The bulletin board for America's public schools. Parents, teachers, students, and staff. One community per school.

Wheeler County

Oregon · Public K-12

Of the public K-12 schools operating across Oregon, 3 sit inside Wheeler County, collectively enrolling roughly 2,599 students.

7-year change in Wheeler County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
2,599
+1,890 (+267%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
3
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
90%
was 85%
% Hispanic
5%
was 5%
% Black
1%
was 2%
% Asian
1%
was 3%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
3
3 districts
Enrollment
2,599
NCES CCD
Median income
$55,284
Below Oregon avg
Free/reduced lunch
84.5%
Below Oregon avg
Elementary
0
schools
Middle
0
schools
High
0
schools
Combined / other
3
2,599 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Fossil SD 21J
2,494 students · 3 districts in Wheeler County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Wheeler County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
85%
Hispanic
5%
Black
0%
Asian
1%
Two or more
12%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
90%
Hispanic
5%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
2%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
18.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.6%
civilian labor
Median age
59
11.8% under 18

Test scores in Wheeler County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 1 schools ranked. Oregon state average: 43.0%.

Top 1 schools (ELA)
  1. Fossil Charter School· 69.1%

See all 1 schools in Wheeler County ranked by score →

All schools (3)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Fossil Charter SchoolFossilCombinedKG-122,494·
Spray SchoolSprayCombinedKG-1258·
Mitchell SchoolMitchellCombinedKG-1247·

Cities in Wheeler County

Fossil1 schoolMitchell1 schoolSpray1 school

About Wheeler County

Wheeler County is a rural-scale Oregon county of about 1,485 residents, home to 3 public schools and roughly 2,599 students.

Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $55,284 a year, about 19% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 8%. That income level is 24% below the Oregon median.

Fossil SD 21J is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 2,494 students across Wheeler County.

Five-year track record. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment grew 267%: 709 students in SY 2017-18 versus 2,599 in SY 2024-25. Demographically, the White share of enrollment rose from 85% to 90%.

On this page, the community for Wheeler County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Wheeler County?
Wheeler County, Oregon has 3 public K-12 schools serving approximately 2,599 students.
What is the largest school district in Wheeler County?
Fossil SD 21J is the largest school district in Wheeler County, serving approximately 2,494 students. The county contains 3 school districts overall.
How many people live in Wheeler County?
Wheeler County has roughly 1,485 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Wheeler County?
Median household income in Wheeler County is $55,284, below the Oregon average of $72,324. About 8.1% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Wheeler County?
Approximately 18.8% of adults 25 and older in Wheeler County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Wheeler County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 84.5% of students in Wheeler County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Oregon county average of 85.7%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Wheeler County schools?
Across Wheeler County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 42.5 to 1.
What is the racial makeup of Wheeler County?
Wheeler County residents are approximately 85% White, 5% Hispanic, 1% Asian, 12% two or more races according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of housing in Wheeler County is owner-occupied?
Wheeler County has about 908 housing units, of which roughly 71.8% are owner-occupied.
What are the largest public schools in Wheeler County?
By enrollment, the largest public schools in Wheeler County include Fossil Charter School, Spray School, Mitchell School. Enrollment figures come from the latest NCES Common Core of Data.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data