Enrollment
1,927
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Fort Wayne, IN
R Nelson Snider High School
Federal NCES profile for R Nelson Snider High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 180363000556
👥 S:T ratio 13
📚 AP courses 70
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 36
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
R Nelson Snider High School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of Indiana schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Indiana.
- #4 of 8
- high schools in Fort Wayne · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 21.7:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 47.4%
- free-lunch eligible
R Nelson Snider High School has class sizes larger than 95% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, R Nelson Snider High School ranks #4 of 8 high schools in Fort Wayne, IN.
School address
District: Fort Wayne Community Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 180363000556 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
89.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.7:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
+36% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
47.4%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
-4% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How R Nelson Snider High School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at R Nelson Snider High School
R Nelson Snider High School is a large high school in Fort Wayne, Indiana, enrolling 1,927 students.
Class loads run heavy: 21.7:1 is larger than about 95% of Indiana schools and 36% above the 15.9:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 47.4% lands close to the Indiana typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Indiana, bigger than 98% of state schools at 1,927 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Against 43 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #10.
Its student body is led by White (42%) and African American (24%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 72/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 14 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 321 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 18.0% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Its district draws 21.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Fort Wayne's high schools, it stands alongside Carroll High School (2,623 students): R Nelson Snider High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (21.7:1 vs 20:1).
Fort Wayne Community Schools also operates Northrop High School (2,145 students) and South Side High School (1,405 students) alongside R Nelson Snider High School.
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 R Nelson Snider High School compares
R Nelson Snider High School on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.7:1 | ▲ 36% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 47.4% | ▼ 4% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,927 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.7:1
Leaner classes than 11% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,927
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
47.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 4% below the Indiana average of 49.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
21.7:1
students per teacher
- 36% above state mean
Top 95% in Indiana - lower ratio than 5% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
18.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,247
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,079
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 321 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
14
in-school suspensions + 16 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.6 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
White 42.0%
African American 24.1%
Hispanic or Latino 17.2%
Two or More 9.9%
Asian 6.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 42.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.2, R Nelson Snider High School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 14
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Fort Wayne Community Schools, which includes R Nelson Snider High School.
$13,247
Per student
+10%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 22.4%
State 56.6%
Federal 21.1%
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 R Nelson Snider High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northrop High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South Side High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Wayne High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North Side High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Blackhawk Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to R Nelson Snider High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,145
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,405
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,398
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,383
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 814
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Similar high schools in Fort Wayne
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Carroll High School
Standard public school
2,623 students 20:1 students per teacher
Homestead High School
Standard public school
2,382 students 19.5:1 students per teacher
Northrop High School
Standard public school
2,145 students 20.8:1 students per teacher
South Side High School
Standard public school
1,405 students 18.2:1 students per teacher
Wayne High School
Standard public school
1,398 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
North Side High School
Standard public school
1,383 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Indiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,927 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on R Nelson Snider High School's federal record.
- Compare R Nelson Snider High School against another school. Compare schools
- Fort Wayne Community Schools'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 R Nelson Snider High School
How many students attend R Nelson Snider High School?
R Nelson Snider High School has 1,927 students enrolled. It is a high school in Fort Wayne, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at R Nelson Snider High School?
The student-teacher ratio at R Nelson Snider High School is 21.7:1, which is 36% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 38% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at R Nelson Snider High School?
47.4% of students at R Nelson Snider High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of R Nelson Snider High School?
The largest demographic group at R Nelson Snider High School is White at 42.0% of enrollment, in Fort Wayne, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for R Nelson Snider High School?
R Nelson Snider High School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does R Nelson Snider High School rank among high schools in Fort Wayne?
By Resource Investment Index, R Nelson Snider High School ranks #4 of 8 high schools in Fort Wayne, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Fort Wayne on the city page.
Is R Nelson Snider High School a good school?
R Nelson Snider High School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of Indiana schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Indiana. 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 Fort Wayne Community Schools?
Besides R Nelson Snider High School, Fort Wayne Community Schools also operates Northrop High School (2,145 students), South Side High School (1,405 students), and Wayne High School (1,398 students). See the Fort Wayne Community Schools 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.