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MissouriCapitolPhoto: RebelAt of English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
B−
Schools in Jefferson City · Jefferson City Public Schools

Jefferson City’s public schools outscore 52% of Missouri districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Jefferson City, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Missouri, not nationally.

#150of 247 Missouri townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Missouri state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
44%
▲ 1 pts vs MO 43%
2021–22
Math proficiency
36%
▼ 3 pts vs MO 39%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90%
▲ 1 pts vs MO 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.3K
▼ 9% vs MO $14.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
11.9
MO 12.8 · smaller classes
Schools in town
20
7,504 students on the public path
In brief

Jefferson City’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 571 Missouri towns with household incomes within a quarter of Jefferson City’s, its schools beat 47%, lower than their 52% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 44% and math 36% in spring 2022, against 43% and 39% statewide; 90% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 89%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,313 per student, against $14,569 across Missouri (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Eight elementary schools, then two middle and two high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Helias Catholic High School (private), St. Peter Catholic School (private), Immaculate Conception School (private), Trinity Lutheran School (private), River Oak Christian Academy (private), Lighthouse Preparatory Academy (private) and Calvary Lutheran High School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Jefferson City’s grade

B Test scoresC Graduation

B−: better than 52% of Missouri school districts, #150 of 247 Missouri towns. Graduation is above the Missouri average; test scores are below it.

Missouri school districts we grade (535)Better than 52%
Lower resultsHigher results
Missouri towns with similar household incomes (571)Better than 47%
B−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 4,402 test results and a graduating class of 708 could put Jefferson City anywhere from B− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Jefferson City’s students in the tested grades sat them (4,436 in math, 4,368 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Jefferson City, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–58 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD to B+
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC to B−
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressA− to A

Jefferson City’s public schools are run by Jefferson City Public Schools, which also serves Centertown, Holts Summit, St. Martins and Taos. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Jefferson City Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 16 schools · 8,491 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 11.9 per teacher (MO 12.8)
$13,313MO $14,569 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading44%
State average 43.2% · 4368 students tested
Math36%
State average 39.2% · 4436 students tested

Jefferson City vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Missouri towns that share Jefferson City’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Jefferson CityB−Jefferson City
TaosBBlair Oaks R-II PK–12 · Jefferson City PK–12

Every school in Jefferson City

20 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Missouri’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Jefferson Cityby address
Southwest Early Childhood CTR
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
305 students10:1Rate it →
Clarence Lawson Elem.
Elementary · Grades K–5
B+
440 students12:1Rate it →
Belair Elem.
Elementary · Grades K–5
B+
363 students12:1Rate it →
Moreau Heights Elem.
Elementary · Grades K–5
C
324 students10:1Rate it →
West Elem.
Elementary · Grades K–5
C
317 students12:1Rate it →
Cedar Hill Elem.
Elementary · Grades K–5
B−
313 students11:1Rate it →
South Elem.
Elementary · Grades K–5
C−
302 students11:1Rate it →
Thorpe J. Gordon Elem.
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
294 students10:1Rate it →
East Elem.
Elementary · Grades K–5
C
286 students10:1Rate it →
Lewis and Clark Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
C
966 students12:1Rate it →
Thomas Jefferson Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
927 students12:1Rate it →
Jefferson City High
High · Grades 9–12
A−
1,353 students13:1Rate it →
Capital City High School
High · Grades 9–12
A
1,314 students14:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Helias Catholic High School
High · Grades 9–12
Private · Catholic
680 students19:1Rate it →
St. Peter Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
489 students12:1Rate it →
Immaculate Conception School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
330 students12:1Rate it →
Trinity Lutheran School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
300 students13:1Rate it →
River Oak Christian Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
170 students12:1Rate it →
Lighthouse Preparatory Academy
Grades K–12
Private · Religious
140 students19:1Rate it →
Calvary Lutheran High School
High · Grades 9–12
Private · Religious
98 students11:1Rate it →

Left off: 6 public programs with fewer than 25 students (H Kenneth Kirchner School, Algoa Correctional Center, Mocap Elem.school, Mocap High School, Nichols Career CTR. and Prenger Family CTR.).

Questions about Jefferson City’s schools

Are Jefferson City’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Missouri: the public schools Jefferson City children attend outscore 52% of Missouri’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #150 of 247 Missouri towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 47%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Jefferson City in?

Jefferson City Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 8,491 students in 16 schools (2024–25).

Where do Jefferson City kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Jefferson City High and Capital City High School.

What is Jefferson City’s graduation rate?

90% of the class of 2023 in Jefferson City Public Schools graduated in four years, against 89% across Missouri.

How much does Jefferson City spend per student?

$13,313 in Jefferson City Public Schools (FY2024), against $14,569 across Missouri. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Jefferson City?

Yes: Helias Catholic High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 680 students), St. Peter Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 489 students), Immaculate Conception School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 330 students), Trinity Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 300 students), River Oak Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–8, 170 students), Lighthouse Preparatory Academy (religious, grades K–12, 140 students) and Calvary Lutheran High School (religious, grades 9–12, 98 students).

Parents talk

What Jefferson City families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Jefferson City → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Missouri. Stars are from neighbors.