Enrollment
378
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Coldwater, MI
Jefferson Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Jefferson Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 21/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 261014004505
👥 S:T ratio 11
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 21
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Jefferson Elementary School earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of Michigan schools.
- #4 of 7
- public schools in Coldwater · Resource Index
- 21
- Resource Index · Lower
- 22.2:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 63.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Jefferson Elementary School has class sizes larger than 89% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Jefferson Elementary School ranks #4 of 7 public schools in Coldwater, MI.
School address
District: Coldwater Community Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261014004505 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
17.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
22.2:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
+27% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
63.2%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+16% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Jefferson Elementary School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Jefferson Elementary School
Jefferson Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Coldwater, Michigan, enrolling 378 students.
Class loads run heavy: 22.2:1 is larger than about 89% of Michigan schools and 27% above the 17.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 63.2% of students eligible for free meals.
With 378 students, its enrollment sits close to the Michigan median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 3,375 scored Michigan schools.
Among 621 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Michigan schools statewide, it ranks #458, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly White (80% of enrollment) (diversity index 34/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 31.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 15.6% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Coldwater Community Schools also operates Coldwater High School (981 students) and Legg Middle School (616 students) alongside Jefferson Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Jefferson Elementary School compares
Jefferson Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 22.2:1 | ▲ 27% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 63.2% | ▲ 16% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 378 | top 46% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.2:1
Leaner classes than 10% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
378
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
63.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
22.2:1
students per teacher
- 27% above state mean
Top 89% in Michigan - lower ratio than 11% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
31.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$11,844
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $13,507
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 14 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 80.4%
Hispanic or Latino 13.2%
African American 2.6%
Two or More 2.1%
Asian 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 80.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 33.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 33.5, Jefferson Elementary School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Coldwater Community Schools, which includes Jefferson Elementary School.
$11,844
Per student
-12%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-29%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 32.6%
State 51.8%
Federal 15.6%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Jefferson Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coldwater High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Legg Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Larsen Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lakeland Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Jefferson Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 981
- Students per teacher
- 26.5:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
- Enrollment
- 616
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 463
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 375
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~378 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~22.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Jefferson Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Jefferson Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Coldwater Community Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Jefferson Elementary School
How many students attend Jefferson Elementary School?
Jefferson Elementary School has 378 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Coldwater, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Jefferson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Jefferson Elementary School is 22.2:1, which is 27% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 41% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Jefferson Elementary School?
63.2% of students at Jefferson Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Jefferson Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Jefferson Elementary School is White at 80.4% of enrollment, in Coldwater, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Jefferson Elementary School?
Jefferson Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 21/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Jefferson Elementary School rank among public schools in Coldwater?
By Resource Investment Index, Jefferson Elementary School ranks #4 of 7 public schools in Coldwater, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Coldwater on the city page.
Is Jefferson Elementary School a good school?
Jefferson Elementary School earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of Michigan schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Coldwater Community Schools?
Besides Jefferson Elementary School, Coldwater Community Schools also operates Coldwater High School (981 students), Legg Middle School (616 students), and Larsen Elementary School (463 students). See the Coldwater Community Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.