Enrollment
620
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Commerce Township, MI
James R Geisler Middle School
Federal NCES profile for James R Geisler Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 263516007080
👥 S:T ratio 8
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 38
📋 Attendance 22
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James R Geisler Middle School earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #4 of 4
- schools in Commerce Township · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 23:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 35.1%
- free-lunch eligible
James R Geisler Middle School has class sizes larger than 91% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James R Geisler Middle School ranks #4 of 4 schools in Commerce Township, MI.
School address
District: Walled Lake Consolidated Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 263516007080 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
27.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
23:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
+31% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
35.1%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
-35% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How James R Geisler Middle School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at James R Geisler Middle School
James R Geisler Middle School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Commerce Township, Michigan, enrolling 620 students.
Class loads run heavy: 23:1 is larger than about 91% of Michigan schools and 31% above the 17.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 35.1% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 620 puts it in the larger third of Michigan schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 3,375 scored Michigan schools.
Against 560 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #363.
Its student body is led by White (47%) and African American (20%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 70/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 310 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 31.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 174 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 620 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools also operates Walled Lake Northern High School (1,383 students) and Walled Lake Central High School (1,182 students) alongside James R Geisler 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 James R Geisler Middle School compares
James R Geisler Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 23:1 | ▲ 31% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.1% | ▼ 35% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 620 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23:1
Leaner classes than 8% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
620
Bigger than 74% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
35.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
23:1
students per teacher
- 31% above state mean
Top 91% in Michigan - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
31.3%
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
$14,084
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $13,507
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 310 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
91
in-school suspensions + 83 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 14.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 28.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 47.4%
African American 19.7%
Asian 15.2%
Hispanic or Latino 12.1%
Two or More 5.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: White at 47.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.6, James R Geisler Middle School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Walled Lake Consolidated Schools, which includes James R Geisler Middle School.
$14,084
Per student
+4%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-15%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 39.5%
State 50.6%
Federal 10.0%
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 James R Geisler Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walled Lake Northern High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Walled Lake Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Walled Lake Western High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Clifford H Smart Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Walnut Creek Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James R Geisler Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,383
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
- Enrollment
- 1,182
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 1,033
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 888
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 641
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~620 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~23:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on James R Geisler Middle School's federal record.
- Compare James R Geisler Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Walled Lake Consolidated 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 James R Geisler Middle School
How many students attend James R Geisler Middle School?
James R Geisler Middle School has 620 students enrolled. It is a public school in Commerce Township, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James R Geisler Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at James R Geisler Middle School is 23:1, which is 31% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 46% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at James R Geisler Middle School?
35.1% of students at James R Geisler Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James R Geisler Middle School?
The largest demographic group at James R Geisler Middle School is White at 47.4% of enrollment, in Commerce Township, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James R Geisler Middle School?
James R Geisler Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower 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 James R Geisler Middle School rank among schools in Commerce Township?
By Resource Investment Index, James R Geisler Middle School ranks #4 of 4 schools in Commerce Township, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Commerce Township on the city page.
Is James R Geisler Middle School a good school?
James R Geisler Middle School earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan 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 Walled Lake Consolidated Schools?
Besides James R Geisler Middle School, Walled Lake Consolidated Schools also operates Walled Lake Northern High School (1,383 students), Walled Lake Central High School (1,182 students), and Walled Lake Western High School (1,033 students). See the Walled Lake Consolidated 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.