Enrollment
2,138
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Chesapeake, VA
Western Branch High
Federal NCES profile for Western Branch High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 58/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 510081000312
👥 S:T ratio 38
📚 AP courses 100
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 39
📋 Attendance 44
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Western Branch High earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Virginia schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Virginia.
- #6 of 7
- high schools in Chesapeake · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.6:1
- large classes for Virginia
- 33.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Western Branch High has class sizes larger than 77% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Western Branch High ranks #6 of 7 high schools in Chesapeake, VA.
School address
District: Chesapeake City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510081000312 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
137.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.6:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
+12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
33.0%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
-43% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Western Branch High compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Western Branch High
Western Branch High is a large high school in Chesapeake, Virginia, enrolling 2,138 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.6:1 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 33.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Virginia, bigger than 98% of state schools at 2,138 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,868 scored Virginia schools.
Against 72 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #28.
Its student body is led by African American (39%) and White (38%) (diversity index 68/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 20 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 305 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 22.5% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Chesapeake's high schools, it stands alongside Grassfield High (2,345 students): Western Branch High is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.6:1 vs 15.6:1).
Chesapeake City Public Schools also operates Grassfield High (2,345 students) and Oscar F. Smith High (2,264 students) alongside Western Branch High.
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 Western Branch High compares
Western Branch High on the metrics families compare, against Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.6:1 | ▲ 12% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 33.0% | ▼ 43% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,138 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.6:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
2,138
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
33.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 43% below the Virginia average of 57.6%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.6:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 77% in Virginia - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
22.5%
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
$13,740
per pupil, district-wide
- below Virginia avg of $14,649
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors7.0 FTE
Per 305 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
137
in-school suspensions + 119 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
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
African American 39.4%
White 37.7%
Two or More 9.6%
Hispanic or Latino 9.2%
Asian 3.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 39.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.4, Western Branch High is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 20
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Chesapeake City Public Schools, which includes Western Branch High.
$13,740
Per student
-6%
vs Virginia
Avg $14,649
-17%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 47.1%
State 42.6%
Federal 10.3%
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 Western Branch High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grassfield High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Oscar F. Smith High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Deep Creek High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Indian River High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hickory High | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Western Branch High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,345
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 2,264
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,691
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 1,634
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 1,600
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
Similar high schools in Chesapeake
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Grassfield High
Standard public school
2,345 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Oscar F. Smith High
Standard public school
2,264 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Deep Creek High
Standard public school
1,691 students 15:1 students per teacher
Indian River High
Standard public school
1,634 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Hickory High
Standard public school
1,600 students 15:1 students per teacher
Great Bridge High
Standard public school
1,491 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Virginia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~2,138 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Western Branch High's federal record.
- Compare Western Branch High against another school. Compare schools
- Chesapeake City Public 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 Western Branch High
How many students attend Western Branch High?
Western Branch High has 2,138 students enrolled. It is a high school in Chesapeake, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Western Branch High?
The student-teacher ratio at Western Branch High is 15.6:1, which is 12% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Western Branch High?
33.0% of students at Western Branch High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Western Branch High?
The largest demographic group at Western Branch High is African American at 39.4% of enrollment, in Chesapeake, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Western Branch High?
Western Branch High has a Resource Investment Index of 58/100 (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 Western Branch High rank among high schools in Chesapeake?
By Resource Investment Index, Western Branch High ranks #6 of 7 high schools in Chesapeake, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Chesapeake on the city page.
Is Western Branch High a good school?
Western Branch High earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Virginia schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Virginia. 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 Chesapeake City Public Schools?
Besides Western Branch High, Chesapeake City Public Schools also operates Grassfield High (2,345 students), Oscar F. Smith High (2,264 students), and Deep Creek High (1,691 students). See the Chesapeake City Public 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.