- Enrollment
- 894
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-50 students YoY
Walter F. Dexter Middle shrank from 677 students in 2022-23 to 627 in 2023-24 (-7.4%).
Teacher FTE added 30.2 → 30.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-50 students YoY 064245006936 · Whittier, CA Middle · MID · TRAD
610 enr · 20.3:1 · 66.5% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Katherine Edwards Middle (894 students)
Walter F. Dexter Middle shrank from 677 students in 2022-23 to 627 in 2023-24 (-7.4%). Teacher FTE added 30.2 → 30.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Walter F. Dexter Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Katherine Edwa
Katherine Edwards Middle
894 students
- This school
Walter F. Dexter Middle
610 students
- Wallen L. Andr
Wallen L. Andrews Elementary
542 students
- Daniel Phelan
Daniel Phelan Elementary
507 students
- Longfellow Ele
Longfellow Elementary
499 students
- Christian Sore
Christian Sorensen Elementary
446 students
What this shows Walter F. Dexter Middle reports 610 students on the CCD universe file.
How Walter F. Dexter Middle compares
Walter F. Dexter Middle is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs 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 methodology
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
$18,539
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
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.
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
District finance for Whittier City Elementary reports $18,539 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 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
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 (~610 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 677 (2022-23) → 627 (2023-24), down 50.
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.