Enrollment
591
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · South Bend, IN
Jefferson Traditional School
Federal NCES profile for Jefferson Traditional School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 181029001682
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Jefferson Traditional School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #6 of 7
- middle schools in South Bend · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.6:1
- students per teacher
- 57.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Jefferson Traditional School has class sizes near the Indiana median. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Jefferson Traditional School ranks #6 of 7 middle schools in South Bend, IN.
School address
District: South Bend Community School Corp · Indiana
NCES ID 181029001682 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
38.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.6:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
-2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
57.4%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+16% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Jefferson Traditional School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Jefferson Traditional School
Jefferson Traditional School is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in South Bend, Indiana, enrolling 591 students.
At 15.6:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Indiana median, within a few percentage points of the 15.9:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 57.4% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 591 puts it in the larger third of Indiana schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Among 458 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Indiana schools statewide, it ranks #354, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (42%) and White (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 71/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 39.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding South Bend Community School Corp spends $16,803 per pupil, 39% above the Indiana average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 16.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 144 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 591 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 South Bend's middle schools, it stands alongside Edison Middle School (551 students): Jefferson Traditional School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.6:1 vs 13.4:1).
South Bend Community School Corp also operates Adams High School (1,966 students) and Riley High School (1,238 students) alongside Jefferson Traditional 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 Traditional School compares
Jefferson Traditional 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 | 15.6:1 | ▼ 2% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 57.4% | ▲ 16% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 591 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.6:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
591
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
57.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% 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
15.6:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 54% in Indiana - lower ratio than 46% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
39.9%
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
$16,803
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,079
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
23
in-school suspensions + 121 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 24.4 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
African American 42.0%
White 26.4%
Hispanic or Latino 17.6%
Two or More 13.2%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 42.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.5, Jefferson Traditional School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for South Bend Community School Corp, which includes Jefferson Traditional School.
$16,803
Per student
+39%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
+1%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.2%
State 54.6%
Federal 16.3%
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 Traditional School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Riley High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Washington High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Clay High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Harrison Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Jefferson Traditional School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,966
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,238
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 795
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 628
- Students per teacher
- 9.5:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 555
- Students per teacher
- 10.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar middle schools in South Bend
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Edison Middle School
Standard public school
551 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Jackson Middle School
Standard public school
537 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Lasalle Academy
Standard public school
461 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Career Academy Middle School
Standard public school
414 students 9.4:1 students per teacher
Navarre Middle School
Standard public school
378 students 7.9:1 students per teacher
Dickinson Fine Arts Academy
Standard public school
309 students 10.7:1 students per teacher
Similar middle 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 (~591 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Jefferson Traditional School's federal record.
- Compare Jefferson Traditional School against another school. Compare schools
- South Bend Community School Corp'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 Traditional School
How many students attend Jefferson Traditional School?
Jefferson Traditional School has 591 students enrolled. It is a middle school in South Bend, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Jefferson Traditional School?
The student-teacher ratio at Jefferson Traditional School is 15.6:1, which is 2% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 1% 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 Traditional School?
57.4% of students at Jefferson Traditional School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Jefferson Traditional School?
The largest demographic group at Jefferson Traditional School is African American at 42.0% of enrollment, in South Bend, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Jefferson Traditional School?
Jefferson Traditional School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical 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 Traditional School rank among middle schools in South Bend?
By Resource Investment Index, Jefferson Traditional School ranks #6 of 7 middle schools in South Bend, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in South Bend on the city page.
Is Jefferson Traditional School a good school?
Jefferson Traditional School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana 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 South Bend Community School Corp?
Besides Jefferson Traditional School, South Bend Community School Corp also operates Adams High School (1,966 students), Riley High School (1,238 students), and Washington High School (795 students). See the South Bend Community School Corp 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.