Early Childhood Center
Public school in Independence, Missouri · Fort Osage R-I School District · Grades Pre-K
Early Childhood Center serves 133 students in pre-K in Independence (Jackson County). It is one of 9 schools in Fort Osage R-I School District. By enrollment it is the 50th largest of 94 public schools in Missouri (median 142 students). With 11.3 students per full-time teacher, it has fewer students per teacher than the typical Missouri school (13.2).
Source: NCES CCD 2024-25. Rank and medians compare all 94 Missouri schools with enrollment listed on this site.
Source: NCES CCD 2024-25. Students per teacher = students ÷ 11.8 full-time-equivalent teachers.
School facts
| School type | Regular School |
| Level | Pre-K |
| Grades | Pre-K |
| District | Fort Osage R-I School District |
| County | Jackson County |
| Area type | Suburb, large |
| School meals | National School Lunch Program, free or reduced price for eligible students |
| NCES school ID | 291229002310 |
Source: NCES CCD 2024-25 directory and school characteristics; area type from NCES EDGE locale codes.
Compared with the district and Missouri
| This school | Fort Osage R-I | Missouri schools (median) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students | 133 | 4,718 | 142 |
| Students per teacher | 11.3 | 13.2 | 13.2 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligible | 44.4% | 50.5% | 46.5% |
Source: NCES CCD 2024-25. District figures add up its schools. 36% of Missouri schools have fewer students per teacher than this school (share of schools with a lower ratio). State test results aren't published here yet.
Early Childhood Center in context
Size
Early Childhood Center is the only school in Fort Osage R-I School District. Its 133 students are 2.8% of the district's 4,718. Its 8 closest schools sit a median 10.1 miles away with a median enrollment of 109; Early Childhood Center is close to their typical size.
Source: NCES CCD 2024-25 enrollment and school type. Share of district students = this school's students ÷ the district's students. Nearest schools by straight-line distance between NCES EDGE locations.
Grades
Early Childhood Center serves a single grade, pre-K, with 133 students.
Source: NCES CCD 2024-25 membership by grade.
Students
The largest group is White students: 58.6% here and 65.8% across Fort Osage R-I. Hispanic students are next, at 15.8%. Students from 6 of the 7 race and ethnicity groups NCES reports are enrolled.
44.4% of its students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, against 50.5% across Fort Osage R-I and a median of 46.5% for Missouri schools. 25.6% are directly certified for free meals, meaning their families take part in programs such as SNAP or TANF, so no application was needed. Families apply for free or reduced-price meals, and eligibility depends on household income.
Source: NCES CCD 2024-25 membership and school lunch program data. District shares weight each school by its enrollment.
Teachers
With 11.8 full-time-equivalent teachers for 133 students, Early Childhood Center has 11.3 students per teacher. At the median Missouri school ratio of 13.2, a school with 133 students would have about 10.1 teachers, so Early Childhood Center has 1.7 more.
Source: NCES CCD 2024-25. Expected teachers = this school's students ÷ the median students per teacher of Missouri schools (13.2).
Location
Early Childhood Center is in an urbanized area of 250,000 people or more, outside its principal city, which NCES calls suburb, large. The nearest other school is Sunshine Center, 1.5 miles away in Independence 30 School District. Within 10 miles there are 4 other schools, 2 of them within 5 miles.
Source: NCES EDGE school locations and locale codes, 2024-25. Distances are straight lines.
Students by race and ethnicity
| White | 58.6% |
| Hispanic | 15.8% |
| Two or more races | 13.5% |
| Black | 9.8% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 1.5% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0.8% |
43.6% of students are girls and 56.4% are boys.
Source: NCES CCD 2024-25 membership.
Location and contact
25102 E. US 24 Highway, Independence, MO 64056
Phone: (816)650-7480
Website: fortosage.net
Locations: NCES EDGE. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Red: Early Childhood Center. Blue: the nearest schools.
Nearby schools
| School | District | Distance | Students | Per teacher | Free/reduced lunch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunshine Center | Independence 30 | 1.5 mi | 106 | – | 52.8% |
| Hanthorn Early Education | Independence 30 | 4.3 mi | 180 | 12.9 | 96.7% |
| Early Child. Education Center | Liberty 53 | 9.1 mi | 45 | 1.9 | 93.3% |
| Grain Valley Early Childhd Center | Grain Valley R-V | 9.8 mi | 83 | 8.3 | 3.6% |
| New Trails Early Learning Center | Raytown C-2 | 10.4 mi | 101 | 7.5 | 55.4% |
| Three Trails Preschool | Raytown C-2 | 11.2 mi | 172 | 14.3 | 65.7% |
| Early Education Center | North Kansas City 74 | 11.3 mi | 112 | 2 | 39.3% |
| Freda Markley Early Childhood | Hickman Mills C-1 | 13.8 mi | 190 | 12.3 | 100% |
Source: NCES CCD 2024-25. Distance in a straight line between NCES EDGE locations.
Other schools in Fort Osage R-I
| School | Level | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Hills Elementary School | Elementary | K–4 | 357 |
| Buckner Elementary School | Elementary | K–4 | 327 |
| Cler-Mont Elementary School | Elementary | K–4 | 298 |
| Elm Grove Elementary School | Elementary | K–4 | 305 |
| Fire Prairie Middle School | Middle | 5–6 | 713 |
| Fort Osage High School | High | 9–12 | 1,545 |
| Indian Trails Elementary School | Elementary | Pre-K–4 | 365 |
| Osage Trail Middle School | Middle | 7–8 | 675 |