Enrollment
569
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Elkhart, IN
West Side Middle School
Federal NCES profile for West Side Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 180327000445
👥 S:T ratio 31
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 43
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Side Middle School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #4 of 5
- middle schools in Elkhart · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.2:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 61.7%
- free-lunch eligible
West Side Middle School has class sizes larger than 73% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Side Middle School ranks #4 of 5 middle schools in Elkhart, IN.
School address
District: Elkhart Community Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 180327000445 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
33.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.2:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
+8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
61.7%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+25% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Side Middle School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Side Middle School
West Side Middle School is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Elkhart, Indiana, enrolling 569 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 17.2:1 puts it in the larger third of Indiana schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 61.7% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 569 puts it in the larger third of Indiana schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Among 426 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Indiana schools statewide, it ranks #305, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (41%) and Hispanic or Latino (36%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 68/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 285 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 42.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 16.8% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 294 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 569 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Elkhart's middle schools, it stands alongside Concord Junior High School (855 students): West Side Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17.2:1 vs 16.4:1).
Elkhart Community Schools also operates Elkhart High School (3,073 students) and North Side Middle School (563 students) alongside West Side Middle 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 Side Middle School compares
West Side Middle 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 | 17.2:1 | ▲ 8% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 61.7% | ▲ 25% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 569 | top 31% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.2:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
569
Bigger than 70% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
61.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 25% 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
17.2:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 73% in Indiana - lower ratio than 27% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
42.7%
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
$13,618
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,079
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 285 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
154
in-school suspensions + 140 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 27.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 51.7 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 40.8%
Hispanic or Latino 36.0%
African American 13.5%
Two or More 7.7%
Asian 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 40.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.9, West Side Middle School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Elkhart Community Schools, which includes West Side Middle School.
$13,618
Per student
+13%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-18%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 26.4%
State 56.8%
Federal 16.8%
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 Side Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North Side Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Roosevelt Steam Academy | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cleveland Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Pinewood Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Side Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,073
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 563
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 531
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 519
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 503
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar middle schools in Elkhart
4 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Concord Junior High School
Standard public school
855 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
North Side Middle School
Standard public school
563 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Pierre Moran Middle School
Standard public school
396 students 11.6:1 students per teacher
Jimtown Junior High School
Standard public school
305 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Similar middle 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 (~569 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Side Middle School's federal record.
- Compare West Side Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Elkhart 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 West Side Middle School
How many students attend West Side Middle School?
West Side Middle School has 569 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Elkhart, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Side Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at West Side Middle School is 17.2:1, which is 8% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 10% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at West Side Middle School?
61.7% of students at West Side Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Side Middle School?
The largest demographic group at West Side Middle School is White at 40.8% of enrollment, in Elkhart, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Side Middle School?
West Side Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 West Side Middle School rank among middle schools in Elkhart?
By Resource Investment Index, West Side Middle School ranks #4 of 5 middle schools in Elkhart, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Elkhart on the city page.
Is West Side Middle School a good school?
West Side Middle School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana 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 Elkhart Community Schools?
Besides West Side Middle School, Elkhart Community Schools also operates Elkhart High School (3,073 students), North Side Middle School (563 students), and Roosevelt Steam Academy (531 students). See the Elkhart 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.