Margaret Chrisman Swope offered to sell the district land for the new school at the southeast corner of Union and Maple for $1 in exchange for naming the school after her father, William Chrisman.

Chrisman had served as a member of the first school board in 1866 and was also a prominent lawyer and banker in the community.

The student population's racial breakdown is: 72.5% white, 12.6% black, 9.1% Hispanic, 0.7% Asian, and 0.3% Native American.

Consisting of high schools: William Chrisman, Oak Park, Raytown, Fort Osage, Liberty North, and Staley[4] William Chrisman also plays Truman, and Van Horn, which are also part of the Independence School District.

The FBI is also active in the ISD community; many members from the team mentor ISD middle school and elementary school FIRST Lego League teams and host an annual FIRST Lego League tournament at George Caleb Bingham Middle School.