Jefferson City School District
School District · Jefferson City, Missouri
Avg Rating
7.1
out of 10
Schools
16
11 elem, 2 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
8,560
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.6:1
Avg Rating
7.1
out of 10
Schools
16
11 elem, 2 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
8,560
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.6:1
Evaluating Jefferson City?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Jefferson City as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Clarence Lawson Elem.
Jefferson City · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
South Elem.
Jefferson City · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Belair Elem.
Jefferson City · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Missouri rank
#112 of 462
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.8
above Missouri avg
Per-pupil spending
$12,522
$5 vs Missouri median
District size
8,560 students
Much larger than Missouri median
The short answer
Jefferson City ranks #112 of 462 Missouri districts by overall school rating. Jefferson City's schools with real test data average 7.2/10 across 15 schools. Its top-rated schools are Clarence Lawson Elem. (9.1/10), South Elem. (8.8/10), and Belair Elem. (8.6/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 9.1/10 despite 50% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Jefferson City schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Jefferson City
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (15 of 16). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clarence Lawson Elem. | 9.1 / 10 |
| 2 | South Elem. | 8.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Belair Elem. | 8.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Callaway Hills Elem. | 8.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Thorpe J. Gordon Elem. | 8.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Pioneer Trail Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Thomas Jefferson Middle | 7.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Cedar Hill Elem. | 7.6 / 10 |
| 9 | North Elem. | 7.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Jefferson City High | 6.8 / 10 |
See all 16 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Jefferson City
Jefferson City is a Jefferson City, Missouri school district serving 16 schools.The district educates 8,560 students with a student-teacher ratio of 11.6:1. District-level spending was $12,522 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 7.1/10, Jefferson City is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Clarence Lawson Elem., which has a composite score of 9.1/10.
In standardized testing, Jefferson City students show an average math proficiency of 42.4% and ELA proficiency of 48.6%.
The district includes 11 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Jefferson City, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Jefferson City with test data.
Schools in Jefferson City
16 schoolsElementary Schools11
Middle Schools2
High Schools2
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- Missouri
- City
- Jefferson City
- Total Enrollment
- 8,560
- Teachers (FTE)
- 735
- District spending per student
- $12,522NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 12.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Jefferson City?
Jefferson City has 16 schools in total — 11 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Jefferson City?
The average composite rating for Jefferson City is 7.1/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Jefferson City?
Jefferson City's district-level spending was $12,522 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Jefferson City?
The average student-teacher ratio in Jefferson City is 11.6:1.
What is the top-rated school in Jefferson City?
Clarence Lawson Elem. is the highest-rated school in Jefferson City with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What are the test scores in Jefferson City?
Across schools in Jefferson City with test data, the average math proficiency is 42.4% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 48.6%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Jefferson City compare to other districts in Missouri?
Jefferson City has an average school rating of 7.1/10 across 16 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Missouri by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 7.1/10
- Math Proficiency
- 42.4%
- ELA Proficiency
- 48.6%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in MO
Compare Jefferson City with neighboring districts in the state.
- St. Louis City (68)
- Springfield R-xii (57)
- Division of Youth Service (41)
- Columbia 93 (36)
- Mo Schls for the Sev Disabled (35)
- North Kansas City 74 (34)
- Kansas City 33 (33)
- Hazelwood (32)
- Independence 30 (31)
- Rockwood R-vi (31)
- Lee's Summit R-vii (29)
- Parkway C-2 (29)
- Fort Zumwalt School District (27)
- St. Joseph (25)
- Ferguson-florissant R-ii (23)
- Francis Howell R-iii (23)
- Wentzville R-iv (22)
- Blue Springs R-iv (21)
- Liberty 53 (20)
- Park Hill (20)
- Raytown C-2 (20)
- Mehlville R-ix (19)
- Fox C-6 (18)
- Joplin Schools (16)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Missouri Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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