Enrollment
272
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Ionia, MI
Jefferson School
Federal NCES profile for Jefferson School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 17/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 261925005602
👥 S:T ratio 22
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Jefferson School earns 17/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of Michigan schools.
- #4 of 5
- schools in Ionia · Resource Index
- 17
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.4:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 67.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Jefferson School has class sizes larger than 75% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Jefferson School ranks #4 of 5 schools in Ionia, MI.
School address
District: Ionia Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261925005602 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
14.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.4:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
+11% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
67.0%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+23% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Jefferson School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Jefferson School
Jefferson School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Ionia, Michigan, enrolling 272 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 19.4:1 puts it in the larger third of Michigan schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 67.0% of students eligible for free meals.
With 272 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 465 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Michigan schools statewide, it ranks #426, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (76%) and Hispanic or Latino (19%) (diversity index 39/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 52.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Ionia Public Schools also operates Ionia High School (774 students) and Ionia Middle School (629 students) alongside Jefferson 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 School compares
Jefferson 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 | 19.4:1 | ▲ 11% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 67.0% | ▲ 23% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 272 | top 64% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.4:1
Leaner classes than 18% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
272
Bigger than 28% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
67.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% 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
19.4:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 75% in Michigan - lower ratio than 25% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
52.6%
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
$11,191
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
0
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.4 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 75.7%
Hispanic or Latino 18.8%
Two or More 4.8%
African American 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 75.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 38.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 38.9, Jefferson School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Ionia Public Schools, which includes Jefferson School.
$11,191
Per student
-17%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-33%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 20.1%
State 65.0%
Federal 14.9%
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 School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ionia High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ionia Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Aa Rather School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Rb Boyce Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Twin Rivers Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Jefferson School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 774
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 629
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 308
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 254
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 183
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar other 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 (~272 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Jefferson School's federal record.
- Compare Jefferson School against another school. Compare schools
- Ionia Public 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 School
How many students attend Jefferson School?
Jefferson School has 272 students enrolled. It is a public school in Ionia, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Jefferson School?
The student-teacher ratio at Jefferson School is 19.4:1, which is 11% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 24% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Jefferson School?
67.0% of students at Jefferson School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Jefferson School?
The largest demographic group at Jefferson School is White at 75.7% of enrollment, in Ionia, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Jefferson School?
Jefferson School has a Resource Investment Index of 17/100 (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 School rank among schools in Ionia?
By Resource Investment Index, Jefferson School ranks #4 of 5 schools in Ionia, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Ionia on the city page.
Is Jefferson School a good school?
Jefferson School earns 17/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% 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 Ionia Public Schools?
Besides Jefferson School, Ionia Public Schools also operates Ionia High School (774 students), Ionia Middle School (629 students), and Aa Rather School (308 students). See the Ionia Public 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.