Virgil I Grissom Middle School

678 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

Virgil I. Grissom Middle School, located at 13881 Kern Road in Mishawaka, Indiana, is a public middle school serving students within the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation. Named after the famed astronaut Virgil "Gus" Grissom, the school is known for fostering an environment that balances academic rigor with personal development. It serves as a key transitional step for students moving from elementary school to high school, offering a curriculum designed to challenge students while supporting their social and emotional growth during their early adolescent years.

Beyond its core academic offerings, the school provides a wide array of extracurricular activities, including athletics, clubs, and performing arts programs, which allow students to explore their interests and build community. The faculty and staff at Grissom are dedicated to creating an inclusive culture that emphasizes excellence and preparation for future success. As part of the highly-regarded Penn-Harris-Madison district, the school benefits from strong community support and a commitment to utilizing modern educational practices to meet the diverse needs of its student body.

678

Total Students

43.0

Full-Time Teachers

15.8

Student/Teacher Ratio

49.4%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Virgil I Grissom Middle School
Demographic	Student Count
White	500
Hispanic	66
Black	49
Asian	10
Two or More	48
American Indian	4
Pacific Islander	1

White
500 (73.7 %)
Hispanic
66 (9.7 %)
Black
49 (7.2 %)
Two or More
48 (7.1 %)
Asian
10 (1.5 %)
American Indian
4 (0.6 %)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.1 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp
Phone:	(574)633-4061
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	678
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	43.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	15.8
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	279
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	56

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 6 237

Grade 7 195

Grade 8 246