- Enrollment
- 1,348
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Elizabeth, NJ
Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy
Federal NCES profile for Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 340459003049
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 54
📋 Attendance 45
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of New Jersey schools.
- #3 of 8
- high schools in Elizabeth · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.3:1
- large classes for New Jersey
- 66.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy has class sizes larger than 79% of New Jersey schools. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy ranks #3 of 8 high schools in Elizabeth, NJ.
School address
District: Elizabeth Public Schools · New Jersey
NCES ID 340459003049 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+86 students YoY
Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy grew from 1,070 students in 2022-23 to 1,156 in 2023-24 (+8.0%).
Teacher FTE held 86.0 → 86.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+86 students YoY 340459003049 · Elizabeth, NJ High · MID · TRAD
1,144 enr · 13.3:1 · 66.8% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: John E. Dwyer Technology Academy (1,348 students)
Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy grew from 1,070 students in 2022-23 to 1,156 in 2023-24 (+8.0%). Teacher FTE held 86.0 → 86.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Jersey schools → · Find another →
Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- John E. Dwyer
John E. Dwyer Technology Academy
1,348 students
- Admiral Willia
Admiral William F. Halsey Jr. Health & Public Safety Academy
1,272 students
- Elizabeth High
Elizabeth High School - Frank J Cicarell Academy
1,268 students
- This school
Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy
1,144 students
- William F. Hal
William F. Halloran School No.22
1,140 students
- Terence C. Rei
Terence C. Reilly School No 7
1,130 students
What this shows Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy reports 1,144 students on the CCD universe file.
How Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy compares
Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs New Jersey and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Jersey | New Jersey avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.3:1 | ▲ 13% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 66.8% | ▲ 126% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,144 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,144
Bigger than 93% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
66.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 126% above the New Jersey average of 29.6%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 79% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 21% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
22.0%
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
$24,903
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Jersey avg of $26,225
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 229 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 170 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 10 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 75.7%
African American 16.6%
White 7.0%
Asian 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Two or More 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 75.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 39.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 39.4, Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy is less mixed than the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 10
District finance for Elizabeth Public Schools reports $24,903 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| John E. Dwyer Technology Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Admiral William F. Halsey Jr. Health & Public Safety Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Elizabeth High School - Frank J Cicarell Academy | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| William F. Halloran School No.22 | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Terence C. Reilly School No 7 | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,272
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,268
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 1,140
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,130
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Similar high schools in Elizabeth
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
John E. Dwyer Technology Academy
Standard public school
1,348 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Admiral William F. Halsey Jr. Health & Public Safety Academy
Standard public school
1,272 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy
Standard public school
1,015 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Thomas a. Edison Career and Technical Academy
Standard public school
842 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
K. Johnson D. Vaughan and M. Jackson Stem Academy
Standard public school
740 students 25.5:1 students per teacher
J. Christian Bollwage Finance Academy
Standard public school
415 students
Nationwide high 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 (~1,144 students)
Frequently asked questions about Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy
How many students attend Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy?
Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy has 1,144 students enrolled. It is a high school in Elizabeth, NJ. CCD year-over-year: 1,070 (2022-23) → 1,156 (2023-24), up 86.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy is 13.3:1, which is 13% higher than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 15% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy?
66.8% of students at Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy?
The largest demographic group at Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 75.7% of enrollment, in Elizabeth, NJ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy?
Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (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 Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy rank among high schools in Elizabeth?
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy ranks #3 of 8 high schools in Elizabeth, NJ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Elizabeth on the city page.
What other schools are in Elizabeth Public Schools?
Besides Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy, Elizabeth Public Schools also operates John E. Dwyer Technology Academy (1,348 students), Admiral William F. Halsey Jr. Health & Public Safety Academy (1,272 students), and Elizabeth High School - Frank J Cicarell Academy (1,268 students). See the Elizabeth Public Schools district page for the complete list.