Schools in Independence, OR

Independence, Oregon is home to three public schools serving about 2,149 students in grades K–12 — Independence Elementary School (K–5, 425 students), Talmadge Middle School (6–8, 716 students), and Central High School (9–12, 1,008 students) — all part of Central School District 13J.

The district as a whole ranks 120 out of 141 in Oregon, placing it in the 15th percentile with 1 star, and every one of the three schools ranks in the bottom 26% or lower statewide. No school beats the state average in math or science. Free and reduced lunch is above 93% at all three schools, and per-student spending is high, ranging from $18,410 to $19,907.

Talmadge Middle School is the relative standout: it has the highest math proficiency (19.8%) and science proficiency (18.1%) of the three, the lowest chronic absenteeism (34.9%), the highest rank percentile (26th), and the lowest student-teacher ratio (18.8). Central High School has the strongest ELA result (42.9%, just 0.9 points below the state) and the only graduation rate (77.3%, 5.7 points below the state), but its math (7%) and science (13.1%) are the lowest in the group. Independence Elementary School has the lowest ELA proficiency (26.8%), the highest chronic absenteeism (48.6%), and the lowest rank percentile (14th), though it also posted the biggest year-over-year gain, rising from the 3rd percentile in 2024–2025 to the 14th in 2025–2026. All three schools improved their rank percentile over the past year, but each still trails state averages in every subject.