Summary:
Independence has one middle school, Independence Middle, serving grades 6–8 and 376 students. In 2025–26, its results were below Kansas in all three reported subjects: ELA by 2 percentage points, science by 5, and math by 8. The most important concern is that mathematics is the school’s largest overall gap with the state.
There is no other local middle school to rank above or below it, but results vary notably by grade. Grade 7 ELA is a clear strength: 54% of students were proficient, compared with 44% statewide, a 10-point advantage. Grade 8 math is the sharpest grade-level concern, at 28% proficient versus 40% statewide, a 12-point shortfall; grade 6 math was also 8 points below the state. Grade 7 math was nearly even with Kansas.
Results improved in ELA and science over the latest year, but math moved in the opposite direction. ELA rose 5 points at the school, compared with 1 point statewide, narrowing the gap by 4 points. Science rose 4 points while the state fell 3, narrowing that gap by 7 points. Math fell 2 points at the school as the state rose 2, widening the gap by 4 points. SchoolDigger’s school percentile rose from 37th in 2023–24 to 42nd in 2025–26; its latest rank was 214 of 368. The school reports a 12:1 student–teacher ratio and a 75% free/reduced-lunch rate for 2024–25. Chronic absenteeism was 15% in 2025–26, below the state’s 18%; without comparison schools, these context figures do not show how the measures relate to results.
Thank you for your feedback!