Little Blue Elementary

Q: Is Little Blue Elementary a good school?

Little Blue Elementary ranks 397 th of 898 Missouri elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Little Blue Elementary is a public elementary school in Independence, Missouri, serving 295 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Independence 30 school district, which is ranked 235 out of 376 districts in the state.

Little Blue Elementary stands out for its higher percentage of White students (60.68%) compared to nearby schools, which range from 41.92% to 58.06% White students. The school also has a lower percentage of African American students (13.56%) compared to the nearby schools, which range from 15.86% to 24.62%. In terms of academic performance, Little Blue Elementary had higher proficiency rates in English Language Arts (ELA) across all grade levels compared to the district and state averages, but lower math proficiency rates, particularly in 3rd and 4th grades. However, the school's 5th-grade science proficiency rate was higher than the district and state averages.

Little Blue Elementary serves a relatively economically disadvantaged population, with 46.48% to 54.42% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch over the past three years, which is higher than the nearby schools. The school also had the highest spending per student among the nearby schools, ranging from $11,897 to $14,708 over the past four years, and a lower student-teacher ratio compared to the nearby schools. When compared to the nearby Blue Springs R-IV district, which demonstrates higher overall academic achievement, Little Blue Elementary's performance is mixed, with strengths in ELA but challenges in math.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

2020 Quail Drive
Independence, MO 64057-2052

(816) 521-5480

District: Independence 30

SchoolDigger Rank:
397^th of 898 Missouri Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,708

Students who attend Little Blue Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Bridger Middle
	Pioneer Ridge Middle
High:	Truman High

Student/teacher ratio: 13.4

Number of students: 295

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.7%

African American:

13.6%

Hispanic:

11.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 53.2%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Little Blue Elementary ranks better than 55.8% of elementary schools in Missouri. It also ranks 5^th among 19 ranked elementary schools in the Independence 30 School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 55.12. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (60.7%), African American (13.6%), Hispanic (11.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 53.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Little Blue Elementary is 13.4, which is the 5^th best among 19 elementary schools in the Independence 30 School District. (See more...)

Compare Little Blue Elementary employs 22 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Little Blue Elementary is $14,708, which is the highest among 20 elementary schools in the Independence 30 School District!

Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Little Blue Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Little Blue Elementary 397^th of 898 Missouri public elementary schools. (See Little Blue Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

White students:

Independence 30:

SchoolDigger ranks Independence 30 235^th of 376 Missouri school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Little Blue Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Little Blue Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MO State Percentile
2015	68.41	308^th	1058	70.9%
2016	60.16	362^nd	865	58.2%
2017	63.38	377^th	1032	63.5%
2018	58.09	422^nd	1045	59.6%
2019	52.09	502^nd	1052	52.3%
2021	58.31	371^st	901	58.8%
2022	55.51	408^th	908	55.1%
2023	55.12	397^th	898	55.8%

See the entire list of Missouri Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Little Blue Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MO State Percentile
2018	72.52	149^th	887	83.2%
2019	39.34	605^th	907	33.3%
2021	57.67	183^rd	574	68.1%
2022	65.60	114^th	532	78.6%
2023	38.52	387^th	611	36.7%

See the entire list of Best Missouri Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for White students at Little Blue Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MO State Percentile
2018	61.98	317^th	898	64.7%
2019	46.71	471^st	917	48.6%
2021	58.82	267^th	691	61.4%
2023	62.43	230^th	673	65.8%

See the entire list of Best Missouri Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Little Blue Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2013	154	17	1	19	0	1	14	206
2014	167	22	1	21	0	1	18	230
2015	185	22	3	31	0	2	22	265
2016	190	24	4	31	0	2	21	272
2017	193	27	4	34	1	1	27	287
2018	208	32	5	35	1	1	41	323
2019	200	34	3	27	1	1	41	307
2020	210	28	5	34	2	2	35	316
2021	170	31	7	33	3	2	37	283
2022	167	41	8	31	3	2	32	284
2023	179	40	7	33	3	5	28	295

