Little Blue Elementary

Q: Is Little Blue Elementary a good school?

Little Blue Elementary ranks 549 th of 906 Missouri elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 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 236 out of 386 school districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, Little Blue Elementary has consistently ranked in the middle range of Missouri elementary schools, with its performance on state assessments (MAP tests) generally below the state and district averages, particularly in mathematics. In 2023-2024, only 18.7% of 5th-grade students were proficient or better in mathematics, compared to 31.8% for the district and 38.4% for the state. However, the school's performance in English Language Arts is closer to the state and district averages, with 44.1% of 5th-grade students proficient or better. The school also has a relatively high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with 53.22% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in 2022-2023.

Compared to nearby schools, the Blue Springs R-IV School District schools (such as John Nowlin Elementary) significantly outperform Little Blue Elementary and the other Independence 30 schools on state assessments, with much higher percentages of students proficient or better in both mathematics and English Language Arts. These Blue Springs schools also have lower rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 15.7% to 27.5%, compared to the higher rates at Little Blue Elementary and the other Independence 30 schools.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

2020 Quail Drive
Independence, MO 64057-2052

(816) 521-5480

District: Independence 30

SchoolDigger Rank:
549^th of 906 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: 12.0

Number of students: 281

Racial breakdown:

White:

59.8%

African American:

16.7%

Hispanic:

12.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 53.7%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Little Blue Elementary ranks worse than 60.6% of elementary schools in Missouri. It also ranks 11^th among 19 ranked elementary schools in the Independence 30 School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 41.32. (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 Student population at Little Blue Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (59.8%), African American (16.7%), Hispanic (12.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 53.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Little Blue Elementary is 12, which is the 3^rd best among 19 elementary schools in the Independence 30 School District. (See more...)

Compare Little Blue Elementary employs 23.3 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Little Blue Elementary is $14,708, which is the highest among 22 elementary schools in the Independence 30 School District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Little Blue Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Little Blue Elementary 549^th of 906 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 30 236^th of 386 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%
2024	41.32	549^th	906	39.4%

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%
2024	40.97	367^th	625	41.3%

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%
2024	47.48	346^th	668	48.2%

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
2024	168	47	6	35	1	4	20	281

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
2024	281	23.3	12.0	53.7

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
2024	281	23.3	12.0	53.7

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 (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MAP Mathematics (2024)			MAP Science (2024)	MAP English Language Arts (2024)			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 (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	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	281	23	12.0	53.7%	168 (59.8%)	47 (16.7%)	35 (12.5%)	6 (2.1%)	1 (0.4%)	4 (1.4%)	20 (7.1%)	41.3	549^th of 906 public elementary schools	39.4%		55.1	397^th of 898 public elementary schools	55.8%	152	41.8	28.5	18.7	28.0	46.5		44.1	$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	245	21	11.4	67.8%	150 (61.2%)	28 (11.4%)	38 (15.5%)	5 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (9.8%)	42.9	529^th of 906 public elementary schools	41.6%		43.2	533^rd of 898 public elementary schools	40.6%	4	30.0	23.4			47.5	42.8	41.0	$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	365	28	13.1	46.8%	214 (58.6%)	50 (13.7%)	59 (16.2%)	5 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	35 (9.6%)	57	379^th of 906 public elementary schools	58.2%		53	419^th of 898 public elementary schools	53.3%	40	46.8	54.5	36.1	37.8	40.8		43.0	$11,968	$2,436	$9,532
Sunshine Center	Public	PK	18400 East Salisbury Road	Independence	64056	Jackson County	Independence 30	No	No	No	No	(816) 461-0893	96	0		46.9%	60 (62.5%)	10 (10.4%)	16 (16.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (10.4%)								(n/a)
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	391	29	13.5	73.1%	210 (53.7%)	66 (16.9%)	74 (18.9%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.0%)	35 (9.0%)	54.6	401^st of 906 public elementary schools	55.7%		57.3	382^nd of 898 public elementary schools	57.5%	19	48.7	43.4	43.9	33.7	39.6		40.5	$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	447	34	13.3	46.3%	218 (48.8%)	78 (17.4%)	77 (17.2%)	9 (2.0%)	3 (0.7%)	9 (2.0%)	53 (11.9%)	94.5	28^th of 906 public elementary schools	96.9%		94.5	27^th of 898 public elementary schools	97.0%	1	73.8	89.5		71.2	54.9	89.1		$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	280	23	12.0	86.4%	115 (41.1%)	69 (24.6%)	61 (21.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	5 (1.8%)	29 (10.4%)	16.8	762^nd of 906 public elementary schools	15.9%		13.6	785^th of 898 public elementary schools	12.6%	23	14.1	19.2	12.0		14.0	41.2		$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	518	38	13.6	36.9%	353 (68.1%)	63 (12.2%)	54 (10.4%)	9 (1.7%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	36 (6.9%)	71.8	235^th of 906 public elementary schools	74.1%		79.3	150^th of 898 public elementary schools	83.3%	85	42.0	57.6	53.4	65.4	40.8	56.3		$11,296	$887	$10,409
Hanthorn Early Education	Public	PK	1511 Kings Hwy	Independence	64055	Jackson County	Independence 30	No	No	No	No	(816) 521-5485	8	11	.7		4 (50.0%)	2 (25.0%)	2 (25.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
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	26	15.5	88.4%	191 (48.1%)	79 (19.9%)	90 (22.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (9.1%)	42.1	540^th of 906 public elementary schools	40.4%		49.5	466^th of 898 public elementary schools	48.1%	74	34.6	32.6	36.9	40.7	29.2	36.7	46.2	$11,974	$2,784	$9,190

Frequently Asked Questions about Little Blue Elementary

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 district is Little Blue Elementary in?

Independence 30

How many students attend Little Blue Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 281 students attended Little Blue Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Little Blue Elementary?

Students at Little Blue Elementary are 60% White, 17% African American, 12% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 1% Pacific Islander.

Is Little Blue Elementary a good school?

Little Blue Elementary ranks 549^th of 906 Missouri elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 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.