Independence Elementary School

Q: Is Independence Elementary School a good school?

Independence Elementary School ranks 25 th of 50 North Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Independence Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Fargo, North Dakota, serving grades K-5 with a student population of 537. The school is part of the West Fargo 6 school district, which is ranked 13 out of 20 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Independence Elementary School consistently outperforms the West Fargo 6 district and the state of North Dakota in both mathematics and reading proficiency. The school also has a more diverse student population compared to many of the nearby schools, such as Centennial Elementary School and Willow Park Elementary School. Additionally, Independence Elementary School has a relatively low chronic absenteeism rate and a lower free and reduced lunch rate than some of the surrounding schools.

The consistent academic performance, racial diversity, and effective attendance policies at Independence Elementary School make it a standout institution in the local area. When compared to nearby schools, such as Freedom Elementary School and Deer Creek Elementary School, Independence Elementary School emerges as a high-performing school with unique characteristics that contribute to its success.

Detail:

Public K-5

3700 54th St S
Fargo, ND 58104

(701) 356-5890

District: West Fargo 6

SchoolDigger Rank:
25^th of 50 North Dakota Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,752

Students who attend Independence Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Liberty Middle School
High:	West Fargo Sheyenne High School

Student/teacher ratio: 15.1

Number of students: 537

Racial breakdown:

White:

67.4%

African American:

16.4%

Hispanic:

5.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 21.6%

See top rated North Dakota elementary schools

Compare Independence Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Independence Elementary School ranks worse than 50% of elementary schools in North Dakota. It also ranks 4^th among 10 ranked elementary schools in the West Fargo 6 School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 58.15. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a high 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 (67.4%), African American (16.4%), Hispanic (5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 21.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Independence Elementary School is 15.1. 13 elementary schools in the West Fargo 6 School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Independence Elementary School employs 35.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Independence Elementary School is $11,752. 9 elementary schools in the West Fargo 6 School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Independence Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

West Fargo 6:

SchoolDigger ranks West Fargo 6 13^th of 20 North Dakota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Independence Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Independence Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	ND State Percentile
2015	60.22	71^st	194	63.4%
2016	62.79	65^th	207	68.6%
2017	43.79	123^rd	202	39.1%
2018	45.26	31^st	46	32.6%
2019	75.99	15^th	42	64.3%
2021	65.86	16^th	39	59.0%
2022	85.85	6^th	47	87.2%
2023	57.75	22^nd	48	54.2%
2024	58.15	25^th	50	50.0%

See the entire list of North Dakota Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for White students at Independence Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	ND State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	40.04	16^th	22	27.3%
2019	67.84	11^th	22	50.0%

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

Data source: test scores: North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, 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: North Dakota Department of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Independence Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2014	184	8	8	1	4	1	4	210
2015	385	32	12	19	8	0	17	473
2016	411	36	20	28	7	1	20	523
2017	382	55	26	33	4	1	19	520
2018	366	61	27	38	7	0	22	521
2019	426	30	33	21	2	0	26	538
2020	451	33	35	25	3	0	24	571
2021	393	50	31	23	4	1	29	531
2022	405	44	25	29	6	0	21	530
2023	362	88	26	27	7	0	27	537

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 Independence Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	210	11.7	17.8	0
2015	473	25.0	18.9	27.9
2016	523	27.0	19.3	24.1
2017	520	37.7	13.7	30.6
2018	521	42.4	12.2	30.1
2019	538	37.6	14.3	13.9
2020	571	42.3	13.4	13.8
2021	531	42.5	12.4	15.8
2022	530	39.0	13.5	9.2
2023	537	35.5	15.1	21.6

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 Independence Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	210	11.7	17.8	0
2015	473	25.0	18.9	27.9
2016	523	27.0	19.3	24.1
2017	520	37.7	13.7	30.6
2018	521	42.4	12.2	30.1
2019	538	37.6	14.3	13.9
2020	571	42.3	13.4	13.8
2021	531	42.5	12.4	15.8
2022	530	39.0	13.5	9.2
2023	537	35.5	15.1	21.6

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 Independence Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$395 (3.7%)	$10,164 (96.3%)	$10,559
2020	$378 (3.6%)	$10,072 (96.4%)	$10,449
2021	$924 (8.2%)	$10,395 (91.8%)	$11,319
2022	$847 (7.2%)	$10,905 (92.8%)	$11,752

Data source: North Dakota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Independence Elementary School

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 15^th of 42 Elementary schools	Ranks 22^nd of 48 Elementary schools	10.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
All Grades Mathematics (Independence Elementary School)	58	52	6%
All Grades Mathematics (West Fargo 6)	52	40	12%
All Grades Mathematics (North Dakota)	45	39	6%
All Grades Reading (Independence Elementary School)	54	42	12%
All Grades Reading (West Fargo 6)	53	42	11%
All Grades Reading (North Dakota)	47	44	3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	538	537	0.2%
African American	30	88	193.3%
American Indian	2	7	250%
Asian	33	26	21.2%
Hispanic	21	27	28.6%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	426	362	15%
Two or More Races	26	27	3.8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	13.9%	21.6%	7.7%

