Total enrollment
1,974
-361 (-15%) vs SY 2017-18
Jefferson County
Iowa · Public K-12
Of the 6 public K-12 schools in Jefferson County, the largest district by enrollment is Fairfield Comm School District (1,408 students). Total county enrollment runs around 1,974. By level, that breaks down as 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
7-year change in Jefferson County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
6
-1 (-14%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
83%
was 89%
% Hispanic
7%
was 5%
% Black
2%
was 2%
% Asian
3%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
6
2 districts
Enrollment
1,974
NCES CCD
Median income
$61,620
Below Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
44.7%
Above Iowa avg
Elementary
3
864 students
Middle
1
410 students
High
2
700 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Fairfield Comm School District
1,408 students · 2 districts in Jefferson County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Jefferson County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
43.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
8.0%
civilian labor
Median age
44
17.1% under 18
Test scores in Jefferson County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Fairfield High School· 83.4%
- Pekin Community Junior/ Senior High School· 79.5%
- Fairfield Middle School· 78.1%
- Pekin Elementary School· 73.2%
- Pence Elementary· 67.7%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield High School | Fairfield | High | 09-12 | 442 | · |
| Fairfield Middle School | Fairfield | Middle | 05-08 | 410 | · |
| Pence Elementary | Fairfield | Elementary | 02-04 | 317 | · |
| Pekin Elementary School | Packwood | Elementary | PK-06 | 308 | · |
| Pekin Community Junior/ Senior High School | Packwood | High | 07-12 | 258 | · |
| Washington Elementary | Fairfield | Elementary | PK-01 | 239 | · |
Cities in Jefferson County
About Jefferson County
In Iowa, Jefferson County is a sparse county of about 15,705 residents. 6 public schools across the county serves about 1,974 students between them.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show median household income runs near $61,620, roughly 43% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 6%. That income level is 14% meaningfully below the Iowa median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Jefferson County is built around 3 elementary schools (864 students), 1 middle school (410), and 2 high schools (700).
Fairfield Comm School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,408 students on its own.
Over the past 7-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Jefferson County has fell 15% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 2,335 students to 1,974. The school count fell from 7 to 6 across the same 7-year window. The White share of public-school enrollment fell from 89% to 83%.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Jefferson County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data