- Enrollment
- 484
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Columbia, MS
Jefferson Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Jefferson Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 280117000151
👥 S:T ratio 53
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 35
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Jefferson Middle School earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 71% of Mississippi schools.
- #2 of 6
- public schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.8:1
- small classes for Mississippi
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Jefferson Middle School has class sizes smaller than 71% of Mississippi schools. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Jefferson Middle School ranks #2 of 6 public schools in Columbia, MS.
School address
District: Columbia School District · Mississippi
NCES ID 280117000151 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-16 students YoY
Jefferson Middle School held near 357 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-16 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 28.4 → 26.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-16 students YoY 280117000151 · Columbia, MS Middle · SMALL · TRAD
329 enr · 11.8:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Columbia High School (484 students)
Jefferson Middle School held near 357 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-16 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 28.4 → 26.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Mississippi schools → · Find another →
Jefferson Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Columbia High
Columbia High School
484 students
- Columbia Prima
Columbia Primary School
448 students
- Columbia Eleme
Columbia Elementary School
378 students
- This school
Jefferson Middle School
329 students
What this shows Jefferson Middle School reports 329 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 Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.8:1 | ▼ 11% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 24% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 329 | top 68% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.8:1
Leaner classes than 77% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
329
Bigger than 37% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% above the Mississippi average of 80.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.8:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 29% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 71% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
26.1%
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
$12,423
per pupil, district-wide
- below Mississippi avg of $13,683
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 329 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
85
in-school suspensions + 84 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 25.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 51.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 47.4%
African American 45.0%
Two or More 3.3%
Hispanic or Latino 3.0%
Asian 1.2%
Largest group: White at 47.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.1, Jefferson Middle School is more mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Columbia School District reports $12,423 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Columbia Primary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Columbia Elementary School | 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
- 448
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 378
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- 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 (~329 students)
Frequently asked questions about Jefferson Middle School
How many students attend Jefferson Middle School?
Jefferson Middle School has 329 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Columbia, MS. CCD year-over-year: 373 (2022-23) → 357 (2023-24), nearly flat (-16).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Jefferson Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Jefferson Middle School is 11.8:1, which is 11% lower than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 25% 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?
100.0% of students at Jefferson Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Jefferson Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Jefferson Middle School is White at 47.4% of enrollment, in Columbia, MS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Jefferson Middle School?
Jefferson Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (typical 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 public schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Jefferson Middle School ranks #2 of 6 public schools in Columbia, MS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Columbia on the city page.
What other schools are in Columbia School District?
Besides Jefferson Middle School, Columbia School District also operates Columbia High School (484 students), Columbia Primary School (448 students), and Columbia Elementary School (378 students). See the Columbia School District district page for the complete list.