- Enrollment
- 2,345
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
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 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 510081000312
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 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 48/100 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
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-5 students YoY
Western Branch High held near 2,116 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-5 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 137.5 → 137.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-5 students YoY 510081000312 · Chesapeake, VA High · LARGE · TRAD
2,138 enr · 15.6:1 · 33.0% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Grassfield High (2,345 students)
Western Branch High held near 2,116 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-5 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 137.5 → 137.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
Western Branch High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Grassfield Hig
Grassfield High
2,345 students
- Oscar F. Smith
Oscar F. Smith High
2,264 students
- This school
Western Branch High
2,138 students
- Deep Creek Hig
Deep Creek High
1,691 students
- Indian River H
Indian River High
1,634 students
- Hickory High
Hickory High
1,600 students
What this shows Western Branch High reports 2,138 students on the CCD universe file.
How Western Branch High compares
Western Branch High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs 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 methodology
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
$15,274
per pupil, district-wide
- below Virginia avg of $15,892
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.
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
District finance for Chesapeake City Public Schools reports $15,274 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 2,264
- 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
Nationwide high 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 (~2,138 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 2,121 (2022-23) → 2,116 (2023-24), nearly flat (-5).
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 48/100 (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 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.
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.