Wheeler High School

Summary:

Wheeler High School is a public high school located in Valparaiso, Indiana, serving 434 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Valparaiso Community Schools district, which is ranked 10th out of 381 districts in Indiana and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Wheeler High School consistently ranks among the top high schools in Indiana, ranking 41st out of 431 schools in the 2023-2024 school year and receiving a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's performance on standardized tests, such as the SAT and ILEARN, is significantly higher than the state and district averages, particularly in English/Language Arts and Biology. Additionally, Wheeler High School has maintained an impressive four-year graduation rate, ranging from 92.7% to 97.5% over the past five years, which is well above the state and district averages. While the student population is predominantly White (81.8% in 2022-2023), the school has seen an increase in Hispanic and multi-racial students, reflecting the changing demographics of the surrounding area. Compared to nearby schools like River Forest High School and Thomas A. Edison Junior-Senior High School, Wheeler High School has a lower percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a higher socioeconomic status.

Overall, Wheeler High School stands out as a high-performing, academically excellent school that serves a relatively affluent and less racially diverse community compared to some of the nearby schools. The school's consistent academic achievements, high graduation rates, and strong socioeconomic profile suggest a focus on providing a quality education and supporting student success.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 587 W 300 N
       Valparaiso, IN  46385


(219) 759-2561

District: Union Township School Corp

SchoolDigger Rank:
42nd of 431 Indiana High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $13,845 Help


Feeder schools for Wheeler High School:

Elementary:    John Simatovich Elementary School
    Union Center Elementary School
Middle:    Union Township Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  12.0 Help
Number of students:  434

Racial breakdown:

White:
81.8%
Hispanic:
13.6%
African American:
1.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  28.3% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Wheeler High School ranks better than 90.3% of high schools in Indiana. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 82.49. (See more...)
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The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Wheeler High School freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a high school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (81.8%), Hispanic (13.6%), African American (1.8%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 28.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Wheeler High School is 12. (See more...)
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Compare Wheeler High School employs 36 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Wheeler High School is $13,845.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Wheeler High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Wheeler High School 42nd of 431 Indiana public high schools. (See Wheeler High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Union Township School Corp:

SchoolDigger ranks Union Township School Corp 10th of 381 Indiana school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Wheeler High School

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Rank History for all students at Wheeler High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 82.56 39th 349 88.8%
2006 88.04 16th 349 95.4%
2007 88.84 13th 354 96.3%
2008 92.83 7th 360 98.1%
2009 86.63 25th 364 93.1%
2010 68.82 45th 362 87.6%
2011 65.24 64th 364 82.4%
2012 69.33 50th 373 86.6%
2013 76.55 18th 353 94.9%
2014 53.89 128th 379 66.2%
2015 71.31 50th 400 87.5%
2016 70.70 77th 394 80.5%
2017 66.83 102nd 380 73.2%
2018 56.81 179th 385 53.5%
2019 60.37 121st 389 68.9%
2021 72.33 62nd 388 84.0%
2022 88.77 36th 409 91.2%
2023 89.73 16th 398 96.0%
2024 82.49 42nd 431 90.3%
See the entire list of Indiana High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Wheeler High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 23.26 250th 285 12.3%
2024 74.55 49th 289 83.0%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Wheeler High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 88.54 11th 379 97.1%
2024 89.88 13th 377 96.6%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Wheeler High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 90.54 16th 388 95.9%
2024 82.46 36th 392 90.8%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Wheeler High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 87.53 23rd 383 94.0%
2024 79.98 43rd 392 89.0%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Wheeler High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 98.58 2nd 164 98.8%
2023 92.46 8th 166 95.2%
2024 78.13 30th 184 83.7%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Wheeler High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 82.80 54th 378 85.7%
2023 88.26 24th 375 93.6%
2024 78.03 48th 381 87.4%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Indiana Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Wheeler High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
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Data source: Indiana Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!


Enrollment information for Wheeler High School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 440 3 4 16 1 n/a n/a 0 464
1989 450 4 4 22 1 n/a n/a 0 481
1990 341 4 4 16 1 n/a n/a 0 366
1991 343 2 4 18 1 n/a n/a 0 368
1992 380 5 6 17 0 n/a n/a 0 408
1993 620 9 10 24 1 n/a n/a 0 664
1994 631 6 12 30 0 n/a n/a 0 679
1995 615 6 14 28 4 n/a n/a 18 685
1996 615 6 14 28 4 n/a n/a 18 685
1997 412 4 8 21 0 n/a n/a 15 460
1998 423 2 8 22 4 n/a n/a 0 459
1999 439 4 5 25 7 n/a n/a 0 480
2000 434 2 6 26 8 n/a n/a 0 476
2001 449 4 2 20 6 n/a n/a 0 481
2002 414 4 7 34 8 n/a n/a 0 467
2003 414 4 7 34 8 n/a n/a 0 467
2004 456 4 6 28 5 n/a n/a 0 499
2005 470 6 7 22 2 n/a n/a 0 507
2006 482 4 8 30 6 n/a n/a 0 530
2007 488 6 9 30 7 n/a n/a 20 560
2008 493 10 11 28 4 n/a n/a 16 562
2009 500 11 6 21 4 n/a n/a 22 564
2010 526 10 3 17 3 n/a n/a 26 585
2011 472 12 5 35 4 0 17 0 545
2012 486 7 7 46 0 1 11 0 558
2013 466 6 5 65 0 0 12 0 554
2014 451 4 5 69 0 1 12 0 542
2015 445 8 4 73 1 0 18 0 549
2016 472 6 4 79 1 0 17 0 579
2017 453 7 3 71 2 0 17 0 553
2018 432 10 3 71 3 0 17 0 536
2019 441 12 3 66 3 0 11 0 536
2020 406 12 1 58 4 0 10 0 491
2021 403 11 1 56 4 0 10 0 485
2022 372 9 3 44 3 0 6 0 437
2023 355 8 2 59 3 0 7 0 434

