- Enrollment
- 3,266
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Silver Spring, MD
Wheaton High
Federal NCES profile for Wheaton High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 240048000951
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 42
📋 Attendance 32
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Wheaton High earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Maryland schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Maryland.
- #4 of 6
- high schools in Silver Spring · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.8:1
- large classes for Maryland
- 56.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Wheaton High has class sizes larger than 88% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Wheaton High ranks #4 of 6 high schools in Silver Spring, MD.
School address
District: Montgomery County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240048000951 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+148 students YoY
Wheaton High grew from 2,599 students in 2022-23 to 2,747 in 2023-24 (+5.7%).
Teacher FTE added 157.5 → 167.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+148 students YoY 240048000951 · Silver Spring, MD High · LARGE · TRAD
2,794 enr · 17.8:1 · 56.1% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Montgomery Blair High (3,266 students)
Wheaton High grew from 2,599 students in 2022-23 to 2,747 in 2023-24 (+5.7%). Teacher FTE added 157.5 → 167.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Wheaton High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Montgomery Bla
Montgomery Blair High
3,266 students
- Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson High
3,016 students
- This school
Wheaton High
2,794 students
- Gaithersburg H
Gaithersburg High
2,441 students
- Seneca Valley
Seneca Valley High
2,409 students
- Bethesda-Chevy
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High
2,377 students
What this shows Wheaton High reports 2,794 students on the CCD universe file.
How Wheaton High compares
Wheaton High is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.8:1 | ▲ 23% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 56.1% | ▲ 14% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,794 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.8:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,794
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
56.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 14% above the Maryland average of 49.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.8:1
students per teacher
- 23% above state mean
Top 88% in Maryland - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
27.2%
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
$19,456
per pupil, district-wide
- above Maryland avg of $18,753
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors9.6 FTE
Per 291 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 59.4%
African American 19.2%
White 9.6%
Asian 9.2%
Two or More 2.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 59.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.2, Wheaton High is more mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 17
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Montgomery County Public Schools reports $19,456 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Wheaton High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery Blair High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Walter Johnson High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Gaithersburg High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Seneca Valley High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bethesda-Chevy Chase High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Wheaton High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,016
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 2,441
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 2,409
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 2,377
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Similar high schools in Silver Spring
5 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Montgomery Blair High
Standard public school
3,266 students 17:1 students per teacher
James Hubert Blake High
Standard public school
1,960 students 19.2:1 students per teacher
John F. Kennedy High
Standard public school
1,880 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Springbrook High
Standard public school
1,838 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Northwood High
Standard public school
1,654 students 13.1:1 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 (~2,794 students)
Frequently asked questions about Wheaton High
How many students attend Wheaton High?
Wheaton High has 2,794 students enrolled. It is a high school in Silver Spring, MD. CCD year-over-year: 2,599 (2022-23) → 2,747 (2023-24), up 148.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wheaton High?
The student-teacher ratio at Wheaton High is 17.8:1, which is 23% higher than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Wheaton High?
56.1% of students at Wheaton High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Wheaton High?
The largest demographic group at Wheaton High is Hispanic or Latino at 59.4% of enrollment, in Silver Spring, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Wheaton High?
Wheaton High has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Wheaton High rank among high schools in Silver Spring?
By Resource Investment Index, Wheaton High ranks #4 of 6 high schools in Silver Spring, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Silver Spring on the city page.
What other schools are in Montgomery County Public Schools?
Besides Wheaton High, Montgomery County Public Schools also operates Montgomery Blair High (3,266 students), Walter Johnson High (3,016 students), and Gaithersburg High (2,441 students). See the Montgomery County Public Schools district page for the complete list.