Independence Elementary School (Ranked Top 30% for 2026)

701 Minnesota Ave
Big Lake, MN 55309

( shown in map)

Top 30%

Serving 694 students in grades 3-5, Independence Elementary School ranks in the top 30% of all schools in Minnesota for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 30%, and reading proficiency is top 30%).

The percentage of students achieving is 56% (which is higher than the Minnesota state average of 46%). The percentage of students achieving is 55% (which is higher than the Minnesota state average of 51%).

The student-teacher ratio of 15:1 is higher than the Minnesota state level of 13:1.

Minority enrollment is 23% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is lower than the Minnesota state average of 39% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Quick Facts (2026)

Grades: 3-5
Enrollment: 694 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
Minority Enrollment: 23%
: Top 30% in MN
: 56% (Top 30%)
: 55% (Top 50%)
: 61% (Top 20%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MN Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Independence Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Minnesota for:

School Overview

Independence Elementary School's student population of 694 students has grown by 9% over five school years.

The teacher population of 45 teachers has grown by 7% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades 3-5
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Independence Elementary School
3	238
4	236
5	220

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Total Students

694 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Independence Elementary School
2023	660
2022	617
2021	635
2020	699
2019	699
2018	738
2017	738
2016	829
2015	847
2014	859
2013	850
2012	892
2011	967
2010	997
2009	978
2008	999
2007	981
2006	829
2005	802
2004	815
2003	1,597
2002	1,493
2001	1,437
2000	1,225
1999	1,067
1998	832
1997	784
1996	730
1995	691
1994	900
1993	827
1992	798
1991	770
1990	738
1989	718
1988	712
1987	633

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

45 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	Independence Elementary School
2023	42
2022	42
2021	42
2020	43
2019	43
2018	43
2017	43
2016	43
2015	47
2014	44
2013	46
2012	49
2011	52
2010	49
2009	48
2008	50
2007	53
2006	44
2005	48
2004	47
2003	91
2002	90
2001	80
2000	65
1999	60
1997	40
1996	40
1995	41
1994	41
1993	43
1992	40
1991	39
1990	37

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Year Founded

2019

Last Day of School

Mon. May 25, 2026

School Rankings

Independence Elementary School ranks within the top 30% of all 1,773 schools in Minnesota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Independence Elementary School is 0.40, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.59. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (MN)

#454 out of 1773 schools
(Top 30%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Independence Elementary School
2023	#454
2022	#424
2021	#426
2019	#344
2018	#451
2017	#438
2016	#385
2015	#844
2014	#605
2013	#684
2012	#377

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56%

46%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Independence Elementary School	Minnesota	Big Lake Public School District
2023	56%	46%	47%
2022	59%	45%	49%
2021	53%	45%	47%
2019	70%	56%	63%
2018	69%	58%	64%
2017	68%	59%	61%
2016	70%	60%	61%
2015	65%	61%	62%
2014	70%	61%	64%
2013	70%	61%	60%
2012	81%	62%	65%

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55%

51%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	Independence Elementary School	Minnesota	Big Lake Public School District
2022	55%	51%	54%
2021	57%	53%	55%
2019	65%	59%	63%
2018	64%	60%	64%
2017	67%	61%	64%
2016	69%	60%	64%
2015	52%	60%	53%
2014	60%	59%	59%
2013	55%	58%	54%
2012	81%	76%	77%
2011	78%	74%	71%

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61%

41%

View Data

Science Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2021-2022)
Year	Independence Elementary School	Minnesota	Big Lake Public School District
2022	61%	41%	44%
2021	50%	45%	46%

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Student-Teacher Ratio

15:1

13:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	Independence Elementary School	Minnesota	Big Lake Public School District
2023	16:1	14:1	21:1
2022	15:1	14:1	23:1
2021	15:1	14:1	21:1
2020	16:1	14:1	18:1
2019	16:1	14:1	18:1
2018	17:1	16:1	18:1
2017	17:1	14:1	18:1
2016	19:1	16:1	19:1
2015	18:1	16:1	18:1
2014	19:1	15:1	19:1
2013	18:1	15:1	20:1
2012	18:1	15:1	20:1
2011	19:1	15:1	20:1
2010	21:1	15:1	21:1
2009	20:1	15:1	21:1
2008	20:1	15:1	20:1
2007	19:1	16:1	20:1
2006	19:1	16:1	20:1
2005	17:1	16:1	19:1
2004	17:1	16:1	18:1
2003	18:1	16:1	17:1
2002	17:1	16:1	16:1
2001	18:1	16:1	17:1
2000	19:1	16:1	17:1
1999	18:1	15:1	15:1
1997	20:1	17:1	18:1
1996	18:1	17:1	17:1
1995	17:1	17:1	20:1
1994	22:1	17:1	19:1
1993	19:1	18:1	18:1
1992	20:1	17:1	19:1
1991	20:1	17:1	18:1
1990	20:1	17:1	18:1