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Wheeler High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 464 25.0 18.5 6.3
1989 481 27.6 17.4 3.7
1990 366 35.3 10.3 1.9
1991 368 21.5 17.1 3.3
1992 408 19.7 20.7 6.1
1993 664 34.2 19.4 4.2
1994 679 36.4 18.7 3.5
1995 685 38.3 17.9 3
1996 685 38.3 17.9 3
1997 460 24.7 18.6 4
1998 459 21.9 21.0 5.9
1999 480 25.7 18.7 6.7
2000 476 31.7 15.0 5.7
2001 481 32.1 15.0 6
2002 467 31.9 14.6 3.2
2003 467 31.9 14.6 3.2
2004 499 31.3 15.9 18.2
2005 507 28.7 17.7 17.4
2006 530 28.1 18.9 8.5
2007 560 n/a n/a 10.2
2008 562 29.3 19.2 10.1
2009 564 28.4 19.9 8.3
2010 585 30.9 18.9 14.8
2011 545 29.6 18.3 13
2012 558 32.2 17.3 15.8
2013 554 31.0 17.8 17.5
2014 542 29.0 18.6 17.2
2015 549 31.0 17.7 17.9
2016 579 28.0 20.6 15
2017 553 30.2 18.3 16.1
2018 536 28.4 18.8 18.1
2019 536 28.6 18.6 21.3
2020 491 30.5 16.0 22.8
2021 485 30.4 15.9 24.3
2022 437 36.5 11.9 24.7
2023 434 36.0 12.0 28.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Wheeler High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 464 25.0 18.5 6.3
1989 481 27.6 17.4 3.7
1990 366 35.3 10.3 1.9
1991 368 21.5 17.1 3.3
1992 408 19.7 20.7 6.1
1993 664 34.2 19.4 4.2
1994 679 36.4 18.7 3.5
1995 685 38.3 17.9 3
1996 685 38.3 17.9 3
1997 460 24.7 18.6 4
1998 459 21.9 21.0 5.9
1999 480 25.7 18.7 6.7
2000 476 31.7 15.0 5.7
2001 481 32.1 15.0 6
2002 467 31.9 14.6 3.2
2003 467 31.9 14.6 3.2
2004 499 31.3 15.9 18.2
2005 507 28.7 17.7 17.4
2006 530 28.1 18.9 8.5
2007 560 n/a n/a 10.2
2008 562 29.3 19.2 10.1
2009 564 28.4 19.9 8.3
2010 585 30.9 18.9 14.8
2011 545 29.6 18.3 13
2012 558 32.2 17.3 15.8
2013 554 31.0 17.8 17.5
2014 542 29.0 18.6 17.2
2015 549 31.0 17.7 17.9
2016 579 28.0 20.6 15
2017 553 30.2 18.3 16.1
2018 536 28.4 18.8 18.1
2019 536 28.6 18.6 21.3
2020 491 30.5 16.0 22.8
2021 485 30.4 15.9 24.3
2022 437 36.5 11.9 24.7
2023 434 36.0 12.0 28.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Wheeler High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $21 (0.2%) $10,294 (99.8%) $10,315
2020 $16 (0.1%) $11,176 (99.9%) $11,192
2021 $66 (0.5%) $12,207 (99.5%) $12,273
2022 $236 (1.7%) $13,609 (98.3%) $13,845

Data source: Indiana Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Wheeler High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 121st of 389 High schoolsRanks 16th of 398 High schools
 27.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
End of Course Biology (Wheeler High School)3650.6
 14.6%
   End of Course Biology (Union Township School Corp)3650.6
 14.6%
   End of Course Biology (Indiana)38.629
 9.6%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students536434
 19%
African American128
 33.3%
American Indian33
Asian32
 33.3%
Hispanic6659
 10.6%
Pacific Islander00
White441355
 19.5%
Two or More Races117
 36.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients21.3%28.3%
 7.1%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Wheeler High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 434 students attended Wheeler High School.

Yes. Wheeler High School ranks in the top 9.7% of Indiana high schools.

Students at Wheeler High School are 82% White, 14% Hispanic, 2% African American, 2% Two or more races.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Indiana Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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