Jefferson County Schools

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Charles Town, West Virginia - 16 schools

An equity score of 13/100 ranks Jefferson County Schools #55 of 56 districts in West Virginia (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,888 per pupil, Jefferson County Schools ranks #48 of 56 West Virginia districts by per-pupil spending (West Virginia districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

8,389
Total Enrollment
16
Schools
$12,888
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Jefferson County Schools operates 16 public schools serving 8,389 students, placing it among the smaller districts in West Virginia. The school portfolio breaks down into 9 combined, 4 middle, 2 high, 1 elementary schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Jefferson County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,888 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 56 West Virginia districts by per-pupil spending. See how West Virginia compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 42.0% local, 44.5% state, and 13.5% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 13/100, ranked #55 of 56 in West Virginia against a state average of 38, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 2 of 16 schools offering Advanced Placement (44 AP courses district-wide), a 340.8:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 27.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 69.6% White, 13.8% Hispanic or Latino, 5.4% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Ranson Elementary School, with a diversity index of 70.1/100.

Its largest campus is Washington High School, enrolling 1,458 students (17% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is North Jefferson Elementary, at 247 students, a 6x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Washington High School accounts for 17.4% of all Jefferson County Schools student enrollment

That concentration means Jefferson County Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Jefferson County Schools school enrollment varies 5.9× across entities

Jefferson County Schools school enrollment ranges from 247 students (lowest) to 1,458 students (highest), a spread of 1,211 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Jefferson County Schools student-counselor ratio is 341:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Jefferson County Schools is typically wider than the Jefferson County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Jefferson County Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 27.6% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Jefferson County Schools is typically wider than the Jefferson County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

13.5%
Federal
44.5%
State
42.0%
Local

Funding Equity

13
Equity Score
55 / 56
State Rank
38
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 16 schools in Jefferson County Schools.

White 69.6%
Hispanic or Latino 13.8%
African American 5.4%
Asian 1.5%
Multiracial 9.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 47.1/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Jefferson County Schools's schools, above the West Virginia average of 17.9.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Ranson Elementary School 70.1
  2. 2 Wright Denny Intermediate School 58.8
  3. 3 Wildwood Middle School 57.3
  4. 4 Page Jackson Elementary 55.6
  5. 5 Driswood Elementary School 53.7

Programs & Resources

2 / 16
Schools with AP
44 AP courses total
340.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
27.6%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Jefferson County Schools

School Enrollment
Washington High School
1,458
Jefferson High School
1,431
Charles Town Middle School
603
Harpers Ferry Middle School
550
T a Lowery Elementary School
531
South Jefferson Elementary School
453
Wildwood Middle School
429
Wright Denny Intermediate School
376
Blue Ridge Elementary School
372
Page Jackson Elementary
366
C. W. Shipley Elementary School
348
Driswood Elementary School
348
Shepherdstown Elementary School
310
Shepherdstown Middle School
308
Ranson Elementary School
256
North Jefferson Elementary
247

How Jefferson County Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The West Virginia districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Mercer County Schools Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Putnam County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Marion County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Harrison County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Wayne County Schools Smaller Similar spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Jefferson County Schools's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in West Virginia

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Kanawha County Schools
23,864 students · 67 schools · $13,227/pupil
Compare vs Jefferson County Schools →
Berkeley County Schools
19,856 students · 32 schools · $12,704/pupil
Compare vs Jefferson County Schools →
Wood County Schools
11,663 students · 27 schools · $12,407/pupil
Compare vs Jefferson County Schools →
Cabell County Schools
11,473 students · 26 schools · $14,538/pupil
Compare vs Jefferson County Schools →
Monongalia County Schools
11,297 students · 18 schools · $13,751/pupil
Compare vs Jefferson County Schools →

Compare Jefferson County Schools

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Kanawha County Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Jefferson County Schools?

Jefferson County Schools has 16 schools, including 2 high, 4 middle, 9 combined, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 8,389 students.

How much does Jefferson County Schools spend per student?

Jefferson County Schools spends $12,888 per student. The district has an equity score of 13/100, ranking #55 in West Virginia.

What is the demographic composition of Jefferson County Schools?

Jefferson County Schools students are 69.6% White, 13.8% Hispanic or Latino, 5.4% African American, 1.5% Asian, averaged across 16 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Jefferson County Schools?

Jefferson County Schools has an equity score of 13/100, ranking #55 out of 56 districts in West Virginia.