Jefferson County Schools & Education
Jefferson County, Kansas
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool 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.
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
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Oskaloosa Public Schools
Elementary and high visible
553 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
McLouth
Elementary to high school visible
453 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Jefferson County North
Elementary and high visible
440 students
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?
Data Story
Jefferson County Operates Fourteen Schools Across Entirely Rural Locales
Education data brief for Jefferson County, Kansas.
Jefferson County’s public education system is defined by its rural structure, with all 14 public schools classified as rural by NCES. These schools serve 3,159 students across five different districts, the largest being Jefferson West with 827 students. The graduation rate in the county stands at 91.5%, which is higher than the Kansas state average of 88.7% and the national average of 87.0%. Per-pupil expenditure is $9,044, nearly identical to the state average of $9,009 but below the national benchmark of $13,000. The composite school score is 70.0, which is higher than the state average of 61.0 and the national median of 50.0. The directory includes six high schools, five elementary schools, and three middle schools, with the largest individual enrollment at Jefferson County North Elem/Middle with 325 students. Review the NCES Common Core of Data for further information on rural school classifications.
Sources
- NCES Common Core of Data
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS
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
5 School Districts in Jefferson County
Jefferson West
Oskaloosa Public Schools
McLouth
Jefferson County North
Valley Falls
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 dataLevel
Showing 14 of 14 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County North Elem/Middle | Record | Jefferson County North | Nortonville, 66060Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 325 |
| Jefferson West Elementary School | Record | Jefferson West | Meriden, 66512Rural: Fringe | PK–4 | Primary | 307 |
| Oskaloosa Elem | Record | Oskaloosa Public Schools | Oskaloosa, 66066Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 293 |
| Valley Falls Elem | Record | Valley Falls | Valley Falls, 66088Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 284 |
| Perry Lecompton High | Record | Perry Public Schools | Perry, 66073Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 279 |
| Jefferson West Middle | Record | Jefferson West | Meriden, 66512Rural: Fringe | 5–8 | Middle | 262 |
| Oskaloosa JR-SR High School | Record | Oskaloosa Public Schools | Oskaloosa, 66066Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 260 |
| Jefferson West High | Record | Jefferson West | Meriden, 66512Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 258 |
| McLouth Elem | Record | McLouth | McLouth, 66054Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 237 |
| Perry-Lecompton Middle | Record | Perry Public Schools | Perry, 66073Rural: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 207 |
| McLouth High | Record | McLouth | McLouth, 66054Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 124 |
| Valley Falls High | Record | Valley Falls | Valley Falls, 66088Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 116 |
| Jefferson Co North High | Record | Jefferson County North | Winchester, 66097Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 115 |
| McLouth Middle | Record | McLouth | McLouth, 66054Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 92 |
Jefferson County North Elem/Middle
Jefferson County North
Nortonville, 66060 / Rural: Distant
Jefferson West Elementary School
Jefferson West
Meriden, 66512 / Rural: Fringe
Oskaloosa Elem
Oskaloosa Public Schools
Oskaloosa, 66066 / Rural: Distant
Oskaloosa JR-SR High School
Oskaloosa Public Schools
Oskaloosa, 66066 / Rural: Distant
Jefferson Co North High
Jefferson County North
Winchester, 66097 / Rural: Distant
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.
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See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Kansas counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Kansas?
How should I read the school score in Jefferson County?
What is the graduation rate in Jefferson County?
How much does Jefferson County spend per student?
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.