- Enrollment
- 878
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Merrillville, IN
Merrillville High School
Federal NCES profile for Merrillville High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 180969001586
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 47
📋 Attendance 17
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Merrillville High School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 70% of Indiana schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Indiana.
- #1 of 9
- public schools in Merrillville · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.9:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 55.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Merrillville High School has class sizes larger than 70% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Merrillville High School ranks #1 of 9 public schools in Merrillville, IN.
School address
District: Merrillville Community School Corp · Indiana
NCES ID 180969001586 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+9 students YoY
Merrillville High School held near 2,051 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+9 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 125.0 → 127.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+9 students YoY 180969001586 · Merrillville, IN High · LARGE · TRAD
2,115 enr · 16.9:1 · 55.4% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Pierce Middle School (878 students)
Merrillville High School held near 2,051 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+9 headcount). Teacher FTE added 125.0 → 127.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
Merrillville High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Merrillville High School
2,115 students
- Pierce Middle
Pierce Middle School
878 students
- Merrillville I 788
Merrillville Intermediate School
788 students
- Jonas E Salk E 565
Jonas E Salk Elementary School
565 students
- Homer Iddings 535
Homer Iddings Elementary School
535 students
- Henry P Fieler 466
Henry P Fieler Elementary School
466 students
What this shows Merrillville High School reports 2,115 students on the CCD universe file.
How Merrillville High School compares
Merrillville High 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 | 16.9:1 | ▲ 6% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 55.4% | ▲ 12% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,115 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.9:1
Leaner classes than 31% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,115
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
55.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.9:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 70% in Indiana - lower ratio than 30% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
33.1%
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
$10,733
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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
Counselors8.0 FTE
Per 264 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
379
in-school suspensions + 265 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 17.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 30.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 15 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 69.8%
Hispanic or Latino 18.3%
White 5.9%
Two or More 5.2%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 69.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 47.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 47.3, Merrillville High School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 7
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Merrillville Community School Corp reports $10,733 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Merrillville High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pierce Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Merrillville Intermediate School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jonas E Salk Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Homer Iddings Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Henry P Fieler Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Merrillville High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 788
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 565
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 535
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 466
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Nationwide high 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 (~2,115 students)
Frequently asked questions about Merrillville High School
How many students attend Merrillville High School?
Merrillville High School has 2,115 students enrolled. It is a high school in Merrillville, IN. CCD year-over-year: 2,042 (2022-23) → 2,051 (2023-24), nearly flat (+9).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Merrillville High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Merrillville High School is 16.9:1, which is 6% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 8% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Merrillville High School?
55.4% of students at Merrillville High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Merrillville High School?
The largest demographic group at Merrillville High School is African American at 69.8% of enrollment, in Merrillville, IN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Merrillville High School?
Merrillville High School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical 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 Merrillville High School rank among public schools in Merrillville?
By Resource Investment Index, Merrillville High School ranks #1 of 9 public schools in Merrillville, 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 Merrillville on the city page.
What other schools are in Merrillville Community School Corp?
Besides Merrillville High School, Merrillville Community School Corp also operates Pierce Middle School (878 students), Merrillville Intermediate School (788 students), and Jonas E Salk Elementary School (565 students). See the Merrillville Community School Corp district page for the complete list.