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Independence Elementary

Q: Is Independence Elementary a good school?

Independence Elementary ranks 781 st of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

781^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 30% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Independence Elementary is a PK-5 school in Independence, Virginia, serving 287 students in Grayson County Public Schools, a district rated above average statewide. The school serves a predominantly low-income population, with 93% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024-25, and maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.5:1.

However, Independence Elementary's academic performance has declined significantly in recent years. After ranking in the 75th percentile statewide in 2015-16 and the 71st percentile in 2020-21, the school dropped to the 30th percentile in 2025-26, earning a 1-star rating. This places it below every comparable nearby school, including Grayson Highlands (60th percentile), Fairview Elementary (65th percentile), and Speedwell Elementary (86th percentile). Proficiency rates trail district and state averages in nearly every subject, with 5th grade science a particular concern: only 48.8% of students are proficient, compared to the state average of 68.8%. The school also shows uneven results across student groups, with female students ranking in the 13th percentile statewide while male students rank in the 55th percentile.

There are some positive notes. The school's chronic absenteeism rate of 10.3% is well below the district and state averages, indicating attendance is not a major issue. Fourth grade reading proficiency reached 74.5%, slightly above the state average, and 4th grade Virginia Studies scores improved significantly year over year. However, the school spends only about $8,651 per student, one of the lowest levels among nearby schools, compared to roughly $11,700 at Grayson Highlands and $13,400 at Fries Elementary. Overall, Independence Elementary appears to be a school with healthy attendance and reasonable class sizes that would benefit from targeted instructional support in science and stronger alignment with the practices of higher-performing schools in the same district.

287

Students ?

12.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,651

Per pupil spending ?

93%

Free/discounted lunch ?

915 E Main St
Independence, VA 24348-0429

(276) 773-2722

District: Grayson County Public Schools

Students who attend Independence Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Independence Middle
High:	Grayson County High

Racial breakdown:

White:

78.0%

Hispanic:

12.9%

Two or more races:

4.5%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 75th percentile in 2016 → 30th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (65% vs 72% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 45 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school65%

District avg69%

Virginia avg72%

781^st of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 30%▼ down 45 pts since 2016

From top 25% (2016) to bottom 30% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 4Elementary Schools in the Grayson County Public Schools

37^th of 131Grayson County Public Schools among Virginia 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	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	35.6	781 of 1111	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	38.7	730 of 1110	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.2	724 of 1114	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	62.5	440 of 1114	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	69.8	359 of 1109	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	71.2	324 of 1103	70.6%	★★★★☆
2019	64.1	434 of 1105	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.5	574 of 1097	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2017	63.4	409 of 1099	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	71.9	278 of 1096	74.6%	★★★★☆
2015	79.1	163 of 1100	85.2%	★★★★☆
2014	54.6	530 of 1110	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2013	29.8	883 of 1120	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	43.6	727 of 1117	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	44.7	722 of 1117	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2010	24.2	995 of 1113	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	32.3	893 of 1082	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	30.5	890 of 1081	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	21.7	982 of 1083	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	26.8	935 of 1071	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	25.5	917 of 1062	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	19.3	955 of 1100	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.4	858 of 1096	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	36.2	769 of 1098	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.4	570 of 1100	48.2%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2023	35.2	400 of 564	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	42.9	658 of 1040	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	45.1	597 of 1046	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.2	538 of 1036	48.1%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	57.7	497 of 1099	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	52.4	548 of 1093	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.1	642 of 1101	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	71.8	292 of 1093	73.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	16.9	897 of 974	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	15.3	893 of 973	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	25.0	804 of 979	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	43.7	614 of 984	37.6%	★★☆☆☆

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 (2026)55th percentile+25 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)37th percentile+7 vs school

Hispanic (2023)29th percentile-31 vs school

Female (2026)13th percentile-17 vs school

White (2026)8th percentile-22 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

