Enrollment
674
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Torrance, CA
Jefferson Middle
Federal NCES profile for Jefferson Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 063942002213
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 72
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Jefferson Middle earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 85% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #7 of 8
- middle schools in Torrance · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 25.9:1
- large classes for California
- 21.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Jefferson Middle has class sizes larger than 85% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Jefferson Middle ranks #7 of 8 middle schools in Torrance, CA.
School address
District: Torrance Unified · California
NCES ID 063942002213 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
26.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
25.9:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+20% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
21.9%
vs 55.5% California avg
-61% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Jefferson Middle compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Jefferson Middle
Jefferson Middle is a mid-sized middle school in Torrance, California, enrolling 674 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 25.9:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 21.9% free-meal eligibility runs 61% below the California average.
Enrollment of 674 puts it in the larger third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 1,317 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #628.
Its student body is led by Asian (33%) and Hispanic or Latino (27%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 76/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 674 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
11.3% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Torrance Unified spends $13,194 per pupil, 20% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Torrance's middle schools, it stands alongside Madrona Middle (678 students): Jefferson Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (25.9:1 vs 25.1:1).
Torrance Unified also operates Torrance High (1,879 students) and North High (1,812 students) alongside Jefferson Middle.
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 Middle compares
Jefferson Middle on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 25.9:1 | ▲ 20% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 21.9% | ▼ 61% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 674 | top 25% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
25.9:1
Leaner classes than 4% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
674
Bigger than 79% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
21.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 61% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
25.9:1
students per teacher
- 20% above state mean
Top 85% in California - lower ratio than 15% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
11.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$13,194
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 674 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 24 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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
Asian 32.8%
Hispanic or Latino 27.3%
White 19.4%
Two or More 12.8%
African American 7.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Asian at 32.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.9, Jefferson Middle is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Torrance Unified, which includes Jefferson Middle.
$13,194
Per student
-20%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 38.0%
State 52.3%
Federal 9.8%
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 Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torrance High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| West High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| South High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Victor Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Jefferson Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,879
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,812
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,775
- Students per teacher
- 24.3:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 1,734
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 965
- Students per teacher
- 24.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar middle schools in Torrance
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Madrona Middle
Standard public school
678 students 25.1:1 students per teacher
Edward J. Richardson Middle
Standard public school
651 students 24.1:1 students per teacher
Philip Magruder Middle
Standard public school
635 students 26.5:1 students per teacher
Calle Mayor Middle
Standard public school
626 students 21.6:1 students per teacher
J. H. Hull Middle
Standard public school
621 students 22.2:1 students per teacher
Casimir Middle
Standard public school
617 students 21.3:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of California, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~674 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~25.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Jefferson Middle's federal record.
- Compare Jefferson Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Torrance Unified'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 Middle
How many students attend Jefferson Middle?
Jefferson Middle has 674 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Torrance, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Jefferson Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Jefferson Middle is 25.9:1, which is 20% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 65% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Jefferson Middle?
21.9% of students at Jefferson Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Jefferson Middle?
The largest demographic group at Jefferson Middle is Asian at 32.8% of enrollment, in Torrance, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Jefferson Middle?
Jefferson Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Jefferson Middle rank among middle schools in Torrance?
By Resource Investment Index, Jefferson Middle ranks #7 of 8 middle schools in Torrance, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Torrance on the city page.
Is Jefferson Middle a good school?
Jefferson Middle earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 85% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California 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 Torrance Unified?
Besides Jefferson Middle, Torrance Unified also operates Torrance High (1,879 students), North High (1,812 students), and West High (1,775 students). See the Torrance Unified 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.