Can I use Jefferson County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Jefferson County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Jefferson County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Jefferson County?

Start with the 13 listed public schools and 4 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Jefferson County Schools & Education

Name: Jefferson County, Oregon Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Jefferson County, Oregon

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

School Score

55/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

87.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

87.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 82.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,822

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,886

School Score

55/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 41/100

State Score Position

of 36 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Jefferson County

Measured School Summary

Jefferson County performs at an average level with a school score of 55/100 and a solid graduation rate of 87.0%.

Funding Context

Jefferson County spends $8,822 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 34% above the Oregon average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 12% 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

13 public schools and 4 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

55/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #8 of 36 Oregon counties with school score data.

Completion

87.0%

4.7 pts above the state average

Funding context

$8,822

$936 above the state average

School coverage

4 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Jefferson County has 13 public schools across 4 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.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

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.

Dominant-district county

Jefferson County SD 509J carries most of the listed public-school system, with 9 of 13 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

of 36 Oregon counties with school score data. The county score is 14 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 County SD 509J

Elementary to high school visible

2,769 students

Elementary 5Middle 1High 2Other 0

8 listed schools in this county slice.

Culver SD 4

Elementary to high school visible

673 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

Black Butte SD 41

Elementary school only in this slice

22 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

Ashwood SD 8

Elementary school only in this slice

2 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

Jefferson County SD 509J is the largest listed district slice, with 9 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, Oregon

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.

Thirteen Schools Across Four Districts

Jefferson County supports 3,466 students through a network of 13 public schools. The system is built around eight elementary schools and three high schools, providing a clear path from early childhood to graduation.

Jefferson County SD 509J Leads

Jefferson County SD 509J is the primary district, serving 2,787 students across nine schools. The county focuses on traditional public education and does not currently host any charter schools.

Rural Roots and Town Hubs

The county’s schools are split between seven rural locations and six town-based campuses. Madras High School is the largest educational center with 781 students, while the average school size across the county is 267.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Jefferson County

Reported Enrollment

3,466

13 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary8

Middle2

High3

Other0

4 School Districts in Jefferson County

Jefferson County SD 509J

9 schools

2,787 students

Culver SD 4

3 schools

673 students

Black Butte SD 41

1 school

22 students

Ashwood SD 8

1 school

2 students

13 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

Search schools

Level

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Showing 13 of 13 matching schools

Public schools in Jefferson County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Madras High School	Record	Jefferson County SD 509J	Madras, 97741Town: Distant	9–12	High	781
Warm Springs K-8 Academy	Record	Jefferson County SD 509J	Warm Springs, 97761Rural: Distant	KG–8	Primary	530
Jefferson County Middle School	Record	Jefferson County SD 509J	Madras, 97741Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	473
Madras Elementary School	Record	Jefferson County SD 509J	Madras, 97741Town: Distant	KG–5	Primary	363
Culver Elementary School	Record	Culver SD 4	Culver, 97734Rural: Distant	KG–5	Primary	290
Buff Elementary School	Record	Jefferson County SD 509J	Madras, 97741Town: Distant	KG–5	Primary	274
Metolius Elementary School	Record	Jefferson County SD 509J	Madras, 97741Town: Distant	KG–5	Primary	230
Culver High School	Record	Culver SD 4	Culver, 97734Rural: Distant	9–12	High	210
Culver Middle School	Record	Culver SD 4	Culver, 97734Rural: Distant	6–8	Middle	173
Bridges High School	Record	Jefferson County SD 509J	Madras, 97741Town: Distant	9–12	Alternative	73
509J On-Line	Record	Jefferson County SD 509J	Madras, 97741Town: Distant	KG–8	Primary	45
Black Butte Elementary School	Record	Black Butte SD 41	Camp Sherman, 97730Rural: Remote	KG–8	Primary	22
Ashwood Elementary School	Record	Ashwood SD 8	Ashwood, 97711Rural: Remote	KG–8	Primary	2

Madras High School

Jefferson County SD 509J

Madras, 97741 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High781 students

Warm Springs K-8 Academy

Jefferson County SD 509J

Warm Springs, 97761 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–8Primary530 students

Jefferson County Middle School

Jefferson County SD 509J

Madras, 97741 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle473 students

Madras Elementary School

Jefferson County SD 509J

Madras, 97741 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary363 students

Culver Elementary School

Culver SD 4

Culver, 97734 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary290 students

Buff Elementary School

Jefferson County SD 509J

Madras, 97741 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary274 students

Metolius Elementary School

Jefferson County SD 509J

Madras, 97741 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary230 students

Culver High School

Culver SD 4

Culver, 97734 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High210 students

Culver Middle School

Culver SD 4

Culver, 97734 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle173 students

Bridges High School

Jefferson County SD 509J

Madras, 97741 / Town: Distant

Record9–12Alternative73 students

509J On-Line

Jefferson County SD 509J

Madras, 97741 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–8Primary45 students

Black Butte Elementary School

Black Butte SD 41

Camp Sherman, 97730 / Rural: Remote

RecordKG–8Primary22 students

Ashwood Elementary School

Ashwood SD 8

Ashwood, 97711 / Rural: Remote

RecordKG–8Primary2 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,822

State avg $7,886

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 Oregon counties have the highest graduation rates?

Hood River County (92.0%), Morrow County (91.8%), and Lake County (91.0%) currently lead Oregon 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 Oregon?

Across Oregon counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,886. The highest current county values are Wallowa County ($10,680), Gilliam County ($10,676), and Grant County ($10,655). 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 55/100, which is a midrange 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 87.0%, which is below 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 $8,822 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, Oregon — FAQ

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

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

Jefferson County SD 509J is the primary district, serving 2,787 students across nine schools. The county focuses on traditional public education and does not currently host any charter schools.

What is the school experience like in Jefferson County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Union County

Oregon

-1 pts

54/100

School score

Malheur County

Oregon

+2 pts

57/100

School score

Washington County

Oregon

-2 pts

53/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed 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.

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