 in the 2023-2024 school year, makes Independence Junior High School a standout institution within the Palos Heights School District 128 and the state of Illinois.

236

Students ?

10.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,319

Per pupil spending ?

12%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6610 W Highland Dr
Palos Heights, IL 60463-2217

(708) 448-0737

District: Palos Heights School District 128

Students who attend Independence Junior High School usually attend:

High:

DD Eisenhower High School (Campus)

Feeder schools for Independence Junior High School:

Elementary:	Chippewa Elementary School
	Indian Hill
	Navajo Heights Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

84.7%

Hispanic:

9.7%

African American:

3.8%

See top rated Illinois middle schools

Compare Independence Junior High School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 89th percentile in 2015 → 91st in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Illinois average (71% vs 46% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 9% of Illinois middle schools

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school71%

District avg69%

Illinois avg46%

125^th of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Top 9%▲ up 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

160^th of 811Palos Heights School District 128 among Illinois districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	89.4	125 of 1368	90.9%	★★★★★
2024	77.6	258 of 1363	81.1%	★★★★☆
2023	79.5	228 of 1367	83.3%	★★★★☆
2022	77.9	245 of 1369	82.1%	★★★★☆
2021	77.4	225 of 1241	81.9%	★★★★☆
2019	83.8	184 of 1356	86.4%	★★★★☆
2018	91.9	78 of 1293	94.0%	★★★★★
2017	90.9	91 of 1293	93.0%	★★★★★
2016	85.9	139 of 1294	89.3%	★★★★☆
2015	87.7	145 of 1302	88.9%	★★★★☆
2014	78.0	253 of 1322	80.9%	★★★★☆
2013	75.7	296 of 1367	78.3%	★★★★☆
2012	78.8	231 of 1365	83.1%	★★★★☆
2011	78.7	228 of 1344	83.0%	★★★★☆
2010	77.8	253 of 1327	80.9%	★★★★☆
2009	76.9	272 of 1318	79.4%	★★★★☆
2008	75.6	295 of 1293	77.2%	★★★★☆
2007	83.3	125 of 1287	90.3%	★★★★★
2006	79.5	210 of 1272	83.5%	★★★★☆
2005	80.9	206 of 1209	83.0%	★★★★☆
2004	87.7	96 of 1204	92.0%	★★★★★
2003	82.4	189 of 1185	84.1%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	80.6	70 of 694	89.9%	★★★★★
2024	59.6	167 of 639	73.9%	★★★★☆
2023	64.5	132 of 674	80.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	87.2	129 of 1248	89.7%	★★★★☆
2024	72.5	284 of 1251	77.3%	★★★★☆
2023	80.9	193 of 1275	84.9%	★★★★☆
2022	80.5	199 of 1286	84.5%	★★★★☆
2021	70.7	250 of 1017	75.4%	★★★★☆
2019	84.3	151 of 1276	88.2%	★★★★☆
2018	92.1	61 of 1226	95.0%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	75.1	114 of 669	83.0%	★★★★☆
2024	61.4	191 of 643	70.3%	★★★★☆
2023	53.0	252 of 661	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.3	202 of 662	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	39.8	294 of 517	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	55.0	247 of 639	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	82.3	67 of 590	88.6%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	80.4	141 of 1229	88.5%	★★★★☆
2023	63.5	317 of 1234	74.3%	★★★★☆
2022	62.0	331 of 1221	72.9%	★★★★☆
2021	80.4	91 of 1019	91.1%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	89.0	117 of 1271	90.8%	★★★★★
2024	79.3	213 of 1264	83.1%	★★★★☆
2023	74.7	248 of 1292	80.8%	★★★★☆
2022	72.0	278 of 1286	78.4%	★★★★☆
2021	76.1	190 of 1048	81.9%	★★★★☆
2019	78.2	222 of 1296	82.9%	★★★★☆
2018	88.6	106 of 1223	91.3%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	84.8	96 of 812	88.2%	★★★★☆
2024	45.2	341 of 802	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.5	256 of 805	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	63.8	122 of 781	84.4%	★★★★☆
2021	49.1	184 of 548	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.0	168 of 792	78.8%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	83.5	111 of 884	87.4%	★★★★☆
2024	71.2	206 of 875	76.5%	★★★★☆
2023	75.1	173 of 895	80.7%	★★★★☆
2022	71.3	196 of 898	78.2%	★★★★☆
2021	76.1	143 of 813	82.4%	★★★★☆
2019	78.0	148 of 905	83.6%	★★★★☆
2018	85.6	81 of 889	90.9%	★★★★★

