Jefferson West

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.

Meriden, Kansas - 3 schools

An equity score of 46/100 ranks Jefferson West #150 of 250 districts in Kansas (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $14,656 per pupil, Jefferson West ranks #145 of 285 Kansas districts by per-pupil spending (Kansas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

828
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$14,656
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Jefferson West operates 3 public schools serving 828 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Kansas. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 elementary, 1 high schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. 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 $14,656 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 285 Kansas districts by per-pupil spending. See how Kansas compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 14.6% local, 78.9% state, and 6.5% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 46/100, ranked #150 of 250 in Kansas against a state average of 50, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (3 AP courses district-wide), a 281:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 20.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 87.4% White, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Jefferson West Elementary School, with a diversity index of 23.9/100.

Its largest campus is Jefferson West Elementary School, enrolling 320 students (38% of the district's total enrollment).

Jefferson West Elementary School accounts for 38.0% of all Jefferson West student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Jefferson West-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. 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 West student-counselor ratio is 281:1 — 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 West is typically wider than the Jefferson West-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Jefferson West chronic absenteeism rate is 20.3% — 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 West is typically wider than the Jefferson West-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

6.5%
Federal
78.9%
State
14.6%
Local

Funding Equity

46
Equity Score
150 / 250
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Jefferson West.

White 87.4%
Hispanic or Latino 6.2%
African American 0.6%
Multiracial 4.4%
Other 1.4%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 23.0/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Jefferson West's schools, below the Kansas average of 39.4.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Jefferson West Elementary School 23.9
  2. 2 Jefferson West Middle 23.6
  3. 3 Jefferson West High 21.5

Programs & Resources

1 / 3
Schools with AP
3 AP courses total
281:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
20.3%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Jefferson West

School Enrollment
Jefferson West Elementary School
320
Jefferson West Middle
276
Jefferson West High
247

How Jefferson West Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Kansas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Galena Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Halstead Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Chaparral Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Marysville Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Beloit Similar size Higher spending More locally funded

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

Nearby Districts in Kansas

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

Wichita
46,796 students · 88 schools · $15,361/pupil
Compare vs Jefferson West →
Olathe
29,034 students · 51 schools · $14,650/pupil
Compare vs Jefferson West →
Shawnee Mission Pub Sch
26,618 students · 45 schools · $12,112/pupil
Compare vs Jefferson West →
Blue Valley
22,384 students · 36 schools · $12,217/pupil
Compare vs Jefferson West →
Kansas City
22,015 students · 43 schools · $16,610/pupil
Compare vs Jefferson West →

Compare Jefferson West

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

Compare vs Wichita →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Jefferson West?

Jefferson West has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 elementary, 1 high. Total enrollment is 828 students.

How much does Jefferson West spend per student?

Jefferson West spends $14,656 per student. The district has an equity score of 46/100, ranking #150 in Kansas.

What is the demographic composition of Jefferson West?

Jefferson West students are 87.4% White, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Jefferson West?

Jefferson West has an equity score of 46/100, ranking #150 out of 250 districts in Kansas.