Summary:
The city of Independence, Virginia has only one elementary school, Independence Elementary, which serves students from the Grayson County Public Schools district. While the school has a relatively small student-teacher ratio, it faces some academic challenges, with inconsistent performance on state standardized tests and a declining statewide ranking over the past few years.
Independence Elementary has a student population of 277, with a high percentage (89.17%) of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a significant economically disadvantaged population. The school's academic performance varies, with some grade levels and subjects exceeding district and state averages, while others fall behind. For example, the school's 5th-grade math proficiency rate was 76.19%, outperforming the district and state, but its 3rd-grade math proficiency rate was only 52.5%, well below the district and state averages.
The school's declining statewide ranking, from 359 out of 1,109 Virginia elementary schools in 2021-2022 to 724 out of 1,114 in 2023-2024, suggests a need for targeted interventions and support to improve student learning across all grades and subjects. The high percentage of economically disadvantaged students may be a contributing factor, and the school's relatively small student-teacher ratio could be an asset if leveraged effectively to address the unique needs of this student population.
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