Total enrollment
1,083
-6 (-1%) vs SY 2020-21
Jefferson County
Mississippi · Public K-12
Jefferson County's 7 public schools sit inside Mississippi and collectively enroll about 1,083 K-12 students across 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high.
4-year change in Jefferson County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
3
-1 (-25%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Jefferson County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Mississippi | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 39.4% | #66 of 73 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,083 | #73 of 73 | #2,697 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 3 | #72 of 73 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.4:1 | #29 of 73 | #1,082 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 99.7% | #12 of 73 | #56 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 30.0% | #61 of 70 | #1,810 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Residents
7,068
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
7
2 districts
Enrollment
1,083
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$38,305
Below Mississippi avg
Free/reduced lunch
99.7%
Above Mississippi avg
Elementary
1
512 students
Middle
1
240 students
High
2
331 students
Combined / other
3
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Jefferson County School District
1,083 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+
13.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
33.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.8%
civilian labor
Median age
43
20.6% under 18
Test scores in Jefferson County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. Mississippi state average: 46.0%.
Top 3 schools (ELA)
- Jefferson County Elementary· 47.6%
- Jefferson County High· 32.4%
- Jefferson County Middle School· 18.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County Elementary | Fayette | Elementary | PK-05 | 512 | · |
| Jefferson County High | Fayette | High | 09-12 | 331 | · |
| Jefferson County Middle School | Fayette | Middle | 06-08 | 240 | · |
| FAYETTE VOC CENTER | Fayette | High | 07-12 | 0 | · |
| JEFFERSON COUNTY ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL | Fayette | Combined | 01-12 | 0 | · |
| JEFFERSON CO JR HI | Fayette | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| JEFFERSON COUNTY UPPER ELEMENTARY | Fayette | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Jefferson County
About Jefferson County
Across the sparse Mississippi county of Jefferson County of about 7,068 residents, the public-school footprint covers 7 schools and about 1,083 students.
For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $38,305 a year, about 13% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 33%. That income level is 23% below the Mississippi median.
For a sense of the school types, Jefferson County consists of 1 elementary school (512 students), 1 middle school (240), 2 high schools (331), and 3 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Jefferson County is Jefferson County School District, which alone enrolls about 1,083 students.
Trend over the past 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Jefferson County has remained close to its prior level since SY 2020-21, moving from about 1,089 students to 1,083. The school count fell from 4 to 3 across the same 4-year window.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Jefferson County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data