- Enrollment
- 1,937
- Students per teacher
- 19.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Chesterton, IN
Chesterton Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Chesterton Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 180280001624
👥 S:T ratio 66
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 58
📋 Attendance 1
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Chesterton Middle School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 98% of Indiana schools.
- #3 of 8
- public schools in Chesterton · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 8.5:1
- small classes for Indiana
- 27.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Chesterton Middle School has class sizes smaller than 98% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Chesterton Middle School ranks #3 of 8 public schools in Chesterton, IN.
School address
District: Duneland School Corporation · Indiana
NCES ID 180280001624 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-14 students YoY
Chesterton Middle School held near 870 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 50.9 → 57.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-14 students YoY 180280001624 · Chesterton, IN Middle · SMALL · TRAD
423 enr · 8.5:1 · 27.8% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Chesterton Senior High School (1,937 students)
Chesterton Middle School held near 870 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount). Teacher FTE added 50.9 → 57.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
Chesterton Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Chesterton Sen
Chesterton Senior High School
1,937 students
- Liberty Elemen 491
Liberty Elementary School
491 students
- Liberty Interm 452
Liberty Intermediate School
452 students
- This school 423
Chesterton Middle School
423 students
- Westchester In 404
Westchester Intermediate School
404 students
- Bailly Element 374
Bailly Elementary School
374 students
What this shows Chesterton Middle School reports 423 students on the CCD universe file.
How Chesterton Middle School compares
Chesterton 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 | 8.5:1 | ▼ 47% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 27.8% | ▼ 44% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 423 | top 56% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8.5:1
Leaner classes than 94% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
423
Bigger than 51% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
27.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 44% below the Indiana average of 49.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
8.5:1
students per teacher
- 47% below state mean
Top 2% in Indiana - lower ratio than 98% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
39.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$13,779
per pupil, district-wide
- above 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 212 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
77
in-school suspensions + 88 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 18.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 39.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 15 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 75.4%
Hispanic or Latino 16.5%
Two or More 4.7%
Asian 2.1%
African American 1.2%
Largest group: White at 75.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 40.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 40.1, Chesterton Middle School is about as mixed as the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Duneland School Corporation reports $13,779 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Chesterton Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesterton Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Liberty Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Liberty Intermediate School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westchester Intermediate School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bailly Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Chesterton Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 491
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 452
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 404
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 374
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
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 (~423 students)
Frequently asked questions about Chesterton Middle School
How many students attend Chesterton Middle School?
Chesterton Middle School has 423 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Chesterton, IN. CCD year-over-year: 884 (2022-23) → 870 (2023-24), nearly flat (-14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Chesterton Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Chesterton Middle School is 8.5:1, which is 47% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 46% 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 Chesterton Middle School?
27.8% of students at Chesterton Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Chesterton Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Chesterton Middle School is White at 75.4% of enrollment, in Chesterton, IN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Chesterton Middle School?
Chesterton Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher 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 Chesterton Middle School rank among public schools in Chesterton?
By Resource Investment Index, Chesterton Middle School ranks #3 of 8 public schools in Chesterton, 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 Chesterton on the city page.
What other schools are in Duneland School Corporation?
Besides Chesterton Middle School, Duneland School Corporation also operates Chesterton Senior High School (1,937 students), Liberty Elementary School (491 students), and Liberty Intermediate School (452 students). See the Duneland School Corporation district page for the complete list.