Enrollment
2,042
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Lafayette, IN
Jefferson High School
Federal NCES profile for Jefferson High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 180540000968
👥 S:T ratio 42
📚 AP courses 35
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 32
📋 Attendance 23
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Jefferson High School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. It is also one of the largest schools in Indiana.
- #2 of 3
- high schools in Lafayette · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.5:1
- students per teacher
- 62.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Jefferson High School has class sizes near the Indiana median. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Jefferson High School ranks #2 of 3 high schools in Lafayette, IN.
School address
District: Lafayette School Corporation · Indiana
NCES ID 180540000968 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
141.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.5:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
-9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
62.7%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+27% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Jefferson High School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Jefferson High School
Jefferson High School is a higher-need, large high school in Lafayette, Indiana, enrolling 2,042 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 14.5:1 puts it in the smaller third of Indiana schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 62.7% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Indiana, bigger than 98% of state schools at 2,042 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Against 38 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #9.
Its student body is led by White (38%) and Hispanic or Latino (35%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 69/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 7 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 340 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 30.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 433 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 2,042 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Lafayette's high schools, it stands alongside Mccutcheon High School (1,835 students): Jefferson High School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.5:1 vs 15.8:1).
Lafayette School Corporation also operates Lafayette Sunnyside Intermediate (1,031 students) and Lafayette Tecumseh Jr High School (999 students) alongside Jefferson High 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 High School compares
Jefferson High School on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.5:1 | ▼ 9% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.7% | ▲ 27% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,042 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.5:1
Leaner classes than 52% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
2,042
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
62.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 27% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.5:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 40% in Indiana - lower ratio than 60% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
30.8%
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
$14,175
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,079
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 340 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
260
in-school suspensions + 173 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 12.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
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 38.2%
Hispanic or Latino 34.6%
African American 20.0%
Two or More 6.4%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 38.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.0, Jefferson High School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 7
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Lafayette School Corporation, which includes Jefferson High School.
$14,175
Per student
+17%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-15%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 27.3%
State 58.7%
Federal 14.0%
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 High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette Sunnyside Intermediate | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lafayette Tecumseh Jr High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Glen Acres Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Amelia Earhart Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Edgelea Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Jefferson High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,031
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 999
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 550
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 455
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 444
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar high schools in Lafayette
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Indiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~2,042 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Jefferson High School's federal record.
- Compare Jefferson High School against another school. Compare schools
- Lafayette School Corporation'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 High School
How many students attend Jefferson High School?
Jefferson High School has 2,042 students enrolled. It is a high school in Lafayette, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Jefferson High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Jefferson High School is 14.5:1, which is 9% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 8% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Jefferson High School?
62.7% of students at Jefferson High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Jefferson High School?
The largest demographic group at Jefferson High School is White at 38.2% of enrollment, in Lafayette, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Jefferson High School?
Jefferson High School has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Jefferson High School rank among high schools in Lafayette?
By Resource Investment Index, Jefferson High School ranks #2 of 3 high schools in Lafayette, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Lafayette on the city page.
Is Jefferson High School a good school?
Jefferson High School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. It is also one of the largest schools in Indiana. 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 Lafayette School Corporation?
Besides Jefferson High School, Lafayette School Corporation also operates Lafayette Sunnyside Intermediate (1,031 students), Lafayette Tecumseh Jr High School (999 students), and Glen Acres Elementary School (550 students). See the Lafayette School Corporation 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.