Enrollment
610
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Whittier, CA
Walter F. Dexter Middle
Federal NCES profile for Walter F. Dexter Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 064245006936
👥 S:T ratio 19
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 59
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Walter F. Dexter Middle earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #3 of 7
- middle schools in Whittier · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.3:1
- students per teacher
- 66.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Walter F. Dexter Middle has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Walter F. Dexter Middle ranks #3 of 7 middle schools in Whittier, CA.
School address
District: Whittier City Elementary · California
NCES ID 064245006936 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
30.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.3:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
66.5%
vs 55.5% California avg
+20% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Walter F. Dexter Middle compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Walter F. Dexter Middle
Walter F. Dexter Middle is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Whittier, California, enrolling 610 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 20.3:1 puts it in the smaller third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 66.5% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 610 puts it in the larger third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 2,040 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #215, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (93% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 13/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 203 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 42.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Whittier's middle schools, it stands alongside Granada Middle (989 students): Walter F. Dexter Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (20.3:1 vs 21:1).
Whittier City Elementary also operates Katherine Edwards Middle (894 students) and Wallen L. Andrews Elementary (542 students) alongside Walter F. Dexter 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 Walter F. Dexter Middle compares
Walter F. Dexter 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 | 20.3:1 | ▼ 6% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 66.5% | ▲ 20% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 610 | top 31% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.3:1
Leaner classes than 15% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
610
Bigger than 74% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
66.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 20% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.3:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 37% in California - lower ratio than 63% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
42.1%
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
$15,897
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 203 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 36 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.9 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 93.1%
White 3.1%
Two or More 2.3%
Asian 0.8%
African American 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 93.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 13.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 13.2, Walter F. Dexter Middle is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Whittier City Elementary, which includes Walter F. Dexter Middle.
$15,897
Per student
-4%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-4%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 23.5%
State 65.2%
Federal 11.3%
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 Walter F. Dexter Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katherine Edwards Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wallen L. Andrews Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Daniel Phelan Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Longfellow Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Christian Sorensen Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Walter F. Dexter Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 894
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 542
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 507
- Students per teacher
- 24.1:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 499
- Students per teacher
- 24.9:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
- Enrollment
- 446
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar middle schools in Whittier
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Granada Middle
Standard public school
989 students 21:1 students per teacher
East Whittier Middle
Standard public school
985 students 21.9:1 students per teacher
Katherine Edwards Middle
Standard public school
894 students 23.5:1 students per teacher
Rancho-Starbuck Intermediate
Standard public school
687 students 22.9:1 students per teacher
Hillview Middle
Standard public school
643 students 20.7:1 students per teacher
Richard L. Graves Middle
Standard public school
484 students 19.4:1 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 (~610 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Walter F. Dexter Middle's federal record.
- Compare Walter F. Dexter Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Whittier City 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 Walter F. Dexter Middle
How many students attend Walter F. Dexter Middle?
Walter F. Dexter Middle has 610 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Whittier, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Walter F. Dexter Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Walter F. Dexter Middle is 20.3:1, which is 6% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 29% higher 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 Walter F. Dexter Middle?
66.5% of students at Walter F. Dexter Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Walter F. Dexter Middle?
The largest demographic group at Walter F. Dexter Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 93.1% of enrollment, in Whittier, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Walter F. Dexter Middle?
Walter F. Dexter Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical 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 Walter F. Dexter Middle rank among middle schools in Whittier?
By Resource Investment Index, Walter F. Dexter Middle ranks #3 of 7 middle schools in Whittier, 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 Whittier on the city page.
Is Walter F. Dexter Middle a good school?
Walter F. Dexter Middle earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most 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 Whittier City Elementary?
Besides Walter F. Dexter Middle, Whittier City Elementary also operates Katherine Edwards Middle (894 students), Wallen L. Andrews Elementary (542 students), and Daniel Phelan Elementary (507 students). See the Whittier City 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.