- Enrollment
- 2,007
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Columbia, MO
Jefferson Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Jefferson Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 290100000304
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 41
📋 Attendance 47
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Jefferson Middle School earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Missouri median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Missouri schools.
- #2 of 7
- middle schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.9:1
- students per teacher
- 27.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Jefferson Middle School has class sizes near the Missouri median. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Jefferson Middle School ranks #2 of 7 middle schools in Columbia, MO.
School address
District: Columbia 93 · Missouri
NCES ID 290100000304 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-4 students YoY
Jefferson Middle School held near 621 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 50.1 → 48.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-4 students YoY 290100000304 · Columbia, MO Middle · MID · TRAD
593 enr · 11.9:1 · 27.4% lunch · RII 53
Nearest enrollment peer: David H. Hickman High (2,007 students)
Jefferson Middle School held near 621 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 50.1 → 48.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Missouri schools → · Find another →
Jefferson Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- David H. Hickm
David H. Hickman High
2,007 students
- Rock Bridge Sr
Rock Bridge Sr. High
1,997 students
- Muriel W. Batt
Muriel W. Battle High School
1,492 students
- Ann Hawkins Ge 736
Ann Hawkins Gentry Middle
736 students
- Beulah Ralph E 656
Beulah Ralph Elementary
656 students
- This school 593
Jefferson Middle School
593 students
What this shows Jefferson Middle School reports 593 students on the CCD universe file.
How Jefferson Middle School compares
Jefferson Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Missouri and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Missouri | Missouri avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.9:1 | ▼ 7% | 12.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 27.4% | ▼ 41% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 593 | top 15% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.9:1
Leaner classes than 76% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
593
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
27.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% below the Missouri average of 46.1%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
11.9:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 39% in Missouri - lower ratio than 61% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
21.1%
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
$13,936
per pupil, district-wide
- below Missouri avg of $14,087
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 297 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
105
in-school suspensions + 43 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 17.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 25.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 61.0%
African American 18.4%
Two or More 11.5%
Hispanic or Latino 6.1%
Asian 3.0%
Largest group: White at 61.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.6, Jefferson Middle School is more mixed than the Missouri school average of 31.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Columbia 93 reports $13,936 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Jefferson Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| David H. Hickman High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rock Bridge Sr. High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Muriel W. Battle High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ann Hawkins Gentry Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Beulah Ralph Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Jefferson Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,997
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 1,492
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 736
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 656
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~593 students)
Frequently asked questions about Jefferson Middle School
How many students attend Jefferson Middle School?
Jefferson Middle School has 593 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Columbia, MO. CCD year-over-year: 625 (2022-23) → 621 (2023-24), nearly flat (-4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Jefferson Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Jefferson Middle School is 11.9:1, which is 7% lower than the Missouri average of 12.8:1 and 24% 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 Middle School?
27.4% of students at Jefferson Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Jefferson Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Jefferson Middle School is White at 61.0% of enrollment, in Columbia, MO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Jefferson Middle School?
Jefferson Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Jefferson Middle School rank among middle schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Jefferson Middle School ranks #2 of 7 middle schools in Columbia, MO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Columbia on the city page.
What other schools are in Columbia 93?
Besides Jefferson Middle School, Columbia 93 also operates David H. Hickman High (2,007 students), Rock Bridge Sr. High (1,997 students), and Muriel W. Battle High School (1,492 students). See the Columbia 93 district page for the complete list.