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Male (2025)91st percentile~ school

Disabled (2025)90th percentile~ school

Female (2025)90th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)89th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)88th percentile-3 vs school

White (2025)87th percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2025)83rd percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts87%+34 vs state

Science75%+29 vs state

Mathematics50%+11 vs state

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Schools Near Independence Junior High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ISA Science (2025)	IAR English Language Arts (2025)				IAR Mathematics (2025)				% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% DTP (2024)	% Meningococcal (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISA Science 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 6th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts All Grades	IAR Mathematics 6th Grade	IAR Mathematics 7th Grade	IAR Mathematics 8th Grade	IAR Mathematics All Grades	% Polio All Grades	% Measles All Grades	% Mumps All Grades	% Rubella All Grades	% Hepatitis B All Grades	% Varicella All Grades	% DTP All Grades	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Independence Junior High School	Public	6-8	6610 W Highland Dr	Palos Heights	60463	Cook County	Palos Heights School District 128	No	(n/a)	No	No	(708) 448-0737	236	22	10.9		200 (84.7%)	9 (3.8%)	23 (9.7%)	3 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	89.4	125^th of 1368 public middle schools	90.9%		77.6	258^th of 1363 public middle schools	81.1%	133	74.7	86.7	87.0	88.6	87.4	38.6	63.8	49.4	49.8	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	99.5	100.0	100.0	96.1	$17,319	$364	$16,954
Nathan Hale Middle School	Public	6-8	5220 135th St	Crestwood	60445	Cook County	Cook County School District 130	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 385-6690	334	30	11.1	65.3%	83 (24.9%)	75 (22.5%)	167 (50.0%)	6 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)	30.1	934^th of 1368 public middle schools	31.7%		30.4	895^th of 1363 public middle schools	34.3%	39	28.2	30.5	45.2	39.6	38.9	15.8	25.4	18.8	20.2	97.6	97.6	97.6	97.6	98.2	97.0	98.5	97.3	$21,381	$2,463	$18,919
Palos South Middle School	Public	6-8	13100 S 82nd Ave	Palos Park	60464	Cook County	Palos CCSD 118	No	(n/a)	No	No	(708) 448-5971	717	49	14.6	36.4%	542 (75.6%)	23 (3.2%)	107 (14.9%)	22 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	20 (2.8%)	94	67^th of 1368 public middle schools	95.1%		95	53^rd of 1363 public middle schools	96.1%	14	70.1	83.0	92.8	92.3	89.4	57.0	65.5	61.5	61.5	94.7	94.6	94.6	94.6	95.0	94.5	94.9	91.1	$16,731	$526	$16,205
Worth Junior High School	Public	6-8	11151 S New England Ave	Worth	60482	Cook County	Worth School District 127	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 448-2803	330	28	11.7	99.1%	204 (61.8%)	14 (4.2%)	101 (30.6%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.4%)	69.9	361^st of 1368 public middle schools	73.6%		65.6	391^st of 1363 public middle schools	71.3%	30	50.0	76.5	72.0	84.0	77.6	33.3	26.2	33.3	30.7	96.2	96.8	96.8	96.8	97.7	96.2	97.7	90.3	$19,496	$1,743	$17,753
Elden D Finley Junior High School	Public	6-8	10835 Lombard Ave	Chicago Ridge	60415	Cook County	Chicago Ridge School District 127-5	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 636-2005	405	35	11.5	64.9%	237 (58.5%)	27 (6.7%)	108 (26.7%)	7 (1.7%)	6 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.9%)	34.1	875^th of 1368 public middle schools	36.0%		25.4	995^th of 1363 public middle schools	27.0%	120	27.4	39.5	37.5	40.2	39.1	18.8	29.4	27.4	25.0	94.7	94.7	94.7	94.7	94.7	94.7	94.7	93.9	$18,102	$863	$17,239
