Total enrollment
2,599
+1,194 (+85%) vs SY 2020-21
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.
4-year change in Wheeler County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
3
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Wheeler County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Oregon | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 2,599 | #28 of 33 | #1,974 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 3 | #33 of 33 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 36.7:1 | #33 of 33 | #2,653 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 84.5% | #9 of 32 | #430 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 19.2% | #33 of 33 | #2,184 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Residents
1,485
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
3
3 districts
Enrollment
2,599
students · 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
School enrollment
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)
- Fossil Charter School· 69.1%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fossil Charter School | Fossil | Combined | KG-12 | 2,494 | · |
| Spray School | Spray | Combined | KG-12 | 58 | · |
| Mitchell School | Mitchell | Combined | KG-12 | 47 | · |
Cities in Wheeler County
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 4-year window, public-school enrollment grew 85%: 1,405 students in SY 2020-21 versus 2,599 in SY 2024-25.
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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data