schoolsbycounty

Jefferson County Schools & Education

School Score

38/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

91.4%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

91.4%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 91.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,048

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,334

School Score

38/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 43/100

State Score Position

#80

of 115 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Jefferson County

Measured School Summary

Despite a lower school score of 38/100, Jefferson County maintains a strong graduation rate of 91.4%, suggesting effective student support systems.

Funding Context

At $6,048 per pupil, Jefferson County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 11% below the Missouri average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% lower 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

68 public schools and 12 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

38/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #80 of 115 Missouri counties with school score data.

Completion

91.4%

0.1 pts above the state average

Funding context

$6,048

$286 below the state average

School coverage

68

12 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Jefferson County has 68 public schools across 12 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.

Large multi-district county

Jefferson County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#80

of 115 Missouri counties with school score data. The county score is 5 points below 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.

FOX C-6

Elementary to high school visible

10,707 students

Elementary 11Middle 4High 2Other 1

18 listed schools in this county slice.

NORTHWEST R-I

Elementary to high school visible

5,969 students

Elementary 6Middle 2High 1Other 1

10 listed schools in this county slice.

FESTUS R-VI

Elementary to high school visible

3,315 students

Elementary 1Middle 2High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

HILLSBORO R-III

Elementary to high school visible

3,289 students

Elementary 2Middle 2High 1Other 1

6 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

FOX C-6 is the largest listed district slice, with 18 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?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

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, Missouri

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.

Expansive School Infrastructure in Jefferson County

Jefferson County supports 34,779 students through a massive network of 68 public schools. The infrastructure includes 31 elementary schools and 14 high schools distributed across 12 unique school districts. This extensive system makes it one of the largest educational landscapes in the St. Louis metropolitan fringe.

Fox C-6 and Northwest R-I Anchor the Region

Fox C-6 is the county's largest district, serving 10,707 students across 18 separate schools. Northwest R-I also maintains a significant presence with 5,969 students. While traditional districts dominate and no charter schools exist, the Grandview R-II district hosts the Missouri Virtual Academy, which serves 1,738 students statewide.

Suburban Focus with Large High School Campuses

With 39 schools located in suburban locales, the county has a distinct commuter-belt feel. Northwest High and Seckman Senior High are the largest schools, each enrolling over 1,790 students. The average school size is 527 students, offering a balance of high-capacity secondary schools and community-focused primary buildings.

School Overview

Total Schools

68

in Jefferson County

Reported Enrollment

34,779

68 schools reporting

School Districts

12

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary31
Middle15
High14
Other8

12 School Districts in Jefferson County

FOX C-6

Guide
18 schools
10,707 students
Open district guide

NORTHWEST R-I

Guide
10 schools
5,969 students
Open district guide

FESTUS R-VI

Guide
4 schools
3,315 students
Open district guide

HILLSBORO R-III

6 schools
3,289 students

WINDSOR C-1

5 schools
2,953 students

DESOTO 73

5 schools
2,543 students

GRANDVIEW R-II

4 schools
2,387 students

DUNKLIN R-V

4 schools
1,585 students

JEFFERSON CO. R-VII

5 schools
1,108 students

CRYSTAL CITY 47

2 schools
542 students

68 Public Schools in Jefferson County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 7 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

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

Level

Showing 20 of 68 matching schools

NORTHWEST HIGH

NORTHWEST R-I

CEDAR HILL, 63016 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,841 students

SECKMAN SR. HIGH

FOX C-6

IMPERIAL, 63052 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,793 students

FOX SR. HIGH

FOX C-6

ARNOLD, 63010 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,742 students

Missouri Virtual Academy

GRANDVIEW R-II

HILLSBORO, 63050 / Rural: Distant

ProfileKG–12Virtual1,738 students

HILLSBORO HIGH

HILLSBORO R-III

HILLSBORO, 63050 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,121 students

FESTUS ELEM.

FESTUS R-VI

FESTUS, 63028 / Suburb: Large

ProfileKG–3Primary1,039 students

FESTUS SR. HIGH

FESTUS R-VI

FESTUS, 63028 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High979 students

WINDSOR HIGH

WINDSOR C-1

IMPERIAL, 63052 / Suburb: Large

Record9–12High908 students

DESOTO SR. HIGH

DESOTO 73

DESOTO, 63020 / Town: Fringe

Record9–12High848 students

NORTHWEST VALLEY SCH.

NORTHWEST R-I

HOUSE SPRINGS, 63051 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle788 students

FESTUS INTERMEDIATE

FESTUS R-VI

FESTUS, 63028 / Suburb: Large

Record4–6Middle745 students

SECKMAN MIDDLE

FOX C-6

IMPERIAL, 63052 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle725 students

PEVELY ELEM.

DUNKLIN R-V

PEVELY, 63070 / Suburb: Large

RecordKG–5Primary708 students

HILLSBORO PRIMARY

HILLSBORO R-III

HILLSBORO, 63050 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–2Primary670 students

WINDSOR MIDDLE

WINDSOR C-1

Imperial, 63052 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle659 students

VINELAND ELEM.

DESOTO 73

DESOTO, 63020 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–6Primary648 students

FOX MIDDLE

FOX C-6

ARNOLD, 63010 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle632 students

WINDSOR INTERMEDIATE

WINDSOR C-1

IMPERIAL, 63052 / Suburb: Large

Record3–5Primary617 students

RIDGEWOOD MIDDLE

FOX C-6

ARNOLD, 63010 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle616 students

WOODRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL

NORTHWEST R-I

HIGH RIDGE, 63049 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle566 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,048

State avg $6,334

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 Missouri counties have the highest graduation rates?
Dallas County (97.0%), Dent County (97.0%), and Howell County (97.0%) currently lead Missouri 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 Missouri?
Across Missouri counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $6,334. The highest current county values are St. Louis County ($9,027), Chariton County ($8,427), and Holt County ($8,173). 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 38/100, which is a lower 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 91.4%, 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 $6,048 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, Missouri — FAQ

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

Jefferson County supports 34,779 students through a massive network of 68 public schools. The infrastructure includes 31 elementary schools and 14 high schools distributed across 12 unique school districts. This extensive system makes it one of the largest educational landscapes in the St. Louis metropolitan fringe.

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

Fox C-6 is the county's largest district, serving 10,707 students across 18 separate schools. Northwest R-I also maintains a significant presence with 5,969 students. While traditional districts dominate and no charter schools exist, the Grandview R-II district hosts the Missouri Virtual Academy, which serves 1,738 students statewide.

What is the school experience like in Jefferson County?

With 39 schools located in suburban locales, the county has a distinct commuter-belt feel. Northwest High and Seckman Senior High are the largest schools, each enrolling over 1,790 students. The average school size is 527 students, offering a balance of high-capacity secondary schools and community-focused primary buildings.

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.