Enrollment
781
California · 2024-25 NCES data
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 18/100.
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 18/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of California schools.
- #7 of 7
- middle schools in Lancaster · Resource Index
- 18
- 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 →
Teachers (FTE)
31.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
25.2:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+17% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
48.2%
vs 55.5% California avg
-13% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Joe Walker Middle compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Joe Walker Middle
Joe Walker Middle is a mid-sized middle school in Lancaster, California, enrolling 781 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 25.2:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 48.2% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 781 puts it in the larger third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 1,178 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #960, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (52%) and White (26%) (diversity index 64/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 558 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 44.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Westside Union Elementary spends $12,392 per pupil, 25% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Lancaster's middle schools, it stands alongside Amargosa Creek Middle (859 students): Joe Walker Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (25.2:1 vs 18.3:1).
Westside Union Elementary also operates Hillview Middle (1,100 students) and Esperanza Elementary (962 students) alongside Joe Walker Middle.
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 Joe Walker Middle compares
Joe Walker Middle on the metrics families compare, against 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 (what these measure)
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
$12,392
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
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.
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
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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Westside Union Elementary, which includes Joe Walker Middle.
$12,392
Per student
-25%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-25%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 27.4%
State 65.5%
Federal 7.1%
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 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
- 1,100
- Students per teacher
- 27.5:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- 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
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of California, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~781 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~25.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Joe Walker Middle's federal record.
- Compare Joe Walker Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Westside Union Elementary'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 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.
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 18/100 (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 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.
Is Joe Walker Middle a good school?
Joe Walker Middle earns 18/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of California 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 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.
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.