Is Wheeler High School a good school?

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

How many students attend Wheeler High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 417 students attended Wheeler High School.

What is the racial makeup of Wheeler High School?

Students at Wheeler High School are 80% White, 14% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% African American.

What schools feed into Wheeler High School?

Wheeler High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : John Simatovich Elementary School Elementary : Union Center Elementary School Middle : Union Township Middle School

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:
42^nd of 431 Indiana High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,845

Feeder schools for Wheeler High School:

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

Student/teacher ratio: 11.4

Number of students: 417

Racial breakdown:

White:

80.3%

Hispanic:

13.7%

Two or more races:

2.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 26.6%

See top rated Indiana high schools

Compare Wheeler High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Wheeler High School ranks better than 90.3% of high schools in Indiana. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 82.49. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Wheeler High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Chronic absenteeism in a 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

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (80.3%), Hispanic (13.7%), two or more races (2.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 26.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Wheeler High School is 11.4. (See more...)

Compare Wheeler High School employs 36.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

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 42^nd 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 10^th of 381 Indiana school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Wheeler High School.

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Your rating for Wheeler High School?

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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
2005	82.56	39^th	349	88.8%
2006	88.04	16^th	349	95.4%
2007	88.84	13^th	354	96.3%
2008	92.83	7^th	360	98.1%
2009	86.63	25^th	364	93.1%
2010	68.82	45^th	362	87.6%
2011	65.24	64^th	364	82.4%
2012	69.33	50^th	373	86.6%
2013	76.55	18^th	353	94.9%
2014	53.89	128^th	379	66.2%
2015	71.31	50^th	400	87.5%
2016	70.70	77^th	394	80.5%
2017	66.83	102^nd	380	73.2%
2018	56.81	179^th	385	53.5%
2019	60.37	121^st	389	68.9%
2021	72.33	62^nd	388	84.0%
2022	88.77	36^th	409	91.2%
2023	89.73	16^th	398	96.0%
2024	82.49	42^nd	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	250^th	285	12.3%
2024	74.55	49^th	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	11^th	379	97.1%
2024	89.88	13^th	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	16^th	388	95.9%
2024	82.46	36^th	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	23^rd	383	94.0%
2024	79.98	43^rd	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
2022	98.58	2^nd	164	98.8%
2023	92.46	8^th	166	95.2%
2024	78.13	30^th	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
2022	82.80	54^th	378	85.7%
2023	88.26	24^th	375	93.6%
2024	78.03	48^th	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.

Data source: Indiana Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

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
2024	335	9	2	57	3	0	11	0	417

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

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
2024	417	36.5	11.4	26.6

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

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
2024	417	36.5	11.4	26.6

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

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total 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 121^st of 389 High schools	Ranks 16^th 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)	36	50.6	14.6%
End of Course Biology (Union Township School Corp)	36	50.6	14.6%
End of Course Biology (Indiana)	38.6	29	9.6%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	536	434	19%
African American	12	8	33.3%
American Indian	3	3
Asian	3	2	33.3%
Hispanic	66	59	10.6%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	441	355	19.5%
Two or More Races	11	7	36.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	21.3%	28.3%	7.1%

