POINTS of PRIDE: Independence

Independence Community School District where the belief is "Start Here and Succeed Anywhere!"  It gladly proudly displays the Mustang Way:  Be Responsible.  Be Respectful.  Show Kindness.  Live Gratefully.

 

This district houses four buildings - PK4 at Early Childhood Center, grades K-2 at East Elementary, grades 3-6 at West Elementary, and grades 7-12 at Junior/Senior High School.  The Junior/Senior High School was built two years ago and its facilities are stunning!

Independence boasts strong Career and Tech programs.  The Ag program is privately funded with land provided through community support.  A greenhouse was built recently for work with hydroponics.  The secondary building has a strong Family Consumer Science program offering a course on fashion and fabrics.  The Building Trades Program gains practical experience by building houses in the community.  Their Project Lead the Way program is excited to be forging the innovation generation and is a noted "school of excellence."   Other courses offered are automation, robotics, and 3D Modeling.  Auto Mechanics is a college credit class and the Career and Tech programs value topnotch work quality.  Independence has a full time manager overseeing the auditorium.  Their band is a highly successful extra curricular who has been the state jazz band champion for 21 years. 

District Demographics:
District enrollment 1345

Free & Reduced Lunch 43%

Academics are valued across the district.  The secondary school offers Tier I interventions at the end of the day.  Those needing enrichment can participate in various options including tech skills, weightlifting, and fitness.  East Elementary offers Mustang Time lasting 30 minutes for academic interventions. West Elementary has intervention time using data results from a variety of assessments including FAST, MAPs, STAR, Fontis and Pinnell, and Iowa Assessments.

2014-15 East Principal Blaisdelle

In the spring 2015 East Elementary had a Boost Up Room for brain-based activities.  They also added 20 minutes to PE time to assist with the concept of - as students do something mentally they are also doing something physically.  Their focus has been on implementing sequential K-2 rubrics tied to the Iowa Core in the area of writing using pieces of writing as anchor papers.  They have focused on project-based learning incorporating a garden into the curriculum.  The Kindergarten grows sunflowers to gather seeds to feed the birds.  First grade has established a butterfly garden.  Second grade grows vegetables to prepare stone soup.

West Principal Hupke

West Elementary has a brand new playground, a full-size elementary gym, mobile labs for every grade level, and within two years there will be two labs per grade level.  Their achievement scores are high, and they use research-based programs including Daily Five and Read Naturally.  They hold Character Counts assemblies that recognize the positives of students with guest speakers talking about the importance of doing the right thing. They receive great support from the community where businesses donate snacks for students taking the Iowa Assessments.  Their fifth/sixth grade band builds a strong foundation for future Independence musicians.

The Vision of Independence School District: Creating a climate in which individuals of the Independence Community School District will strive to become effective communicators, problem solvers, responsible citizens, and productive people.   Mission of Independence School District:  Educating people to be life long learners and respectful, responsible citizens.  This district continually strives to bring alive its mission through actualizing its vision.  After all, it is the Mustang Way!