Jefferson School

As a modestly sized K-5 school in Miles City, Montana, Jefferson School works with 98 students from grades pre-K through 2, one of the schools within Miles City Elem. Compared to the state average of about 167 students per school, that is 41% leaner than typical.

Miles City Elem runs 5 schools in total, collectively educating 926 students. Jefferson School is one of those campuses.

Demographically, Jefferson School reports that nearly all students (97%) are White. Other groups include 3% Native American.

On the income-and-resources front, On paper, Jefferson School has 9 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 10.6:1. That figure is tighter than the state norm's 11.9:1 average. Roughly 56% of students at Jefferson School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal. That share is higher than Custer County's rate of about 40%.

In the broader community, the surrounding county (Custer County) reports that median household earnings sit near $70,605, roughly 27% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate sits near 5%. Across Custer County's 13 public schools (combined enrollment of about 1,560 students), Jefferson School is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Lincoln School, roughly 0.4 miles away. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius.

The campus sits in a small-town setting.

Looking at the recent track record. Over the past 7-year window, the student count decreased 10%: 109 students in 2018 compared to 98 in 2025.

Within the allk12 community for this school, the feed for Jefferson School typically covers school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Members of the school community can share what they know.