Prairie Junior High School	Public	7-8	11910 S Kostner Ave	Alsip	60803	Cook County	Alsip-Hazlgrn-Oaklwn School District 126	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 371-3080	303	27	11.4	53.1%	97 (32.0%)	47 (15.5%)	143 (47.2%)	7 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.0%)	59.8	491^st of 1368 public middle schools	64.1%		47.3	629^th of 1363 public middle schools	53.9%	138	57.1		54.9	65.4	60.7		27.1	29.0	28.1	99.4	99.4	99.4	99.4	99.4	99.4	99.4	95.4	$23,234	$586	$22,648
Jack Hille Middle School	Public	6-8	5800 151st St	Oak Forest	60452	Cook County	Forest Ridge School District 142	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 687-5550	490	33	14.8	46.5%	234 (47.8%)	44 (9.0%)	165 (33.7%)	19 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (5.7%)	53.2	579^th of 1368 public middle schools	57.7%		44.2	682^nd of 1363 public middle schools	50.0%	103	37.3	64.0	50.0	44.9	53.1	39.0	34.2	27.2	33.5	99.2	99.2	99.2	99.2	99.4	98.8	99.4	97.6	$14,837	$698	$14,139
Hamlin Upper Grade Center	Public	6-8	12150 S Hamlin Ave	Alsip	60803	Cook County	Atwood Heights School District 125	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 597-1550	182	13	14.0	55.5%	53 (29.1%)	25 (13.7%)	98 (53.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.3%)	46.7	671^st of 1368 public middle schools	51.0%		55.3	520^th of 1363 public middle schools	61.8%	151	40.0	51.9	62.1	69.7	61.8	13.0	24.2	10.6	16.1	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	69.1	100.0	100.0	99.5	$16,547	$695	$15,852
Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School	Public	6-8	5345 W 99th St	Oak Lawn	60453	Cook County	Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(708) 499-6400	1,090	74	14.7	48.3%	402 (36.9%)	105 (9.6%)	522 (47.9%)	29 (2.7%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (2.7%)	68.5	383^rd of 1368 public middle schools	72.0%		70.9	335^th of 1363 public middle schools	75.4%	48	47.1	59.1	75.7	74.9	70.0	25.9	43.0	36.7	35.2	98.3	98.7	98.7	98.7	98.4	98.5	98.6	96.1	$15,654	$748	$14,906
Jerling Junior High School	Public	6-8	8851 W 151st St	Orland Park	60462	Cook County	Orland School District 135	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 364-3708	677	46	14.5		513 (75.8%)	21 (3.1%)	97 (14.3%)	27 (4.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (2.7%)	78.5	263^rd of 1368 public middle schools	80.8%		77.8	254^th of 1363 public middle schools	81.4%	9	57.9	75.8	73.1	77.4	75.5	33.6	47.9	42.1	41.2	98.1	98.1	98.1	98.1	97.5	97.8	98.3	96.0	$18,501	$517	$17,984

Frequently Asked Questions about Independence Junior High School

What high school do graduates of Independence Junior High School attend?

Students who attend Independence Junior High School usually go on to attend DD Eisenhower High School (Campus)

How many students attend Independence Junior High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 236 students attended Independence Junior High School.

What district is Independence Junior High School in?

Palos Heights School District 128

What is the racial makeup of Independence Junior High School?

Students at Independence Junior High School are 85% White, 10% Hispanic, 4% African American, 1% Asian.

Is Independence Junior High School a good school?

Yes. Independence Junior High School ranks in the top 9.1% of Illinois middle schools.

Rate Independence Junior High School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.