- Enrollment
- 2,115
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Merrillville, IN
Pierce Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Pierce Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 180969001588
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 12
📋 Attendance 28
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Pierce Middle School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median.
- #3 of 9
- public schools in Merrillville · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.9:1
- students per teacher
- 59.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Pierce Middle School has class sizes near the Indiana median. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Pierce Middle School ranks #3 of 9 public schools in Merrillville, IN.
School address
District: Merrillville Community School Corp · Indiana
NCES ID 180969001588 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-20 students YoY
Pierce Middle School held near 899 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-20 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 63.0 → 62.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-20 students YoY 180969001588 · Merrillville, IN Middle · MID · TRAD
878 enr · 13.9:1 · 59.7% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Merrillville High School (2,115 students)
Pierce Middle School held near 899 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-20 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 63.0 → 62.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
Pierce Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Merrillville H
Merrillville High School
2,115 students
- This school
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 Pierce Middle School reports 878 students on the CCD universe file.
How Pierce Middle School compares
Pierce Middle 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 | 13.9:1 | ▼ 13% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 59.7% | ▲ 21% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 878 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.9:1
Leaner classes than 58% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
878
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
59.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% 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
13.9:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 31% in Indiana - lower ratio than 69% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
28.6%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 439 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
374
in-school suspensions + 265 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 42.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 72.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 14 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 66.2%
Hispanic or Latino 20.8%
White 6.6%
Two or More 5.7%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 66.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.1, Pierce Middle School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
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 Pierce Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merrillville High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Merrillville Intermediate School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Jonas E Salk Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Homer Iddings Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Henry P Fieler Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Pierce Middle 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 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 (~878 students)
Frequently asked questions about Pierce Middle School
How many students attend Pierce Middle School?
Pierce Middle School has 878 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Merrillville, IN. CCD year-over-year: 919 (2022-23) → 899 (2023-24), nearly flat (-20).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pierce Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Pierce Middle School is 13.9:1, which is 13% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 11% 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 Pierce Middle School?
59.7% of students at Pierce Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Pierce Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Pierce Middle School is African American at 66.2% of enrollment, in Merrillville, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Pierce Middle School?
Pierce Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 Pierce Middle School rank among public schools in Merrillville?
By Resource Investment Index, Pierce Middle School ranks #3 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 Pierce Middle School, Merrillville Community School Corp also operates Merrillville High School (2,115 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.