Enrollment
779
Maryland · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Frederick, MD
Whittier Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Whittier Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 240033001015
👥 S:T ratio 34
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 48
📋 Attendance 45
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Whittier Elementary earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Maryland schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Maryland schools.
- #5 of 18
- schools in Frederick · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.6:1
- large classes for Maryland
- 32.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Whittier Elementary has class sizes larger than 77% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Whittier Elementary ranks #5 of 18 schools in Frederick, MD.
School address
District: Frederick County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240033001015 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
47.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.6:1
vs 14.5:1 Maryland avg
+14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
32.7%
vs 49.0% Maryland avg
-33% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Whittier Elementary compares with Maryland and U.S. medians
What stands out at Whittier Elementary
Whittier Elementary is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Frederick, Maryland, enrolling 779 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 16.6:1 puts it in the larger third of Maryland schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 32.7% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 779 puts it in the larger third of Maryland schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,382 scored Maryland schools.
Against 246 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #46.
Its student body is led by White (34%) and African American (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 75/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 260 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 22.0% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Frederick County Public Schools spends $14,981 per pupil, 27% below the Maryland average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Frederick's public schools, it stands alongside Waverley Elementary (965 students): Whittier Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (16.6:1 vs 14.8:1).
Frederick County Public Schools also operates Gov. Thomas Johnson High (2,066 students) and Urbana High (1,989 students) alongside Whittier Elementary.
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 Whittier Elementary compares
Whittier Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.6:1 | ▲ 14% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 32.7% | ▼ 33% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 779 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.6:1
Leaner classes than 33% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
779
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
32.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 33% below the Maryland average of 49.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.6:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 77% in Maryland - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
22.0%
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
$14,981
per pupil, district-wide
- below Maryland avg of $20,446
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 260 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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
White 34.3%
African American 25.8%
Hispanic or Latino 21.5%
Two or More 12.3%
Asian 5.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 34.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.1, Whittier Elementary is more mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Frederick County Public Schools, which includes Whittier Elementary.
$14,981
Per student
-27%
vs Maryland
Avg $20,446
-10%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 50.4%
State 38.3%
Federal 11.2%
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 Whittier Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gov. Thomas Johnson High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Urbana High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Frederick High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Tuscarora High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Oakdale High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Whittier Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,066
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,989
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,821
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,735
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,702
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Similar other schools in Frederick
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Waverley Elementary
Standard public school
965 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Tuscarora Elementary
Standard public school
793 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Urbana Elementary
Standard public school
736 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Ballenger Creek Elementary
Standard public school
715 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
North Frederick Elementary
Standard public school
660 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Yellow Springs Elementary
Standard public school
628 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Maryland, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~779 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Whittier Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Whittier Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Frederick County 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 Whittier Elementary
How many students attend Whittier Elementary?
Whittier Elementary has 779 students enrolled. It is a public school in Frederick, MD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Whittier Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Whittier Elementary is 16.6:1, which is 14% higher than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 6% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Whittier Elementary?
32.7% of students at Whittier Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Whittier Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Whittier Elementary is White at 34.3% of enrollment, in Frederick, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Whittier Elementary?
Whittier Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Whittier Elementary rank among schools in Frederick?
By Resource Investment Index, Whittier Elementary ranks #5 of 18 schools in Frederick, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Frederick on the city page.
Is Whittier Elementary a good school?
Whittier Elementary earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Maryland schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Maryland schools. 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 Frederick County Public Schools?
Besides Whittier Elementary, Frederick County Public Schools also operates Gov. Thomas Johnson High (2,066 students), Urbana High (1,989 students), and Frederick High (1,821 students). See the Frederick County 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.