- Enrollment
- 2,345
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Chesapeake, VA
Western Branch Middle
Federal NCES profile for Western Branch Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 510081000313
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 43
📋 Attendance 35
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Western Branch Middle earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Virginia median.
- #9 of 10
- middle schools in Chesapeake · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13:1
- students per teacher
- 33.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Western Branch Middle has class sizes near the Virginia median. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Western Branch Middle ranks #9 of 10 middle schools in Chesapeake, VA.
School address
District: Chesapeake City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510081000313 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+16 students YoY
Western Branch Middle held near 903 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+16 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 66.8 → 62.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+16 students YoY 510081000313 · Chesapeake, VA Middle · MID · TRAD
855 enr · 13:1 · 33.8% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Grassfield High (2,345 students)
Western Branch Middle held near 903 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+16 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 66.8 → 62.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
Western Branch Middle 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
- Western Branch
Western Branch High
2,138 students
- Deep Creek Hig
Deep Creek High
1,691 students
- Indian River H
Indian River High
1,634 students
- This school 855
Western Branch Middle
855 students
What this shows Western Branch Middle reports 855 students on the CCD universe file.
How Western Branch Middle compares
Western Branch Middle 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 | 13:1 | ▼ 6% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 33.8% | ▼ 41% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 855 | top 20% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13:1
Leaner classes than 67% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
855
Bigger than 87% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
33.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% 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
13:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 36% in Virginia - lower ratio than 64% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
26.0%
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 285 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
129
in-school suspensions + 98 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 15.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 26.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 37.5%
African American 37.3%
Two or More 10.5%
Hispanic or Latino 9.8%
Asian 4.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 37.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.8, Western Branch Middle is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
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 Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grassfield High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Oscar F. Smith High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Western Branch High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Deep Creek High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Indian River High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Western Branch Middle'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
- 2,138
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- 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
Similar middle schools in Chesapeake
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Great Bridge Middle
Standard public school
1,309 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Hugo a. Owens Middle
Standard public school
1,286 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Hickory Middle
Standard public school
1,285 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Oscar Smith Middle
Standard public school
967 students 11:1 students per teacher
Greenbrier Middle
Standard public school
788 students 11.4:1 students per teacher
Deep Creek Middle
Standard public school
764 students 12.5:1 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 (~855 students)
Frequently asked questions about Western Branch Middle
How many students attend Western Branch Middle?
Western Branch Middle has 855 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Chesapeake, VA. CCD year-over-year: 887 (2022-23) → 903 (2023-24), nearly flat (+16).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Western Branch Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Western Branch Middle is 13:1, which is 6% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 17% lower 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 Western Branch Middle?
33.8% of students at Western Branch Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Western Branch Middle?
The largest demographic group at Western Branch Middle is White at 37.5% of enrollment, in Chesapeake, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Western Branch Middle?
Western Branch Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher 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 Middle rank among middle schools in Chesapeake?
By Resource Investment Index, Western Branch Middle ranks #9 of 10 middle 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 middle schools in Chesapeake on the city page.
What other schools are in Chesapeake City Public Schools?
Besides Western Branch Middle, Chesapeake City Public Schools also operates Grassfield High (2,345 students), Oscar F. Smith High (2,264 students), and Western Branch High (2,138 students). See the Chesapeake City Public Schools district page for the complete list.