- Enrollment
- 2,089
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Valparaiso, IN
Benjamin Franklin Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Benjamin Franklin Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 181197001881
👥 S:T ratio 34
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 18
📋 Attendance 67
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Benjamin Franklin Middle School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median.
- #3 of 3
- middle schools in Valparaiso · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.5:1
- students per teacher
- 20.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Benjamin Franklin Middle School has class sizes near the Indiana median. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Benjamin Franklin Middle School ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Valparaiso, IN.
School address
District: Valparaiso Community Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 181197001881 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-15 students YoY
Benjamin Franklin Middle School held near 806 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-15 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 50.7 → 57.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-15 students YoY 181197001881 · Valparaiso, IN Middle · MID · TRAD
823 enr · 16.5:1 · 20.1% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Valparaiso High School (2,089 students)
Benjamin Franklin Middle School held near 806 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-15 headcount). Teacher FTE added 50.7 → 57.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
Benjamin Franklin Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Valparaiso Hig
Valparaiso High School
2,089 students
- This school 823
Benjamin Franklin Middle School
823 students
- Thomas Jeffers 632
Thomas Jefferson Middle School
632 students
- Cooks Corners 487
Cooks Corners Elementary School
487 students
- Heavilin Eleme 479
Heavilin Elementary School
479 students
- Flint Lake Ele 476
Flint Lake Elementary School
476 students
What this shows Benjamin Franklin Middle School reports 823 students on the CCD universe file.
How Benjamin Franklin Middle School compares
Benjamin Franklin Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.5:1 | ▲ 4% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 20.1% | ▼ 59% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 823 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.5:1
Leaner classes than 34% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
823
Bigger than 86% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
20.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 59% below the Indiana average of 49.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.5:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 65% in Indiana - lower ratio than 35% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
13.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$11,533
per pupil, district-wide
- below Indiana avg of $12,921
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 412 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
21
in-school suspensions + 23 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 6 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 77.8%
Hispanic or Latino 13.1%
Two or More 4.5%
Asian 2.3%
African American 2.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 77.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 37.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 37.5, Benjamin Franklin Middle School is about as mixed as the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Valparaiso Community Schools reports $11,533 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Benjamin Franklin Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valparaiso High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Thomas Jefferson Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cooks Corners Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Heavilin Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Flint Lake Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Benjamin Franklin Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 632
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
- Enrollment
- 487
- Students per teacher
- 23.2:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 479
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
- Enrollment
- 476
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Similar middle schools in Valparaiso
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~823 students)
Frequently asked questions about Benjamin Franklin Middle School
How many students attend Benjamin Franklin Middle School?
Benjamin Franklin Middle School has 823 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Valparaiso, IN. CCD year-over-year: 821 (2022-23) → 806 (2023-24), nearly flat (-15).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Benjamin Franklin Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Benjamin Franklin Middle School is 16.5:1, which is 4% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 5% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Benjamin Franklin Middle School?
20.1% of students at Benjamin Franklin Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Benjamin Franklin Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Benjamin Franklin Middle School is White at 77.8% of enrollment, in Valparaiso, IN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Benjamin Franklin Middle School?
Benjamin Franklin Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Benjamin Franklin Middle School rank among middle schools in Valparaiso?
By Resource Investment Index, Benjamin Franklin Middle School ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Valparaiso, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Valparaiso on the city page.
What other schools are in Valparaiso Community Schools?
Besides Benjamin Franklin Middle School, Valparaiso Community Schools also operates Valparaiso High School (2,089 students), Thomas Jefferson Middle School (632 students), and Cooks Corners Elementary School (487 students). See the Valparaiso Community Schools district page for the complete list.