- Enrollment
- 1,052
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · East Chicago, IN
Joseph Block Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Joseph Block Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 180288000370
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 56
📋 Attendance 44
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Joseph Block Middle School earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 92% of Indiana schools.
- #1 of 9
- public schools in East Chicago · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.2:1
- small classes for Indiana
- 80.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Joseph Block Middle School has class sizes smaller than 92% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Joseph Block Middle School ranks #1 of 9 public schools in East Chicago, IN.
School address
District: School City of East Chicago · Indiana
NCES ID 180288000370 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-47 students YoY
Joseph Block Middle School shrank from 487 students in 2022-23 to 440 in 2023-24 (-9.7%).
Teacher FTE added 39.3 → 40.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-47 students YoY 180288000370 · East Chicago, IN Middle · SMALL · TRAD
436 enr · 11.2:1 · 80.9% lunch · RII 56
Nearest enrollment peer: East Chicago Central High School (1,052 students)
Joseph Block Middle School shrank from 487 students in 2022-23 to 440 in 2023-24 (-9.7%). Teacher FTE added 39.3 → 40.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
Joseph Block Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- East Chicago C
East Chicago Central High School
1,052 students
- William Mckinl
William Mckinley Elementary School
509 students
- This school
Joseph Block Middle School
436 students
- George Washing
George Washington Elementary Sch
433 students
- Benjamin Harri 400
Benjamin Harrison Elementary Sch
400 students
- Abraham Lincol 282
Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
282 students
What this shows Joseph Block Middle School reports 436 students on the CCD universe file.
How Joseph Block Middle School compares
Joseph Block Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.2:1 | ▼ 30% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 80.9% | ▲ 63% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 436 | top 53% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.2:1
Leaner classes than 82% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
436
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
80.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 63% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.2:1
students per teacher
- 30% below state mean
Top 8% in Indiana - lower ratio than 92% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
22.5%
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
$16,716
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,921
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 218 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
60
in-school suspensions + 224 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 13.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 65.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 54.6%
African American 41.5%
Two or More 2.8%
White 1.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 54.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.9, Joseph Block Middle School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for School City of East Chicago reports $16,716 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Joseph Block Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Chicago Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| William Mckinley Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| George Washington Elementary Sch | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Benjamin Harrison Elementary Sch | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Abraham Lincoln Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Joseph Block Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 509
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 433
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 400
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 282
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
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 (~436 students)
Frequently asked questions about Joseph Block Middle School
How many students attend Joseph Block Middle School?
Joseph Block Middle School has 436 students enrolled. It is a middle school in East Chicago, IN. CCD year-over-year: 487 (2022-23) → 440 (2023-24), down 47.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Joseph Block Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Joseph Block Middle School is 11.2:1, which is 30% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 29% 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 Joseph Block Middle School?
80.9% of students at Joseph Block Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Joseph Block Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Joseph Block Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 54.6% of enrollment, in East Chicago, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Joseph Block Middle School?
Joseph Block Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (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 Joseph Block Middle School rank among public schools in East Chicago?
By Resource Investment Index, Joseph Block Middle School ranks #1 of 9 public schools in East Chicago, 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 East Chicago on the city page.
What other schools are in School City of East Chicago?
Besides Joseph Block Middle School, School City of East Chicago also operates East Chicago Central High School (1,052 students), William Mckinley Elementary School (509 students), and George Washington Elementary Sch (433 students). See the School City of East Chicago district page for the complete list.