Enrollment
1,587
Mississippi · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Laurel, MS
West Jones High School
Federal NCES profile for West Jones High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 280228000451
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 37
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Jones High School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of Mississippi schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Mississippi.
- #6 of 6
- schools in Laurel · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15:1
- large classes for Mississippi
- 64.8%
- free-lunch eligible
West Jones High School has class sizes larger than 79% of Mississippi schools. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Jones High School ranks #6 of 6 schools in Laurel, MS.
School address
District: Jones Co School Dist · Mississippi
NCES ID 280228000451 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
106.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15:1
vs 13.3:1 Mississippi avg
+13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
64.8%
vs 80.5% Mississippi avg
-20% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Jones High School compares with Mississippi and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Jones High School
West Jones High School is a higher-need, large combined-grade school in Laurel, Mississippi, enrolling 1,587 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15:1 puts it in the larger third of Mississippi schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 64.8% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Mississippi, bigger than 99% of state schools at 1,587 students.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 92% of the 877 Mississippi schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 41 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Mississippi schools statewide, it ranks #32, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (50%) and Hispanic or Latino (24%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 64/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 529 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 25.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Jones Co School Dist spends $8,887 per pupil, 26% below the Mississippi average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 19.7% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 475 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,587 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 10 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Laurel's public schools, it stands alongside West Jones Elementary School (1,114 students): West Jones High School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15:1 vs 14.7:1).
Jones Co School Dist also operates South Jones High School (1,300 students) and South Jones Elementary School (1,129 students) alongside West Jones High 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 West Jones High School compares
West Jones High School on the metrics families compare, against Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15:1 | ▲ 13% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 64.8% | ▼ 20% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,587 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15:1
Leaner classes than 47% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,587
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
64.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 20% below the Mississippi average of 80.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 79% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 21% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
25.2%
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
$8,887
per pupil, district-wide
- below Mississippi avg of $11,990
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 529 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
364
in-school suspensions + 111 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 22.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 29.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 10 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 49.9%
Hispanic or Latino 23.7%
African American 23.1%
Two or More 2.5%
Asian 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 49.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.1, West Jones High School is more mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 6
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Jones Co School Dist, which includes West Jones High School.
$8,887
Per student
-26%
vs Mississippi
Avg $11,990
-46%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 28.7%
State 51.6%
Federal 19.7%
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 West Jones High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Jones High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South Jones Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Jones Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northeast Jones High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North Jones Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Jones High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,300
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,129
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,114
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 938
- Students per teacher
- 11.2:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 854
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar other schools in Laurel
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
West Jones Elementary School
Standard public school
1,114 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Northeast Jones High School
Standard public school
938 students 11.2:1 students per teacher
North Jones Elementary School
Standard public school
854 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
East Jones Elementary School
Standard public school
794 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Glade Elementary School
Standard public school
423 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Mississippi, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,587 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Jones High School's federal record.
- Compare West Jones High School against another school. Compare schools
- Jones Co School Dist'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 West Jones High School
How many students attend West Jones High School?
West Jones High School has 1,587 students enrolled. It is a public school in Laurel, MS.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Jones High School?
The student-teacher ratio at West Jones High School is 15:1, which is 13% higher than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 4% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at West Jones High School?
64.8% of students at West Jones High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Jones High School?
The largest demographic group at West Jones High School is White at 49.9% of enrollment, in Laurel, MS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Jones High School?
West Jones High School has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does West Jones High School rank among schools in Laurel?
By Resource Investment Index, West Jones High School ranks #6 of 6 schools in Laurel, MS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Laurel on the city page.
Is West Jones High School a good school?
West Jones High School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of Mississippi schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Mississippi. 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 Jones Co School Dist?
Besides West Jones High School, Jones Co School Dist also operates South Jones High School (1,300 students), South Jones Elementary School (1,129 students), and West Jones Elementary School (1,114 students). See the Jones Co School Dist 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.