Enrollment
390
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Michigan City, IN
Barker Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Barker Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 58/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 180657001140
👥 S:T ratio 51
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 22
📋 Attendance 91
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Barker Middle School earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 86% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #1 of 11
- public schools in Michigan City · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.2:1
- small classes for Indiana
- 74.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Barker Middle School has class sizes smaller than 86% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Barker Middle School ranks #1 of 11 public schools in Michigan City, IN.
School address
District: Michigan City Area Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 180657001140 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.2:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
-23% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
74.7%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+51% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Barker Middle School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Barker Middle School
Barker Middle School is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Michigan City, Indiana, enrolling 390 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 12.2:1, Barker Middle School is leaner than roughly 86% of Indiana schools and 23% under the state's 15.9:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need is high: 74.7% of students qualify for free meals, 51% above the Indiana average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 390 students, its enrollment sits close to the Indiana median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Among 310 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Indiana schools statewide, it ranks #7, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (41%) and African American (34%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 69/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 390 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Attendance holds up well here: only 3.8% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
The surrounding Michigan City Area Schools spends $16,466 per pupil, 36% above the Indiana average, a better-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 185 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 390 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 5 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Michigan City's middle schools, it stands alongside Martin T Krueger Middle School (324 students): Barker Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (12.2:1 vs 10.1:1).
Michigan City Area Schools also operates Michigan City High School (1,506 students) and Joy Elementary School (416 students) alongside Barker Middle School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Barker Middle School compares
Barker Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.2:1 | ▼ 23% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 74.7% | ▲ 51% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 390 | top 61% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.2:1
Leaner classes than 74% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
390
Bigger than 46% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
74.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 51% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.2:1
students per teacher
- 23% below state mean
Top 14% in Indiana - lower ratio than 86% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
3.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$16,466
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,079
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 390 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
43
in-school suspensions + 142 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 11.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 47.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 5 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 40.5%
African American 33.8%
Hispanic or Latino 14.1%
Two or More 10.3%
Asian 1.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 40.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.1, Barker Middle School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Michigan City Area Schools, which includes Barker Middle School.
$16,466
Per student
+36%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-1%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 66.9%
State 27.9%
Federal 5.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Barker Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan City High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Joy Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Knapp Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pine Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Edgewood Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Barker Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,506
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 416
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 407
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 396
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 350
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar middle schools in Michigan City
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Indiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~390 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Barker Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Barker Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Michigan City Area Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Barker Middle School
How many students attend Barker Middle School?
Barker Middle School has 390 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Michigan City, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Barker Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Barker Middle School is 12.2:1, which is 23% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 22% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Barker Middle School?
74.7% of students at Barker Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Barker Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Barker Middle School is White at 40.5% of enrollment, in Michigan City, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Barker Middle School?
Barker Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 58/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Barker Middle School rank among public schools in Michigan City?
By Resource Investment Index, Barker Middle School ranks #1 of 11 public schools in Michigan City, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Michigan City on the city page.
Is Barker Middle School a good school?
Barker Middle School earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 86% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Michigan City Area Schools?
Besides Barker Middle School, Michigan City Area Schools also operates Michigan City High School (1,506 students), Joy Elementary School (416 students), and Knapp Elementary School (407 students). See the Michigan City Area Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.