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Main Street Commercial Historic DistrictPhoto: James Steakley · CC BY-SA 3.0
C+
Schools in Jefferson · Jefferson School District

Jefferson’s public schools score below 56% of Wisconsin districts on tests and graduation

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

#257of 362 Wisconsin townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Wisconsin state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% 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
38%
▼ 0 pts vs WI 38%
2021–22
Math proficiency
37%
▼ 2 pts vs WI 39%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▼ 0–4 pts vs WI 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.9K
▼ 3% vs WI $16.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.3
WI 13.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
6
1,468 students on the public path
In brief

Jefferson’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 38% of tested students were proficient in reading and 37% in math, against 38% and 39% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90% across Wisconsin (the state reports Jefferson’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,940 per student, against $16,459 across Wisconsin (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Jefferson Middle, then Jefferson High. Enrollment is down 10% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Johns Lutheran School (private) and St. John the Baptist Catholic 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’s grade

B− Test scoresC− Graduation

C+: better than 44% of Wisconsin school districts, #257 of 362 Wisconsin towns. Graduation is above the Wisconsin average; test scores are below it.

Wisconsin school districts we grade (441)Better than 44%
Lower resultsHigher results
Wisconsin towns with similar household incomes (1336)Better than 47%
CBA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 891 test results and a graduating class of 152 could put Jefferson anywhere from C to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Jefferson’s students in the tested grades sat them (890 in math, 892 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to B
6–8Jefferson MiddleJefferson School DistrictB−
9–12Jefferson HighJefferson School DistrictC−

Jefferson’s public schools are run by Jefferson School District, which also serves Aztalan, Farmington, Hebron and Jefferson and others. 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 School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 5 schools · 1,612 students, down 10% since 2020–21 · 12.3 per teacher (WI 13.6)
$15,940WI $16,459 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading38%
State average 38.1% · 892 students tested
Math37%
State average 38.7% · 890 students tested

Jefferson vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
JeffersonC+Jefferson
AztalanBJefferson PK–12 · Lake Mills Area PK–12

Every school in Jefferson

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

District schools in Jeffersonby address
East Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B
283 students13:1Rate it →
West Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
B−
233 students10:1Rate it →
Jefferson Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
349 students11:1Rate it →
Jefferson High
High · Grades 9–12
C−
603 students14:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Johns Lutheran School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
100 students19:1Rate it →
St. John the Baptist Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
94 students10:1Rate it →

Questions about Jefferson’s schools

Are Jefferson’s schools good?

On Wisconsin’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Jefferson children attend score below 56% of Wisconsin’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #257 of 362 Wisconsin 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 in?

Jefferson School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,612 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Jefferson kids go to high school?

Jefferson High, with 603 students; its own test results earn a C−.

What is Jefferson’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Jefferson School District graduated in four years, against 90% across Wisconsin.

How much does Jefferson spend per student?

$15,940 in Jefferson School District (FY2024), against $16,459 across Wisconsin. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Jefferson?

Yes: St. Johns Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 100 students) and St. John the Baptist Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 94 students).

Parents talk

What Jefferson families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Jefferson → 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 Wisconsin. Stars are from neighbors.