Welcome to a New Year of Celebrating Independence Schools!
Back to School Resources
We are gearing up for the 2025-2026 school year, and we can’t wait for a new year of celebrating and growing together as an Independence school community! We have gathered links to important information and resources designed to help you get this year off to an excellent start. REMEMBER, our first day of school is Thursday, August 21. (IPS start dates are staggered - see calendar below).
Our Independence Local Schools’ teachers and staff are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to welcome students back to our learning environment. Our custodial staff has done an outstanding job all summer making sure our rooms are shiny and spotless and ready for our learners!
STAY CONNECTED
To our website, download our APP, and follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) for the most updated information on the beginning of the new school year! Thank you for your continued partnership. Go Blue Devils!
ONLINE CALENDAR
The online calendar contains important dates including building events and performances. All dates are subject to change, so check back periodically and watch your school's e-newsletters that the principal sends out regularly for updates. Events will continue to be added throughout the next few weeks.
BACK TO SCHOOL FORMS
Completing our Back to School Forms on FinalForms is the first step to an excellent school year! Remember, all these forms need to be up to date for the new school year.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Independence Primary School
School supply pickup (pre-ordered only) - items will be available for pick up during the Back to School Blast on Thursday, August 14, 2025, 6-8 p.m.
Independence Middle School
School supply pickup (pre-ordered only) - items will be available for pick up on Locker Load Days.
Independence High School (teachers will share with students the first week of school)
DISTRICT CALENDAR
Click here to download at-a-glance digital PDFs of the District calendar.
DAILY BELL SCHEDULES
Independence Primary School (Grades Prek - 4)
8:30 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.
Independence Middle School (Grades 5-8)
7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m
(Please note the change in times. This small, five-minute change will allow our buses to stay on schedule and arrive at the primary school on time.)
Independence High School (Grades 9-12)
SCHOOL FEES
Click here to pay school fees.
LUNCH MENUS
Click here to visit our Food Services Department to access your student’s lunch room transactions through family.titank12.com, view lunch menus, and go to PaySchools Central.
TECHNOLOGY
We are 1:1 kindergarten through 12th grade. Fifth and ninth graders will get a new device to use for the time they spend in that building (5-8 and 9-12). Kindergarten through second grade devices are in carts and remain in the building. Third and fourth graders take their devices home. Third and fourth graders will get their devices in the first week or two of the school year.
For those students who will take their devices home nightly, they will need to be charged for the next school day.
HANDBOOKS
Click here to view your building’s handbook.
DOCUMENTS & FORMS
Click here to find all the forms and links you need for back to school.
TRANSPORTATION
We have seven contracted drivers. You will be able to access your child's bus information in a couple convenient ways this year using an app called Ride K-12 or the Ride K-12 website. Here are instructions (Web Directions) (App Directions) for downloading the new app which will give you your child's bus information. This system will also allow you to communicate to the transportation department and allow us to communicate with you (ex. bus is running late). You will use your child's school ID number to find their information. If you do not see bus information for your child, it is because you did not respond to the email that was sent in June which gave everyone until July 1 to sign up for busing. If this is the case, please email fkane@independence.k12.oh.us and we will add your child to a bus so they can begin riding on September 2nd. Please check your information right before school starts for any changes.
IMPORTANT DATES
Independence Primary School
Thursday, August 14 - Back to School Blast - 6-8 p.m. - IPS Playground
Pick up your 1st Day School Supplies supply box if you ordered one!
Tuesday, August 19 - IPS Open House
Grades PreK and Kindergarten
4-4:45 p.m. Last Names A-L
4:45-5:30 p.m. Last Names M-Z
Grades 1-4
6-6:45 p.m. Last Names A-L
6:45-7:30 p.m. Last Names M-Z
Staggered Open House times are flexible and designed to minimize traffic and parking concerns. If your assigned time does not work with your schedule, please feel free to stop by anytime during your Grade Level’s Open House window.
Meet, greet, and drop off school supplies! See you then!
Thursday, August 21 - Students Last Names A-L First Day of School (Grades 1-4)
Friday, August 22 - Students Last Names M-Z First Day of School (Grades 1-4)
Monday, August 25 - All Students (Grades 1-4)
Kindergarten follows a different beginning-of-the-year schedule:
Kindergarten students will schedule for the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) on either Thursday, August 21 or Friday, August 22. Please look for an email in early August with directions on how to schedule a time.
Group A (A-L) - Monday, August 25 and Wednesday, August 27.
Group B (M-Z) - Tuesday, August 26 and Thursday, August 28.
ALL kindergarten students will start together on Friday, August 29.
Wednesday, August 27 - ALL Preschool First Day of School
Independence Middle School
August 11 - 5th Grade Parent meeting-Parents only 6:00PM-7:00PM (auditorium)
August 14 - 5th grade student WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) orientation 9 a.m. - noon
August 14 - 5th grade Locker Load Day noon - 2 p.m.
Pick up your 1st Day School Supplies supply box if you ordered one!
August 15 - Schedules will be released via progress book
August 15 - 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Locker Load Day 8 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Pick up your 1st Day School Supplies supply box if you ordered one!
August 21- First day of school
August 26- Open House 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Independence High School
August 15 - Schedules will be released via progress book
August 21 - First Day for Freshman Only (Freshman Festival)
August 20 - First Day for All CVCC Students
August 22 - First day for students - Grades 10-12
August 27 - Open House for Parents - 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Fall Sports Picture Day
Thursday, August 7 - IMS Gym
1:00 - IHS JV/Varsity Volleyball
1:20 - 7th/8th IMS Volleyball
1:35 - IHS JV Cheer
1:45 - IMS Cheer
1:50 - IMS Girls/Boys Cross Country
2:00- IHS Girls/Boys Cross Country
2:10 - IHS Tennis
2:15 - IHS Girls/Boys Golf
2:30 - IHS Varsity Cheer
2:40- IHS Girls/Boys Soccer
2:50 - IHS IHS Football
3:10 - Band
3:30 - IMS Football
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL PHOTO SIGNS
CLICK HERE for students.
CLICK HERE for staff.
EMAIL NEWSLETTER
Not receiving our District communications? Click here to sign up.