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Little Blue Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2013	206	15.0	13.6	49.5
2014	230	17.0	13.5	45.7
2015	265	17.0	15.5	39.6
2016	272	19.0	14.3	41.2
2017	287	20.0	14.3	38.3
2018	323	21.5	15.0	47.4
2019	307	22.0	13.9	47.6
2020	316	22.9	13.7	56.6
2021	283	25.5	11.0	54.4
2022	284	23.6	12.0	46.5
2023	295	22.0	13.4	53.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Little Blue Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2013	206	15.0	13.6	49.5
2014	230	17.0	13.5	45.7
2015	265	17.0	15.5	39.6
2016	272	19.0	14.3	41.2
2017	287	20.0	14.3	38.3
2018	323	21.5	15.0	47.4
2019	307	22.0	13.9	47.6
2020	316	22.9	13.7	56.6
2021	283	25.5	11.0	54.4
2022	284	23.6	12.0	46.5
2023	295	22.0	13.4	53.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Little Blue Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$2,036 (17.1%)	$9,899 (82.9%)	$11,935
2020	$2,143 (18.0%)	$9,754 (82.0%)	$11,897
2021	$2,881 (22.5%)	$9,897 (77.5%)	$12,778
2022	$4,029 (27.4%)	$10,680 (72.6%)	$14,708

Data source: Missouri Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Little Blue Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 502^nd of 1052 Elementary schools	Ranks 397^th of 898 Elementary schools	3.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Little Blue Elementary)	38.3	16.9	21.4%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Independence 30)	38.5	28.3	10.2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Missouri)	46	41.1	4.9%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Little Blue Elementary)	36.2	39.6	3.4%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Independence 30)	44	36.4	7.6%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Missouri)	48.7	42.4	6.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Little Blue Elementary)	47.4	32.6	14.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Independence 30)	43.3	30.1	13.2%
4th Grade Mathematics (Missouri)	46.8	43.8	3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Little Blue Elementary)	52.7	52.1	0.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Independence 30)	47.1	38.1	9%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Missouri)	49.3	45.9	3.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (Little Blue Elementary)	46.2	49.1	2.9%
5th Grade Mathematics (Independence 30)	37.2	35.6	1.6%
5th Grade Mathematics (Missouri)	40.3	39.1	1.2%
5th Grade Science (Little Blue Elementary)	46.2	52.9	6.7%
5th Grade Science (Independence 30)	42.4	38.1	4.3%
5th Grade Science (Missouri)	42.5	40.9	1.6%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Little Blue Elementary)	53.8	53	0.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Independence 30)	46.6	39.5	7.1%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Missouri)	47.1	44.1	3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	307	295	3.9%
African American	34	40	17.6%
American Indian	1	3	200%
Asian	3	7	133.3%
Hispanic	27	33	22.2%
Pacific Islander	1	5	400%
White	200	179	10.5%
Two or More Races	41	28	31.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	47.6%	53.2%	5.7%

