Independence Public School District

Created by Ford Next Generation Learning, the Academies are personalized small learning communities within each of our high schools guiding students toward success in their chosen career. Students get to choose their Academy based on the ten-year-plan they create as freshmen. Students are able to complete academy requirements within the regular school day, with the possible exception of some internships. This gives students an advantage over their peers in many ways: offering a large number of courses for college credit, creating job shadow and internship opportunities, and preparing students for professional certifications. Some of the opportunities students can do is working in a student lead bank, bakery, or shop. On the industrial side, students get hands on experience creating and building a new house which will be sold after completion by the students. The Independence School Districts sees what the community needs and reaches out to the cities of Independence and Sugar Creek to create a partnership allowing students to get hands on work. The current academies are STEM, Industrial Technology, Public Service, Arts & Education, and Business. However, students are not limited to just one academy, they can be in as many as possible just depending on the classes they are interested in and taking.

Van Horn High School

High schools

• William Chrisman High School
• Truman High School
• Van Horn High School

Alternative schools

• Independence Academy

Middle schools

• Pioneer Ridge
• George Caleb Bingham
• James Bridger
• Clifford H. Nowlin

Elementary schools

• Abraham Mallinson
• Thomas Hart Benton
• Blackburn
• Bryant
• Fairmount
• Glendale
• Korte (originally North Rock Creek)
• Little Blue
• John W. Luff
• Mill Creek
• Christian Ott
• Alexander Procter
• Randall
• Santa Fe Trail
• Spring Branch
• Sugar Creek
• Sycamore Hills
• Three Trails
• William Southern

Early education

• Hanthorn
• Sunshine Center

In November 2007, the voters of Independence and Kansas City voted for seven schools (one high school, one middle school, and five elementary schools) to be taken over by the Independence Public School District. This is perceived as another major setback for the Kansas City, Missouri School District and was a huge undertaking with a great boon for Western Independence. Jim Hinson, the superintendent of the Independence district, believed that the KCMO district fought the annexation was because it was a "pride issue" and because the KCMO district feared that other parts of the district could secede.[2]

The transfer did not include the C. R. Anderson School, which was originally called the Pitcher School. KCMSD annexed the school in 1957, and it became an alternative school for troubled students in the 1980s. It closed in 2000.[3]

Transfer to Independence School District

• Van Horn High School (Independence)
• Nowlin Middle School (Independence)
• Fairmount Elementary (Independence)
• Mount Washington Elementary (Independence) (no longer part of the district, was sold)
• North Rock Creek / Korte Elementary (Independence)
• Sugar Creek Elementary (Sugar Creek)
• Three Trails Elementary (Independence)

The school district's FIRST Robotics Competition team, Team 1723 the FBI (First Bots of Independence), was founded in 2006. The student members from all three ISD high schools meet almost all year round at William Chrisman High school. During their most recent season, 2018, the team competed and took first place at the Greater Kansas City Regional. This allowed them to proceed to World Championships in Houston Texas, where they won the Newton sub-division, then place third overall in the world. The FBI is also active in the ISD community; many members from the team mentor ISD middle school and elementary school FIRST Lego League teams and host an annual FIRST Lego League tournament at George Caleb Bingham Middle School. They also try to make it to as many elementary STEM nights they can in hopes to inspire the children.

• District website