Schools Near Independence Elementary School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				NDSA Mathematics (2024)	NDSA Reading (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	NDSA Mathematics All Grades	NDSA Reading All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Independence Elementary School	Public	K-5	3700 54th St S	Fargo	58104	Cass County	West Fargo 6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 356-5890	537	36	15.1	21.6%	362 (67.4%)	88 (16.4%)	27 (5.0%)	26 (4.8%)	7 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.0%)	58.1	25^th of 50 public elementary schools	50.0%		57.7	22^nd of 48 public elementary schools	54.2%	3	54.0	45.0	$11,752	$847	$10,905
Osgood Elementary School	Public	K-5	5550 44th Ave S	Fargo	58104	Cass County	West Fargo 6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 356-2190	564	43	13.0	37.1%	348 (61.7%)	133 (23.6%)	27 (4.8%)	8 (1.4%)	7 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (7.3%)	12.9	46^th of 50 public elementary schools	8.0%		17.1	42^nd of 48 public elementary schools	12.5%	4	34.0	29.0	$11,816	$1,253	$10,563
Kennedy Elementary School	Public	K-5	4401 42nd St S	Fargo	58104	Cass County	Fargo 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 446-4200	452	42	10.7	33.4%	284 (62.8%)	105 (23.2%)	24 (5.3%)	16 (3.5%)	9 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.1%)	25.1	40^th of 50 public elementary schools	20.0%		31.3	35^th of 48 public elementary schools	27.1%	5	43.0	29.0	$15,846	$1,438	$14,409
Freedom Elementary School	Public	K-5	401 26th Ave E	West Fargo	58078	Cass County	West Fargo 6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 356-5221	543	44	12.4	31.1%	308 (56.7%)	163 (30.0%)	15 (2.8%)	38 (7.0%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.9%)	50.9	30^th of 50 public elementary schools	40.0%		57.1	23^rd of 48 public elementary schools	52.1%	7	47.0	46.0	$11,588	$1,300	$10,288
Deer Creek Elementary School	Public	K-5	6400 54th Ave S	Fargo	58104	Cass County	West Fargo 6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 356-8390	502	37	13.4	11.0%	418 (83.3%)	34 (6.8%)	5 (1.0%)	19 (3.8%)	5 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	20 (4.0%)	82.9	11^th of 50 public elementary schools	78.0%		78.5	9^th of 48 public elementary schools	81.3%	2	61.0	55.0	$12,657	$885	$11,771
Aurora Elementary School	Public	K-5	3420 9th St W	West Fargo	58078	Cass County	West Fargo 6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 356-2130	529	36	14.8	15.5%	418 (79.0%)	59 (11.2%)	17 (3.2%)	9 (1.7%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	23 (4.3%)	55.1	27^th of 50 public elementary schools	46.0%		63.8	20^th of 48 public elementary schools	58.3%	7	50.0	46.0	$11,467	$847	$10,620
Legacy Elementary School	Public	K-5	5150 9th St W	West Fargo	58078	Cass County	West Fargo 6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 356-3740	483	33	14.7	9.9%	400 (82.8%)	30 (6.2%)	13 (2.7%)	5 (1.0%)	4 (0.8%)	2 (0.4%)	29 (6.0%)	72.9	15^th of 50 public elementary schools	70.0%		80.8	8^th of 48 public elementary schools	83.3%	7	57.0	51.0	$11,122	$851	$10,271
Educational Clapp Elementary School	Public	K-5	3131 S 28th St	Fargo	58103	Cass County	Fargo 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 446-2900	452	46	9.9	78.3%	199 (44.0%)	160 (35.4%)	32 (7.1%)	25 (5.5%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	31 (6.9%)								(n/a)			$18,018	$3,961	$14,057
Brooks Harbor Elementary School	Public	K-5	801 22nd Ave W	West Fargo	58078	Cass County	West Fargo 6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 356-8310	554	38	14.4	22.9%	395 (71.3%)	75 (13.5%)	28 (5.1%)	14 (2.5%)	10 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (5.8%)	51.4	29^th of 50 public elementary schools	42.0%		37.7	30^th of 48 public elementary schools	37.5%	1	46.0	47.0	$11,013	$853	$10,160
Centennial Elementary School	Public	K-5	4201 25th St S	Fargo	58104	Cass County	Fargo 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 446-4300	562	39	14.2	26.0%	384 (68.3%)	94 (16.7%)	26 (4.6%)	20 (3.6%)	5 (0.9%)	2 (0.4%)	31 (5.5%)	15.8	45^th of 50 public elementary schools	10.0%		23.9	38^th of 48 public elementary schools	20.8%	7	37.0	26.0	$13,299	$1,736	$11,563

Frequently Asked Questions about Independence Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Independence Elementary School?

Students at Independence Elementary School are 67% White, 16% African American, 5% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 5% Asian, 1% American Indian.

What district is Independence Elementary School in?

West Fargo 6

How many students attend Independence Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 537 students attended Independence Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Independence Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Independence Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Liberty Middle School
High : West Fargo Sheyenne High School

Is Independence Elementary School a good school?

Independence Elementary School ranks 25^th of 50 North Dakota 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 North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.

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.