Schools Near Little Blue Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2023)				Ranking (2022)				MAP Mathematics (2023)			MAP Science (2023)	MAP English Language Arts (2023)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
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 (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	SchoolDigger Rating (2023)	Average Standard Score (2022)	Statewide Rank (2022)	State Percentile (2022)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MAP Science 5th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Little Blue Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2020 Quail Drive	Independence	64057	Jackson County	Independence 30	No	No	No	Yes	(816) 521-5480	295	22	13.4	53.2%	179 (60.7%)	40 (13.6%)	33 (11.2%)	7 (2.4%)	3 (1.0%)	5 (1.7%)	28 (9.5%)	55.1	397^th of 898 public elementary schools	55.8%		55.5	408^th of 908 public elementary schools	55.1%	11	16.9	32.6	49.1	52.9	39.6	52.1	53.0	$14,708	$4,029	$10,680
Spring Branch Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	20404 E Truman Rd	Independence	64056	Jackson County	Independence 30	No	No	No	Yes	(816) 521-5455	250	23	11.1	65.2%	142 (56.8%)	26 (10.4%)	42 (16.8%)	4 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (14.4%)	43.2	533^rd of 898 public elementary schools	40.6%		35.6	596^th of 908 public elementary schools	34.4%	63	25.0		38.4		36.4	44.7		$13,600	$4,250	$9,350
Blackburn Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	17302 E R D Mize Rd	Independence	64057	Jackson County	Independence 30	No	No	No	Yes	(816) 521-5395	372	29	12.9	43.8%	216 (58.1%)	59 (15.9%)	61 (16.4%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	31 (8.3%)	53	419^th of 898 public elementary schools	53.3%		45.5	502^nd of 908 public elementary schools	44.7%	83	47.0	50.8	33.3	38.3	36.8	49.2	36.7	$11,968	$2,436	$9,532
Glendale Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2611 S Lee's Summit Rd	Independence	64055	Jackson County	Independence 30	No	No	No	Yes	(816) 521-5510	458	28	16.1	69.2%	237 (51.7%)	97 (21.2%)	75 (16.4%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	44 (9.6%)	57.3	382^nd of 898 public elementary schools	57.5%		46.1	495^th of 908 public elementary schools	45.5%	113	36.5	37.3	44.7	44.6	49.2	42.6	53.6	$11,625	$2,525	$9,100
William Yates Elementary	Public	K-5	3600 Davidson Rd	Independence	64055	Jackson County	Blue Springs R-IV	No	No	No	Yes	(816) 874-3740	414	32	13.0	48.6%	204 (49.3%)	75 (18.1%)	63 (15.2%)	11 (2.7%)	3 (0.7%)	9 (2.2%)	49 (11.8%)	94.5	27^th of 898 public elementary schools	97.0%		94.4	24^th of 908 public elementary schools	97.4%	3	69.6	88.4	81.8	74.6	59.5	73.9		$12,829	$929	$11,901
Randall Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	509 Jennings Rd	Independence	64056	Jackson County	Independence 30	No	No	No	Yes	(816) 521-5445	260	21	12.3	88.1%	109 (41.9%)	64 (24.6%)	40 (15.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	7 (2.7%)	39 (15.0%)	13.6	785^th of 898 public elementary schools	12.6%		14.9	790^th of 908 public elementary schools	13.0%	5	12.0	14.8	21.6	16.3	24.0	25.5	13.5	$14,433	$3,298	$11,136
Sunny Pointe Elementary	Public	K-5	3920 South R D Mize Rd	Blue Springs	64015	Jackson County	Blue Springs R-IV	No	No	No	Yes	(816) 874-3700	505	36	14.0	32.1%	340 (67.3%)	66 (13.1%)	48 (9.5%)	11 (2.2%)	3 (0.6%)	3 (0.6%)	34 (6.7%)	79.3	150^th of 898 public elementary schools	83.3%		83.5	122^nd of 908 public elementary schools	86.6%	28	47.4	51.3	57.6	64.2	48.7	64.2	57.6	$11,296	$887	$10,409
Thomas Hart Benton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	429 S Leslie	Independence	64050	Jackson County	Independence 30	No	No	No	Yes	(816) 521-5390	397	27	14.8	82.1%	196 (49.4%)	67 (16.9%)	92 (23.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	39 (9.8%)	49.5	466^th of 898 public elementary schools	48.1%		36.2	587^th of 908 public elementary schools	35.4%	121	42.3	22.8	39.2	45.1	44.1	38.6	43.1	$11,974	$2,784	$9,190
John Nowlin Elementary	Public	K-5	5020 NW Valley View Rd	Blue Springs	64015	Jackson County	Blue Springs R-IV	No	No	No	Yes	(816) 874-3670	438	32	13.6	36.3%	281 (64.2%)	51 (11.6%)	53 (12.1%)	12 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	38 (8.7%)	69.1	257^th of 898 public elementary schools	71.4%		70.1	238^th of 908 public elementary schools	73.8%	19	41.6	59.7	50.7	48.0	41.6	52.8	57.5	$12,144	$1,425	$10,719
Elm Grove Elementary	Public	K-4	25102 E. US 24 Highway	Independence	64056	Jackson County	Fort Osage R-I	No	No	No	Yes	(816) 650-7400	325	28	11.6	68.6%	200 (61.5%)	35 (10.8%)	43 (13.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.8%)	38 (11.7%)	13	792^nd of 898 public elementary schools	11.8%		14.6	792^nd of 908 public elementary schools	12.8%		3.3	24.3			14.7	27.2		$14,049	$1,701	$12,348

Frequently Asked Questions about Little Blue Elementary

What district is Little Blue Elementary in?

Independence 30

What schools do graduates of Little Blue Elementary attend?

Students who attend Little Blue Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Bridger Middle
Middle : Pioneer Ridge Middle
High : Truman High

What is the racial makeup of Little Blue Elementary?

Students at Little Blue Elementary are 61% White, 14% African American, 11% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 2% Pacific Islander, 1% American Indian.

How many students attend Little Blue Elementary?

In the 2022-23 school year, 295 students attended Little Blue Elementary.

Is Little Blue Elementary a good school?

Little Blue Elementary ranks 397^th of 898 Missouri elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

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