Independence High School
Independence High School, or Independence, is a public high school within the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System that services the central-eastern area of Mecklenburg County. Located at 1967 Patriot Drive, Charlotte, NC 28227, the school is fed by the surrounding neighborhoods of Becton Park, Marlwood, Idlewild Farms, and the town of Mint Hill. Established in 1967, it is home to 1,992 students and 124 faculty. The school’s mascot is the Patriots.
Location
As mentioned previously, Independence services the neighborhoods of Becton Park, Marlwood, Idlewild Farms, and the town of Mint Hill. These submarkets are in the central-eastern region of Mecklenburg County and border the county line with both Union and Cabarrus County. There has been steady development and growth in the area over recent years, primarily within the town of Mint Hill. Here additions to the downtown in the form of grocery stores, restaurants, and doctor’s offices have transformed the main strip from a rural backroad to an inviting urban sprawl. As of 2023, the median Household Income for the area’s Zip of 28078 was $69,667. This is slightly above the state average of $65,070. The median sales price for the area was $342,667 in September 2023. These neighborhoods are accessed via Albemarle Rd, E Independence Blvd, Matthews-Mint Hill Rd, and I-485.
Academics
Independence services grades 9-12 and is generally considered a slightly below-average school for academics in the Charlotte area. According to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NC DPI), 82% of all 2023 graduates finished school within 4 years compared to the NC State average of 86%. Greatschools found that 92% of graduates also went on to attend public university for at least 2 years. This puts Independence in an interesting spot in terms of college readiness, as those who did graduate continued to excel in higher education programs. The school also offers 21 AP courses, 2 STEM programs, 1 art course, and 1 world language course. Test scores for Independence all lagged behind state averages in Math 1, Math 3, Biology, and English. The largest deficit among these courses was Biology where students scored 16% below the state average. As of 2023, there are 124 teachers at Independence, resulting in a Student / Teacher Ratio of 16-1.
Test Scores
Average SAT Test Scores: 2022-2023
Independence students were slightly underprepared for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) in 2023. According to the NC DPI, students were outscored in both areas of the exam by both their CMS and State counterparts. However, they did score above the national average in both the reading and Math sections of the exam. The largest disadvantage was in the Math section, where Independence students underperformed about 13.2% compared to other CMS students. This information points to the school being below average when preparing students for higher education compared to other CMS high schools. The SAT participation rate for the school was 22.7%.
Average ACT Test Scores: 2022-2023
Independence students were also not well prepared for the Aptitude and Critical Thinking test (ACT). Average 2023 scores for English, Math, Reading, and Science were all below those of their CMS, State, and National counterparts. The largest deficit held by Independence was in English, where students were outscored by their CMS counterparts by 21.6% on average.
4-Graduation Rate
Graduation Rate: 2018-2023
The 4-Year Graduation Rate at Independence High School has hovered in the mid to low 80% range since 2020. This is slightly below the average for the CMS system and well below that of the State. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a clear impact on the school, dropping its average graduation rate about 4% since 2020. Before this, graduation was in the high 80’s low 90’s. This trend is similar to that of CMS and the State, though it is clear that Independence was more seriously impacted.
Food Assistance Programs
Independence High School, as well as all CMS schools, provides meals for underprivileged students via the CMS School Nutrition Services system. This service provides both breakfast and lunch options to students across Mecklenburg County. According to Mecklenburg County Public Health, approximately 15% of households are food insecure, so this program is a welcome addition to Independence’s cafeteria.
How to Enroll
If you are interested in enrolling at Independence High School, there are a few things you need:
Use the CMS Geoportal to confirm your place of residence is within the appropriate school district here.
Compile documents necessary for enrollment. These requirements can be found here.
Download and complete the enrollment packet. Can be found on the far right side of the page here.
Submit your application to the school. This is required to be done in person and typically by appointment.