English Reading68%-3 vs state

Mathematics67%-6 vs state

VA Studies65%-6 vs state

Science49%-20 vs state

★

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Schools Near Independence Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SOL Mathematics (2026)					SOL Science (2026)	SOL English Reading (2026)					SOL Civics and Economics (2026)	SOL VA Studies (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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 (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Mathematics 3rd Grade	SOL Mathematics 4th Grade	SOL Mathematics 5th Grade	SOL Mathematics 6th Grade	SOL Mathematics 7th Grade	SOL Science 5th Grade	SOL English Reading 3rd Grade	SOL English Reading 4th Grade	SOL English Reading 5th Grade	SOL English Reading 6th Grade	SOL English Reading 7th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 7th Grade	SOL VA Studies 4th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Independence Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	915 E Main St	Independence	24348	Grayson County	Grayson County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 773-2722	287	23	12.5	93.0%	224 (78.0%)	12 (4.2%)	37 (12.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.5%)	35.6	781^st of 1111 public elementary schools	29.7%		38.7	730^th of 1110 public elementary schools	34.2%	51	61.1	68.6	70.7			48.8	61.1	74.5	65.9				64.7	$8,651	$1,874	$6,777
Fries Elementary	Public	PK, KG-7	114 E Main St	Fries	24330	Grayson County	Grayson County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 744-7201	231	25	9.0	95.7%	207 (89.6%)	3 (1.3%)	10 (4.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.3%)	40.1	735^th of 1111 public elementary schools	33.8%		59.9	475^th of 1110 public elementary schools	57.2%	260	82.6	76.7	61.9	71.9	66.7	61.9	56.5	60.0	57.1	78.1	71.4	71.4	50.0	$13,383	$2,176	$11,207
Galax Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	300 McArthur Street	Galax	24333	Galax city	Galax City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 236-6159	667	49	13.6	99.7%	394 (59.1%)	26 (3.9%)	210 (31.5%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (5.1%)	45.6	669^th of 1111 public elementary schools	39.8%		37.8	743^rd of 1110 public elementary schools	33.1%	74	76.5	73.2	73.9			63.0	71.6	71.3	68.5				58.3	$9,432	$1,760	$7,672
Fairview Elementary	Public	K-5	2323 Fairview Rd	Galax	24333	Galax city	Grayson County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 236-2365	146	14	10.5	94.5%	128 (87.7%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (8.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (4.1%)	67.3	384^th of 1111 public elementary schools	65.4%		84.7	127^th of 1110 public elementary schools	88.6%	257	76.5	88.6	73.7			72.2	64.7	85.7	73.7				80.0	$11,444	$1,926	$9,518
Speedwell Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6820 Cedar Springs Rd	Speedwell	24374	Wythe County	Wythe County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 621-4622	123	12	9.9	82.1%	116 (94.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.6%)	83.5	152^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	86.3%		67.1	391^st of 1110 public elementary schools	64.8%	239	95.5	95.2	94.1			81.3	81.8	76.2	93.8				85.7	$11,315	$2,711	$8,604
Grayson Highlands	Public	PK, KG-7	6459 Troutdale Hwy.	Troutdale	24378	Grayson County	Grayson County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 579-2235	156	15	10.6	95.5%	141 (90.4%)	3 (1.9%)	6 (3.8%)	3 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.9%)	62.7	442^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	60.2%		71.8	327^th of 1110 public elementary schools	70.5%	115	79.2	80.0	81.3	71.4	88.9	75.0	75.0	80.0	62.5	78.6	94.4	77.8	80.0	$11,735	$1,203	$10,532
Gladeville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3117 Glendale Rd	Galax	24333	Galax city	Carroll County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 236-5449	259	19	13.9	91.1%	203 (78.4%)	6 (2.3%)	41 (15.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.5%)	43	701^st of 1111 public elementary schools	36.9%		46.3	650^th of 1110 public elementary schools	41.4%	51	69.1	80.0	72.7			51.5	54.8	74.3	69.7				74.3	$8,635	$1,078	$7,557
Oakland Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4930 Pipers Gap Road	Galax	24333	Galax city	Carroll County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 236-3049	196	16	12.2	92.9%	148 (75.5%)	3 (1.5%)	37 (18.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.1%)	38.4	751^st of 1111 public elementary schools	32.4%		56.9	517^th of 1110 public elementary schools	53.4%	234	74.2	47.8	53.6			75.0	71.0	56.5	78.6				47.6	$10,431	$899	$9,532
Sugar Grove Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	242 Teas Rd	Sugar Grove	24375	Smyth County	Smyth County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 677-3311	88	11	8.1	95.5%	85 (96.6%)	2 (2.3%)	1 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	72.1	319^th of 1111 public elementary schools	71.3%		64.5	429^th of 1110 public elementary schools	61.4%	110	87.5	76.9	84.6			76.9	87.5	84.6	84.6				61.5	$15,481	$3,472	$12,008
Laurel Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	26 Pleasant View Road	Austinville	24312	Wythe County	Carroll County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 728-9247	199	17	11.6	91.5%	186 (93.5%)	4 (2.0%)	5 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.0%)	41.8	711^th of 1111 public elementary schools	36.0%		48	627^th of 1110 public elementary schools	43.5%	84	67.9	75.0	67.7			64.7	60.7	62.5	73.5				70.8	$9,187	$719	$8,468

Frequently Asked Questions about Independence Elementary

How many students attend Independence Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 287 students attended Independence Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Independence Elementary?

Students at Independence Elementary are 78% White, 13% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 4% African American.

What district is Independence Elementary in?

Grayson County Public Schools

What schools do graduates of Independence Elementary attend?

Students who attend Independence Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Independence Middle
High : Grayson County High

Is Independence Elementary a good school?

Independence Elementary ranks 781^st of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Rate Independence Elementary!

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2025–26 SOL test scoresAug 25, 2026

2021–22 school spending dataFeb 16, 2026

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataFeb 10, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 6, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Virginia Department 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.