Independence High School (Arizona)

Independence High School
Independence.High School
Address
Map
6602 North 75th Avenue

Glendale
,
Arizona
85303

United States
Coordinates33°31′55.01″N 112°13′17.39″W / 33.5319472°N 112.2214972°W / 33.5319472; -112.2214972
Information
TypePublic
Opened1977
School districtGlendale Union High School District, Arizona, USA
PrincipalRobert Ambrose,[1] Michael Siwek*, Jeannie Paparella*, Justin Tarver*
(* Assistant Principal)
Staff86.40 (FTE)[3]
Faculty82.6[2]
Grades9-12
Enrollment2,040 (2022–2023)[3]
Student to teacher ratio23.61[3]
Color(s)Red, white and blue    
MascotPatriot
RivalsGlendale High School
WebsiteIndependence High School

Independence High School (IHS)[4][self-published source] is a public high school located in Glendale, Arizona, United States, and is the most recent high school in the Glendale Union High School District. The school's name was picked by the school board because of the bicentennial observance. The school was scheduled to open in the summer of 1976, but was postponed due to construction and lack of demand from the district's student population. It opened during the 1977–1978 school year under principal Fed McClure. The initial enrollment was 420 students consisting of freshman and sophomore students only. The first graduating class was in 1980. The school celebrated its thirtieth anniversary during the 2007–2008 school year.

The school was designed by the local architecture firm Varney, Sexton, Sydnor Associates and built in the Brutalist style.[5]

Two weeks after the school opened, a fire broke out destroying parts of the lower level, however classes resumed a few days later. A formal dedication was held on November 17, 1977, with the Honorable Bob Stump, representative, as guest speaker.

On February 12, 2016, the school was the site of a murder suicide shooting that killed two 15-year-old girls.[6]

Ethnic diversity

Independence's student ethnic diversity as of November 2023:[7]

  • Asian: 81 (3.95%)
  • American Indian/Alaskan Native: Not Specified
  • Black/African American: 130 (6.34%)
  • Hispanic/Latino: 1633 (79.7%)
  • Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: Not Specified
  • Multiple Races: 27 (1.32%)
  • White: 154 (7.52%)

References

  1. ^ "Administration". Independence High School. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
  2. ^ "Independence High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c "Independence High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  4. ^ "Important Summer Information". Independence High School. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  5. ^ "Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona on February 27, 1977 · Page 96". Newspapers.com. February 27, 1977. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  6. ^ "azcentral.com: Phoenix and Arizona local news, sports and entertainment". azcentral. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  7. ^ "Accountability & Research Data". Arizona Department of Education. November 30, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2024.