Enrollment
3,641
Illinois · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Aurora, IL
West Aurora High School
Federal NCES profile for West Aurora High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 60/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 170471000174
👥 S:T ratio 38
📚 AP courses 100
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Aurora High School earns 60/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Illinois schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Illinois.
- #3 of 5
- high schools in Aurora · Resource Index
- 60
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.6:1
- large classes for Illinois
- 3,641
- students enrolled
West Aurora High School has class sizes larger than 77% of Illinois schools. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Aurora High School ranks #3 of 5 high schools in Aurora, IL.
School address
District: Aurora West Usd 129 · Illinois
NCES ID 170471000174 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
245.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.6:1
vs 14:1 Illinois avg
+11% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Aurora High School compares with Illinois and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Aurora High School
West Aurora High School is a large high school in Aurora, Illinois, enrolling 3,641 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.6:1 puts it in the larger third of Illinois schools by student-teacher ratio.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Illinois, bigger than 99% of state schools at 3,641 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 3,845 scored Illinois schools.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (65%) and White (19%) (diversity index 53/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 26 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 331 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Discipline events run high: 950 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 3,641 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Aurora's high schools, it stands alongside East High School (4,020 students): West Aurora High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.6:1 vs 19.4:1).
Aurora West Usd 129 also operates Washington Middle School (690 students) and Herget Middle School (594 students) alongside West Aurora 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 West Aurora High School compares
West Aurora High School on the metrics families compare, against Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.6:1 | ▲ 11% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 3,641 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.6:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
3,641
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Staffing depth
15.6:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 77% in Illinois - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Funding equity
$15,437
per pupil, district-wide
- below Illinois avg of $17,042
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors11.0 FTE
Per 331 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
761
in-school suspensions + 189 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 20.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 26.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
Enrollment 3,641 Top 1% in Illinois - larger than 99% of 3,845 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 245.0
Students per teacher 15.6:1 +11% vs state
Free-lunch eligible -
NCES ID 170471000174
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 64.5%
White 19.3%
African American 10.5%
Two or More 2.9%
Asian 2.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 64.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.4, West Aurora High School is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs & staff
AP courses offered 26
Gifted & talented Yes
Counselors (FTE) 11.0
Students per counselor 331:1
Discipline & special education
In-school suspensions 761
Out-of-school suspensions 189
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Aurora West Usd 129, which includes West Aurora High School.
$15,437
Per student
-9%
vs Illinois
Avg $17,042
-7%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 51.3%
State 37.9%
Federal 10.8%
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 West Aurora High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Middle School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Herget Middle School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jefferson Middle School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Freeman Elem School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Greenman Elem School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Aurora High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 690
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 594
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 577
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
- Enrollment
- 529
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 528
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Similar high schools in Aurora
4 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
East High School
Standard public school
4,020 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Waubonsie Valley High School
Standard public school
2,849 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Metea Valley High School
Standard public school
2,766 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Illinois Mathematics and Science
Standard public school
656 students
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Aurora High School's federal record.
- Compare West Aurora High School against another school. Compare schools
- Aurora West Usd 129'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 West Aurora High School
How many students attend West Aurora High School?
West Aurora High School has 3,641 students enrolled. It is a high school in Aurora, IL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Aurora High School?
The student-teacher ratio at West Aurora High School is 15.6:1, which is 11% higher than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Aurora High School?
The largest demographic group at West Aurora High School is Hispanic or Latino at 64.5% of enrollment, in Aurora, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Aurora High School?
West Aurora High School has a Resource Investment Index of 60/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does West Aurora High School rank among high schools in Aurora?
By Resource Investment Index, West Aurora High School ranks #3 of 5 high schools in Aurora, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Aurora on the city page.
Is West Aurora High School a good school?
West Aurora High School earns 60/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Illinois schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Illinois. 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 Aurora West Usd 129?
Besides West Aurora High School, Aurora West Usd 129 also operates Washington Middle School (690 students), Herget Middle School (594 students), and Jefferson Middle School (577 students). See the Aurora West Usd 129 district page for the complete list.