Schools Near Wheeler High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing (2024)	SAT Mathematics (2024)	ILEARN English Language Arts (2024)				ILEARN Math (2024)				ILEARN Biology (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 6th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 7th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 8th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts All Grades	ILEARN Math 6th Grade	ILEARN Math 7th Grade	ILEARN Math 8th Grade	ILEARN Math All Grades	ILEARN Biology End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Wheeler High School	Public	9-12	587 W 300 N	Valparaiso	46385	Porter County	Union Township School Corp	No	No	No	No	(219) 759-2561	417	37	11.4	26.6%	335 (80.3%)	9 (2.2%)	57 (13.7%)	2 (0.5%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.6%)	82.5	42^nd of 431 public high schools	90.3%		89.7	16^th of 398 public high schools	96.0%	26	62.6	40.7									58.1	$13,845	$237	$13,609
Hobart High School	Public	9-12	2211 E Tenth St	Hobart	46342	Lake County	School City of Hobart	No	No	No	No	(219) 942-8521	1,343	69	19.4	50.3%	843 (62.8%)	113 (8.4%)	331 (24.6%)	11 (0.8%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	41 (3.1%)	53.1	176^th of 431 public high schools	59.2%		49.1	182^nd of 398 public high schools	54.3%	6	53.3	18.6									40.3	$11,513	$1,136	$10,377
Neighbors' New Vistas High School	Public, Charter	9-12	5201 US Highway 6	Portage	46368	Porter County	Neighbors' New Vistas High School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(219) 850-4448	130	12	10.8	66.9%	62 (47.7%)	34 (26.2%)	32 (24.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.5%)	13.7	376^th of 431 public high schools	12.8%		4.9	388^th of 398 public high schools	2.5%	12	29.0	0.0										$12,498	$1,783	$10,715
Portage High School	Public	9-12	6450 US Hwy 6	Portage	46368	Porter County	Portage Township Schools	No	No	No	No	(219) 764-6026	2,198	138	15.8		1,108 (50.4%)	390 (17.7%)	582 (26.5%)	21 (1.0%)	7 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	90 (4.1%)	30.2	305^th of 431 public high schools	29.2%		30.8	289^th of 398 public high schools	27.4%	16	43.9	13.5									16.9	$10,741	$885	$9,856
Boone Grove High School	Public	9-12	260 S 500 W	Valparaiso	46385	Porter County	Porter Township School Corp	No	No	No	No	(219) 476-3455	475	36	13.1	16.0%	368 (77.5%)	16 (3.4%)	83 (17.5%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.1%)	60.6	136^th of 431 public high schools	68.4%		65.3	95^th of 398 public high schools	76.1%	41	57.1	28.6									31.8	$9,768	$59	$9,709
Valparaiso High School	Public	9-12	2727 N Campbell St	Valparaiso	46385	Porter County	Valparaiso Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(219) 531-3070	2,151	117	18.4	29.9%	1,570 (73.0%)	101 (4.7%)	338 (15.7%)	49 (2.3%)	3 (0.1%)	1 (0.0%)	89 (4.1%)	87	24^th of 431 public high schools	94.4%		85.1	26^th of 398 public high schools	93.5%	2	68.0	43.5									58.7	$9,131	$168	$8,962
Thomas A Edison Junior-Senior High School	Public	6-12	3304 Parkside Ave	Lake Station	46405	Lake County	Lake Station Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 962-8531	614	35	17.3	74.9%	202 (32.9%)	116 (18.9%)	265 (43.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (5.0%)	13.8	375^th of 431 public high schools	13.0%		10.5	365^th of 398 public high schools	8.3%	10	24.4	3.5	19.1	23.9	20.9	21.4	9.7	5.7	0.0	5.1	20.8	$10,562	$672	$9,890
River Forest High School	Public	9-12	3300 Indiana St	Hobart	46405	Lake County	River Forest Community School Corp	No	No	No	No	(219) 962-7551	567	28	20.2	69.7%	164 (28.9%)	122 (21.5%)	240 (42.3%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	37 (6.5%)	17.6	354^th of 431 public high schools	17.9%		14.2	354^th of 398 public high schools	11.1%		31.1	2.5									24.6	$11,845	$505	$11,340
Merrillville High School	Public	9-12	276 E 68th Pl	Merrillville	46410	Lake County	Merrillville Community School Corp	No	No	No	No	(219) 650-5307	2,051	127	16.1	59.3%	154 (7.5%)	1,399 (68.2%)	390 (19.0%)	13 (0.6%)	4 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	91 (4.4%)	23.5	331^st of 431 public high schools	23.2%		21.8	322^nd of 398 public high schools	19.1%	9	33.5	9.5									25.2	$11,799	$1,080	$10,719
Gary Career Center	Public	6-12	1800 E 35th Ave	Gary	46409	Lake County	Gary Community School Corp	No	No	No	No	(219) 962-7571	1	10	.1		0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)

Wheeler High School

Wheeler High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Union Township School Corp:

Average Parent Rating:

What do you think?

Rank History for Wheeler High School

Rank History for all students at Wheeler High School

Rank History for Special Education students at Wheeler High School

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

Rank History for Female students at Wheeler High School

Rank History for Male students at Wheeler High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Wheeler High School

Rank History for White students at Wheeler High School

Review counts

Enrollment information for Wheeler High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Wheeler High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Wheeler High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Wheeler High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Wheeler High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Wheeler High School

Frequently Asked Questions about Wheeler High School

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