ISD Start to Finish: the heartfelt journeys of four graduating seniors

Join us in celebrating the journey of several graduating seniors who have spent their entire academic lives in the Independence School District! From preschool to graduation day, these two students have grown up within our community, building lasting memories, friendships, and achievements along the way. In these videos, we take a look back at their […]

ISD Graduation information, Livestream link

We are so proud of all our high school seniors who are graduating from the ISD! Please find information below about the time and date of each graduation, as well as livestream information to watch the programs live online. Additional information regarding parking, tickets, and other building-specific information has been shared by each high school. […]

📢 ISD’s May Insider is Here!

Stay up to date with the latest district news, important reminders, and upcoming events. Check out this month’s edition here: ISD Insider – May 2025 📖 Read more and look at past editions here: ISD Insider Archive

Honoring Our Retirees- 2025 Retirement Dinner

Last week, we celebrated 16 retirees for their years of dedicated service at a special retirement dinner. We are grateful for the impact each has made and wish them all the best in their well-deserved retirement!

Project HOME: From One School to a National Movement of Thanks

A Humble Beginning During the 2022–23 school year, students at Van Horn High School began a project-based learning initiative titled Project HOME. The mission was simple yet profound: create handcrafted wooden American flags to honor veterans residing in the Kansas City Veterans Community Project (KCVCP)—a national organization that provides food, shelter, clothing, and transition support […]

ISDF Connecting Hearts Gala – 2025

This year’s Independence School District Foundation Connecting Hearts Gala was a tremendous success! $160,000 was raised this evening to support our students, families, and staff. Way to make an impact, ISD!

Employee Highlights: Celebrating Our ISD Difference-Makers

In the ISD, we believe it’s the people who make the difference and inspire greatness—and we’re excited to launch a new campaign dedicated to honoring the incredible individuals who help our students, schools, and community thrive. Starting May 1, we’ll be introducing “Employee Highlights: Celebrating Our ISD Difference-Makers” — a bi-monthly spotlight series featuring the […]

10th Annual Academy Awards!

Congratulations to all Academy Award nominees and winners! Students were nominated by staff for their work ethic, academic achievement and participation within the Academy Pathways. The winners were announced at a banquet attended by their families and school staff. Visionary award: Dr. Herl and the ISD Board of Education, Independence Chamber of Commerce Freshman Academy […]

🎓 Kindergarten Registration Night Recap — And It’s Not Too Late to Register!

On Thursday, April 3, the ISD welcomed families across the district for our annual Kindergarten Registration Event — and what a special evening it was! 🖍️📚✨ From smiling faces to excited little learners stepping into their future schools for the first time, the event was filled with joy, connection, and anticipation for the journey ahead. […]

District Students Receive Free Dental Care at Annual TeamSmile Event

We are proud to share the success of this year’s TeamSmile 🦷 event, a heartwarming K–12 initiative that brought smiles to the faces of students from across our district. Drawing participation from all 28 schools, the event provided an incredible opportunity for 250 students to receive free dental care—all thanks to the generous support of […]