Enrollment
632
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Valparaiso, IN
Thomas Jefferson Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Thomas Jefferson Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 58/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 181197001890
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 58
📋 Attendance 60
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Thomas Jefferson Middle School earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median.
- #1 of 3
- middle schools in Valparaiso · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.4:1
- students per teacher
- 36.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Thomas Jefferson Middle School has class sizes near the Indiana median. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas Jefferson Middle School ranks #1 of 3 middle schools in Valparaiso, IN.
School address
District: Valparaiso Community Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 181197001890 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
44.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.4:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
-9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
36.3%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
-27% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Thomas Jefferson Middle School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Thomas Jefferson Middle School
Thomas Jefferson Middle School is a mid-sized middle school in Valparaiso, Indiana, enrolling 632 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 14.4:1 puts it in the smaller third of Indiana schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 36.3% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 632 puts it in the larger third of Indiana schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Among 486 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Indiana schools statewide, it ranks #33, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (72%) and Hispanic or Latino (17%) (diversity index 45/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 211 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
16.0% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Valparaiso's middle schools, it stands alongside Benjamin Franklin Middle School (823 students): Thomas Jefferson Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.4:1 vs 16.5:1).
Valparaiso Community Schools also operates Valparaiso High School (2,089 students) and Benjamin Franklin Middle School (823 students) alongside Thomas Jefferson Middle 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 Thomas Jefferson Middle School compares
Thomas Jefferson Middle 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 | 14.4:1 | ▼ 9% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 36.3% | ▼ 27% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 632 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.4:1
Leaner classes than 53% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
632
Bigger than 75% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
36.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 27% below the Indiana average of 49.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
14.4:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 39% in Indiana - lower ratio than 61% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
16.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$10,965
per pupil, district-wide
- below Indiana avg of $12,079
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 211 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
16
in-school suspensions + 41 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.0 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
White 71.7%
Hispanic or Latino 16.5%
African American 5.5%
Two or More 4.6%
Asian 1.7%
Largest group: White at 71.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.3, Thomas Jefferson Middle School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Valparaiso Community Schools, which includes Thomas Jefferson Middle School.
$10,965
Per student
-9%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-34%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 37.7%
State 55.6%
Federal 6.7%
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 Thomas Jefferson Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valparaiso High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Benjamin Franklin Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cooks Corners Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Heavilin Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Flint Lake Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Thomas Jefferson Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,089
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 823
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 487
- Students per teacher
- 23.2:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 479
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
- Enrollment
- 476
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Similar middle schools in Valparaiso
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~632 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Thomas Jefferson Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Thomas Jefferson Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Valparaiso Community 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 Thomas Jefferson Middle School
How many students attend Thomas Jefferson Middle School?
Thomas Jefferson Middle School has 632 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Valparaiso, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomas Jefferson Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Thomas Jefferson Middle School is 14.4:1, which is 9% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 8% 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 Thomas Jefferson Middle School?
36.3% of students at Thomas Jefferson Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Thomas Jefferson Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Thomas Jefferson Middle School is White at 71.7% of enrollment, in Valparaiso, IN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Thomas Jefferson Middle School?
Thomas Jefferson Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 58/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Thomas Jefferson Middle School rank among middle schools in Valparaiso?
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas Jefferson Middle School ranks #1 of 3 middle schools in Valparaiso, 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 Valparaiso on the city page.
Is Thomas Jefferson Middle School a good school?
Thomas Jefferson Middle School earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. 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 Valparaiso Community Schools?
Besides Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Valparaiso Community Schools also operates Valparaiso High School (2,089 students), Benjamin Franklin Middle School (823 students), and Cooks Corners Elementary School (487 students). See the Valparaiso Community 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.