- Enrollment
- 386
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Valparaiso, IN
Wheeler High School
Federal NCES profile for Wheeler High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 60/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 181170001873
👥 S:T ratio 57
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 61
📋 Attendance 52
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Wheeler High School earns 60/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 93% of Indiana schools.
- #2 of 3
- high schools in Valparaiso · Resource Index
- 60
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.8:1
- small classes for Indiana
- 24.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Wheeler High School has class sizes smaller than 93% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Wheeler High School ranks #2 of 3 high schools in Valparaiso, IN.
School address
District: Union Township School Corp · Indiana
NCES ID 181170001873 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-17 students YoY
Wheeler High School held near 417 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-17 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 36.0 → 36.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-17 students YoY 181170001873 · Valparaiso, IN High · SMALL · TRAD
387 enr · 10.8:1 · 24.7% lunch · RII 60
Nearest enrollment peer: Union Center Elementary School (386 students)
Wheeler High School held near 417 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-17 headcount). Teacher FTE added 36.0 → 36.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
Wheeler High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Wheeler High School
387 students
- Union Center E
Union Center Elementary School
386 students
- Union Township
Union Township Middle School
333 students
- John Simatovic
John Simatovich Elementary School
280 students
What this shows Wheeler High School reports 387 students on the CCD universe file.
How Wheeler High School compares
Wheeler High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.8:1 | ▼ 32% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.7% | ▼ 50% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 387 | top 62% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.8:1
Leaner classes than 84% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
387
Bigger than 45% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
24.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% below the Indiana average of 49.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
10.8:1
students per teacher
- 32% below state mean
Top 7% in Indiana - lower ratio than 93% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
19.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,501
per pupil, district-wide
- below Indiana avg of $12,921
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 194 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
19
in-school suspensions + 33 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 80.4%
Hispanic or Latino 14.5%
Two or More 3.1%
African American 1.6%
Asian 0.5%
Largest group: White at 80.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 33.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 33.1, Wheeler High School is less mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 3
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Union Township School Corp reports $12,501 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Wheeler High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Center Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Union Township Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| John Simatovich Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Wheeler High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 333
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 280
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
Similar high schools in Valparaiso
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
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 (~387 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~10.8:1)
Frequently asked questions about Wheeler High School
How many students attend Wheeler High School?
Wheeler High School has 387 students enrolled. It is a high school in Valparaiso, IN. CCD year-over-year: 434 (2022-23) → 417 (2023-24), nearly flat (-17).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wheeler High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Wheeler High School is 10.8:1, which is 32% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 31% 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 Wheeler High School?
24.7% of students at Wheeler High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Wheeler High School?
The largest demographic group at Wheeler High School is White at 80.4% of enrollment, in Valparaiso, IN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Wheeler High School?
Wheeler High School has a Resource Investment Index of 60/100 (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 Wheeler High School rank among high schools in Valparaiso?
By Resource Investment Index, Wheeler High School ranks #2 of 3 high schools in Valparaiso, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Valparaiso on the city page.
What other schools are in Union Township School Corp?
Besides Wheeler High School, Union Township School Corp also operates Union Center Elementary School (386 students), Union Township Middle School (333 students), and John Simatovich Elementary School (280 students). See the Union Township School Corp district page for the complete list.