Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 15 schools in district

Schmucker Middle School

56045 Bittersweet Rd, Mishawaka, IN 46545Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
1,004
Students
Total enrolled
$12,050
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↓ 16% vs nat'l
19.7 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 28% vs nat'l
46/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 1,004 students in grades 06–08 in Mishawaka, Indiana.
16% below average funding
District spends $12,050 per pupil, 16% less than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 46th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Schmucker Middle School is a very large middle in Mishawaka, Indiana, serving grades 06–08 with 1,004 students. The district invests $12,050 per student — 16% below the national average of $14,347, with a 19.7:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 36% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at Schmucker Middle School

1,004
Total Students
19.7 : 1
Student:Teacher
36%
Free Lunch
51
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution489 male · 515 female
49%
51%
Male 49%Female 51%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility36%
National avg 52% · 358 students
Student Composition
71%
10%
8%
Asian4%
White71%
Hispanic / Latino10%
Black8%
Multiracial7%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 180876001452

Academic Outcomes at Schmucker Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
46
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 46th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 62th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 46545

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$12,050Below avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$12,050
State avg
$15,078
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$5,302
Student Support$2,290
Administration$1,446
Operations$1,808
Other$1,205
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $12,050 spent per student, an estimated $5,338 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
65%
26%
State government
64.9%
Local (property tax)
25.8%
Federal programs
9.3%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Horizon Elementary SchoolNorthpoint Elementary SchoolWalt Disney Elementary SchoolBittersweet Elementary School
+7 more
↓
Middle
Discovery Middle SchoolVirgil I Grissom Middle School
↓
High School
Penn High School
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountySt. Joseph County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictPenn-Harris-Madison School Corp →
Phone: (574)259-5661
NCES ID: 180876001452
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Mishawaka seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing a solid, no-frills public education. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp
High
Penn High School
3,624 students · 09–12
● 46 opp27% FRL
Mid
Discovery Middle School
848 students · 06–08
● 52 opp17% FRL
Elem
Horizon Elementary School
691 students · PK–05
● 52 opp19% FRL
Mid
Virgil I Grissom Middle School
678 students · 06–08
46% FRL
Elem
Northpoint Elementary School
614 students · KG–05
● 52 opp12% FRL
Elem
Walt Disney Elementary School
521 students · KG–05
● 46 opp56% FRL
Elem
Bittersweet Elementary School
520 students · PK–05
● 46 opp28% FRL
Elem
Elm Road Elementary School
513 students · PK–05
43% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
56045 Bittersweet Rd, Mishawaka, IN 46545
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.