- Enrollment
- 1,100
- Students per teacher
- 27.5:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Lancaster, CA
Joe Walker Middle
Federal NCES profile for Joe Walker Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 17/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 064212006890
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Joe Walker Middle earns 17/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of California schools.
- #7 of 7
- middle schools in Lancaster · Resource Index
- 17
- Resource Index · Lower
- 25.2:1
- large classes for California
- 48.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Joe Walker Middle has class sizes larger than 81% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Joe Walker Middle ranks #7 of 7 middle schools in Lancaster, CA.
School address
District: Westside Union Elementary · California
NCES ID 064212006890 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+82 students YoY
Joe Walker Middle grew from 736 students in 2022-23 to 818 in 2023-24 (+11.1%).
Teacher FTE added 31.1 → 34.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+82 students YoY 064212006890 · Lancaster, CA Middle · MID · TRAD
781 enr · 25.2:1 · 48.2% lunch · RII 17
Nearest enrollment peer: Hillview Middle (1,100 students)
Joe Walker Middle grew from 736 students in 2022-23 to 818 in 2023-24 (+11.1%). Teacher FTE added 31.1 → 34.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Joe Walker Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Hillview Middl
Hillview Middle
1,100 students
- Esperanza Elem
Esperanza Elementary
962 students
- Sundown Elemen
Sundown Elementary
941 students
- Gregg Anderson
Gregg Anderson Academy
893 students
- Rancho Vista E
Rancho Vista Elementary
886 students
- This school
Joe Walker Middle
781 students
What this shows Joe Walker Middle reports 781 students on the CCD universe file.
How Joe Walker Middle compares
Joe Walker Middle is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 25.2:1 | ▲ 17% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 48.2% | ▼ 13% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 781 | top 18% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
25.2:1
Leaner classes than 5% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
781
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
48.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 13% below the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
25.2:1
students per teacher
- 17% above state mean
Top 81% in California - lower ratio than 19% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
44.3%
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
$13,324
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.4 FTE
Per 558 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 57 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 51.9%
White 25.8%
African American 12.2%
Two or More 7.2%
Asian 2.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 51.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.3, Joe Walker Middle is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Westside Union Elementary reports $13,324 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Joe Walker Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillview Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Esperanza Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sundown Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gregg Anderson Academy | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rancho Vista Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Joe Walker Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 962
- Students per teacher
- 26.7:1
- Resource Index
- 7/100
- Enrollment
- 941
- Students per teacher
- 29.4:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
- Enrollment
- 893
- Students per teacher
- 27.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 886
- Students per teacher
- 26.8:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Similar middle schools in Lancaster
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Amargosa Creek Middle
Standard public school
859 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
New Vista Middle
Standard public school
835 students 20.4:1 students per teacher
Endeavour Middle
Standard public school
805 students 21.2:1 students per teacher
Piute Middle
Standard public school
729 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Gifford C. Cole Middle
Standard public school
697 students 20.5:1 students per teacher
Fulton and Alsbury Academy of Arts and Engineering
Standard public school
414 students 31.8:1 students per teacher
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 (~781 students)
Frequently asked questions about Joe Walker Middle
How many students attend Joe Walker Middle?
Joe Walker Middle has 781 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Lancaster, CA. CCD year-over-year: 736 (2022-23) → 818 (2023-24), up 82.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Joe Walker Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Joe Walker Middle is 25.2:1, which is 17% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 61% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Joe Walker Middle?
48.2% of students at Joe Walker Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Joe Walker Middle?
The largest demographic group at Joe Walker Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 51.9% of enrollment, in Lancaster, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Joe Walker Middle?
Joe Walker Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 17/100 (lower 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 Joe Walker Middle rank among middle schools in Lancaster?
By Resource Investment Index, Joe Walker Middle ranks #7 of 7 middle schools in Lancaster, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Lancaster on the city page.
What other schools are in Westside Union Elementary?
Besides Joe Walker Middle, Westside Union Elementary also operates Hillview Middle (1,100 students), Esperanza Elementary (962 students), and Sundown Elementary (941 students). See the Westside Union Elementary district page for the complete list.