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American Indian

n/a

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1997-2023)
Year	Independence Elementary School	Minnesota	Big Lake Public School District
2023	1%	2%	2%
2021	1%	2%
2020	1%	2%	1%
2019	1%	2%	1%
2012	1%	2%	1%
2011	1%	2%	1%
2010	1%	2%	1%
2009	1%	2%	1%
2008	1%	3%	1%
2007	1%	2%	1%
2006	2%	2%	2%
2005	1%	3%	1%
2004	1%	3%	2%
2003	2%	3%	1%
2002	1%	2%	1%
2001	1%	2%	1%
2000	1%	2%	1%
1999	1%	2%	1%
1997	1%	2%

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Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Independence Elementary School	Minnesota	Big Lake Public School District
2023	2%	7%	2%
2022	2%	7%	2%
2021	1%	7%	2%
2020	2%	7%	2%
2019	2%	7%	2%
2018	1%	7%	1%
2017	1%	7%	1%
2016	1%	7%	1%
2015	1%	6%	1%
2014	2%	6%	2%
2013	2%	6%	1%
2012	2%	7%	1%
2011	2%	6%	2%
2010	2%	6%	1%
2009	2%	6%	1%
2008	2%	6%	1%
2007	1%	6%	1%
2006	1%	6%	1%
2005	1%	5%	1%
2004	1%	5%	1%
2003	1%	5%	1%
2002	1%	5%	1%
2001	1%	5%	1%
2000	1%	5%	1%
1999	1%	5%	1%
1998	1%	4%
1996	1%	4%	2%
1995	1%	4%	1%
1994	1%	4%	1%
1992	1%	3%	1%
1991	1%	3%	1%

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Hispanic

12%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Independence Elementary School	Minnesota	Big Lake Public School District
2023	8%	11%	7%
2022	7%	10%	7%
2021	6%	10%	7%
2020	6%	9%	5%
2019	6%	9%	5%
2018	2%	9%	5%
2017	2%	9%	5%
2016	3%	9%	5%
2015	3%	9%	5%
2014	3%	8%	4%
2013	4%	8%	4%
2012	4%	7%	5%
2011	4%	7%	4%
2010	4%	7%	4%
2009	4%	6%	4%
2008	4%	6%	4%
2007	4%	6%	4%
2006	4%	5%	3%
2005	2%	5%	3%
2004	3%	4%	2%
2003	2%	4%	2%
2002	1%	4%	1%
2001	2%	3%	2%
1998	1%	2%
1996	1%	2%

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Black

12%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1989-2023)
Year	Independence Elementary School	Minnesota	Big Lake Public School District
2023	5%	12%	5%
2022	5%	12%	5%
2021	7%	11%	5%
2020	2%	11%	3%
2019	2%	11%	3%
2018	3%	11%	3%
2017	3%	11%	3%
2016	2%	10%	3%
2015	1%	10%	2%
2014	2%	10%	3%
2013	1%	9%	2%
2012	2%	9%	2%
2011	3%	9%	2%
2010	4%	10%	3%
2009	5%	10%	3%
2008	5%	9%	3%
2007	4%	9%	3%
2006	2%	8%	2%
2005	1%	8%	2%
2004	1%	8%	1%
2003	1%	7%	1%
2002	1%	7%	1%
2001	1%	7%	1%
1996	1%	5%
1989	1%	3%	1%

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White

77%

61%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Independence Elementary School	Minnesota	Big Lake Public School District
2023	77%	62%	77%
2022	79%	63%	80%
2021	80%	64%	81%
2020	84%	66%	85%
2019	84%	66%	85%
2018	88%	67%	88%
2017	88%	67%	88%
2016	88%	68%	88%
2015	89%	69%	89%
2014	89%	71%	89%
2013	89%	72%	89%
2012	88%	73%	89%
2011	88%	74%	90%
2010	89%	75%	91%
2009	88%	76%	91%
2008	88%	76%	91%
2007	89%	77%	91%
2006	91%	79%	92%
2005	94%	79%	93%
2004	94%	80%	94%
2003	94%	81%	95%
2002	96%	82%	96%
2001	95%	83%	95%
2000	98%	84%	97%
1999	98%	85%	97%
1998	97%	86%	100%
1997	99%	87%	100%
1996	97%	87%	98%
1995	99%	88%	98%
1994	98%	88%	98%
1993	100%	89%	100%
1992	99%	90%	99%
1991	99%	91%	99%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Independence Elementary School	Minnesota	Big Lake Public School District
2023	7%	6%	7%
2022	7%	6%	6%
2021	5%	6%	5%
2020	5%	5%	4%
2019	5%	5%	4%
2018	6%	4%	3%
2017	6%	4%	3%
2016	6%	4%	3%
2015	6%	4%	3%
2014	4%	3%	2%
2013	4%	3%	2%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.40

