schoolsbycounty

Jefferson County Schools & Education

School Score

70/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

91.5%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

91.5%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.7%

Per-Pupil Spending

$9,044

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,009

School Score

70/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 61/100

State Score Position

#31

of 105 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Jefferson County

Measured School Summary

Jefferson County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 70/100 and a graduation rate of 91.5%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.

Funding Context

Jefferson County spends $9,044 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 15% above the Kansas average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 0% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Jefferson County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

14 public schools and 5 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

70/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #31 of 105 Kansas counties with school score data.

Completion

91.5%

2.8 pts above the state average

Funding context

$9,044

roughly matches the state average

School coverage

14

5 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Jefferson County has 14 public schools across 5 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

Parent decision brief

What Jefferson County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Higher-signal county

Jefferson County screens well on the measured county-level school signal. The next check is whether that strength is broad across districts or concentrated in a few school pathways.

State position

#31

of 105 Kansas counties with school score data. The county score is 9 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Jefferson West

Elementary to high school visible

827 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

Oskaloosa Public Schools

Elementary and high visible

553 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

McLouth

Elementary to high school visible

453 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

Jefferson County North

Elementary and high visible

440 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Jefferson West is the largest listed district slice, with 3 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Jefferson County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Jefferson County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Jefferson County, Kansas

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Broad Educational Reach Across Jefferson County

Jefferson County supports 3,159 students through a network of 14 public schools. The infrastructure includes five elementary, three middle, and six high schools managed by five different districts. This decentralized system ensures local control and community-specific school identities.

A Multi-District Approach to Public Learning

Jefferson West is the largest district, serving 827 students, followed by Oskaloosa Public Schools with 553 students and McLouth with 453. There are no charter schools in the county, as families rely on the five diverse public districts. Each district offers unique programs tailored to its specific rural community.

Pure Rural Learning on a Human Scale

All 14 public schools in the county are located in rural areas, maintaining a consistent regional character. The average school size is 226 students, with Jefferson County North Elem/Middle being the largest at 325 students. Schools like Perry Lecompton High provide a familiar environment where students and staff are closely connected.

School Overview

Total Schools

14

in Jefferson County

Reported Enrollment

3,159

14 schools reporting

School Districts

5

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary5
Middle3
High6
Other0

5 School Districts in Jefferson County

Jefferson West

3 schools
827 students

Oskaloosa Public Schools

2 schools
553 students

McLouth

3 schools
453 students

Jefferson County North

2 schools
440 students

Valley Falls

2 schools
400 students

14 Public Schools in Jefferson County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 14 of 14 matching schools

Jefferson County North Elem/Middle

Jefferson County North

Nortonville, 66060 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary325 students

Jefferson West Elementary School

Jefferson West

Meriden, 66512 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–4Primary307 students

Oskaloosa Elem

Oskaloosa Public Schools

Oskaloosa, 66066 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary293 students

Valley Falls Elem

Valley Falls

Valley Falls, 66088 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary284 students

Perry Lecompton High

Perry Public Schools

Perry, 66073 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High279 students

Jefferson West Middle

Jefferson West

Meriden, 66512 / Rural: Fringe

Record5–8Middle262 students

Oskaloosa JR-SR High School

Oskaloosa Public Schools

Oskaloosa, 66066 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High260 students

Jefferson West High

Jefferson West

Meriden, 66512 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High258 students

McLouth Elem

McLouth

McLouth, 66054 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary237 students

Perry-Lecompton Middle

Perry Public Schools

Perry, 66073 / Rural: Distant

Record5–8Middle207 students

McLouth High

McLouth

McLouth, 66054 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High124 students

Valley Falls High

Valley Falls

Valley Falls, 66088 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High116 students

Jefferson Co North High

Jefferson County North

Winchester, 66097 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High115 students

McLouth Middle

McLouth

McLouth, 66054 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle92 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$9,044

State avg $9,009

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Jefferson County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Kansas counties have the highest graduation rates?
Scott County (97.0%), Neosho County (96.6%), and Nemaha County (96.3%) currently lead Kansas among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Kansas?
Across Kansas counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $9,009. The highest current county values are Elk County ($16,438), Mitchell County ($12,668), and Coffey County ($12,176). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Jefferson County?
Jefferson County has a school score of 70/100, which is a higher measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Jefferson County?
The high school graduation rate in Jefferson County is 91.5%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Jefferson County spend per student?
Jefferson County spends $9,044 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Jefferson County, Kansas — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Jefferson County, Kansas?

Jefferson County supports 3,159 students through a network of 14 public schools. The infrastructure includes five elementary, three middle, and six high schools managed by five different districts. This decentralized system ensures local control and community-specific school identities.

What are the major school districts in Jefferson County, Kansas?

Jefferson West is the largest district, serving 827 students, followed by Oskaloosa Public Schools with 553 students and McLouth with 453. There are no charter schools in the county, as families rely on the five diverse public districts. Each district offers unique programs tailored to its specific rural community.

What is the school experience like in Jefferson County?

All 14 public schools in the county are located in rural areas, maintaining a consistent regional character. The average school size is 226 students, with Jefferson County North Elem/Middle being the largest at 325 students. Schools like Perry Lecompton High provide a familiar environment where students and staff are closely connected.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.