0.59

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1992-2023)
Year	Independence Elementary School	Minnesota	Big Lake Public School District
2023	0.40	0.59	0.39
2022	0.37	0.58	0.36
2021	0.35	0.57	0.34
2020	0.29	0.54	0.27
2019	0.29	0.54	0.27
2018	0.22	0.53	0.23
2017	0.22	0.53	0.23
2016	0.22	0.52	0.23
2015	0.21	0.51	0.21
2014	0.22	0.48	0.21
2013	0.21	0.47	0.20
2012	0.23	0.45	0.21
2011	0.23	0.44	0.20
2010	0.20	0.42	0.18
2009	0.22	0.41	0.18
2008	0.22	0.41	0.18
2007	0.21	0.40	0.17
2006	0.17	0.37	0.15
2005	0.12	0.37	0.14
2004	0.12	0.35	0.11
2003	0.11	0.34	0.09
2002	0.08	0.32	0.07
2001	0.09	0.31	0.07
2000	0.04	0.29	0.04
1999	0.04	0.28	0.03
1998	0.06	0.26	0.03
1997	0.03	0.24	0.02
1996	0.05	0.23	0.03
1995	0.02	0.23	0.04
1994	0.04	0.22	0.04
1992	0.02	0.19	0.02

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Eligible for

31%

36%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Independence Elementary School	Minnesota	Big Lake Public School District
2023	30%	35%	28%
2022	16%	26%	14%
2021	14%	26%	12%
2020	17%	28%	16%
2019	17%	28%	16%
2018	17%	30%	14%
2017	17%	30%	14%
2016	17%	31%	17%
2015	18%	31%	19%
2014	20%	31%	20%
2013	22%	31%	23%
2012	23%	30%	22%
2011	22%	29%	21%
2010	22%	28%	19%
2009	16%	25%	16%
2008	16%	24%	14%
2007	15%	23%	14%
2006	13%	23%	11%
2005	13%	22%	12%
2004	12%	21%	12%
2003	11%	20%	10%
2002	10%	19%	10%
2001	11%	18%	10%
2000	10%	18%	9%
1999	11%	19%	10%
1998	12%	19%	10%
1997	10%	19%	9%
1996	12%	19%	11%
1995	13%	18%	12%
1994	16%	18%	14%
1993	17%	17%	14%
1992	14%	18%	13%
1991	7%	16%	8%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2003-2023)
Year	Independence Elementary School	Minnesota	Big Lake Public School District
2023	10%	8%	9%
2022	6%	6%	5%
2021	6%	6%	6%
2020	8%	8%	7%
2019	8%	8%	7%
2018	8%	8%	7%
2017	8%	8%	7%
2016	10%	7%	9%
2015	8%	7%	7%
2014	8%	7%	8%
2013	8%	7%	7%
2012	7%	7%	7%
2011	9%	8%	9%
2010	8%	8%	9%
2009	9%	8%	9%
2008	6%	8%	7%
2007	7%	7%	6%
2006	7%	7%	6%
2005	7%	7%	7%
2004	9%	7%	7%
2003	7%	7%	6%

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School Statewide Testing

School District Name

Big Lake Public School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MN Dept. of Education

School Notes

School Mascot: Hornet

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Independence Elementary School's ranking?

Independence Elementary School is ranked #454 out of 1,773 schools, which ranks it among the top 30% of public schools in Minnesota.

What schools are Independence Elementary School often compared to?

Independence Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Zimmerman Elementary School, Becker Intermediate Elementary School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

56% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 46% MN state average), while 55% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 51% MN state average).

How many students attend Independence Elementary School?

694 students attend Independence Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

77% of Independence Elementary School students are White, 8% of students are Hispanic, 6% of students are Black, 6% of students are Two or more races, and 3% of students are Asian.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Independence Elementary School?

Independence Elementary School has a student ration of 15:1, which is higher than the Minnesota state average of 13:1.

What grades does Independence Elementary School offer ?

Independence Elementary School offers enrollment in grades 3-5 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is Independence Elementary School part of?

Independence Elementary School is part of Big Lake Public School District.

School Reviews

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