Total enrollment
1,683
-22 (-1%) vs SY 2020-21
Jefferson County
Nebraska · Public K-12
Of the public K-12 schools operating across Nebraska, 8 sit inside Jefferson County, collectively enrolling roughly 1,683 students (5 elementary and 3 high).
4-year change in Jefferson County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
8
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Jefferson County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Nebraska | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 58.9% | #22 of 26 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,683 | #28 of 47 | #2,377 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 8 | #30 of 47 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.0:1 | #12 of 47 | #287 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 43.9% | #16 of 47 | #1,931 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 24.4% | #29 of 44 | #1,976 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.
Jefferson County school rankings
Residents
7,161
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
8
4 districts
Enrollment
1,683
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$59,044
Below Nebraska avg
Free/reduced lunch
43.9%
Above Nebraska avg
Elementary
5
1,019 students
Middle
0
schools
High
3
664 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
FAIRBURY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
906 students · 4 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+
20.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.2%
civilian labor
Median age
44
22.7% under 18
Test scores in Jefferson County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 7 schools ranked. Nebraska state average: 57.6%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- TRI COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 68.2%
- TRI COUNTY JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL· 66.2%
- MERIDIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 61.5%
- DILLER-ODELL ELEM SCHOOL· 61.3%
- MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL· 61.3%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- JEFFERSON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL· 44.8%
- FAIRBURY JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL· 52.2%
- DILLER-ODELL ELEM SCHOOL· 61.3%
- MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL· 61.3%
- MERIDIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 61.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAIRBURY JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL | Fairbury | High | 07-12 | 370 | · |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Fairbury | Elementary | PK-02 | 277 | · |
| JEFFERSON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | Fairbury | Elementary | 03-06 | 259 | · |
| TRI COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Dewitt | Elementary | PK-06 | 232 | · |
| TRI COUNTY JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL | Dewitt | High | 07-12 | 189 | · |
| DILLER-ODELL ELEM SCHOOL | Diller | Elementary | PK-06 | 137 | · |
| MERIDIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Daykin | Elementary | PK-06 | 114 | · |
| MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL | Daykin | High | 07-12 | 105 | · |
Cities in Jefferson County
About Jefferson County
Jefferson County is a compact county of about 7,161 residents in Nebraska. Its public-school system instructs approximately 1,683 students across 8 schools.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show median household income runs near $59,044, 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 14% meaningfully below the Nebraska median.
On the school-mix side, Jefferson County is made up of 5 elementary schools (1,019 students), and 3 high schools (664).
FAIRBURY PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 906 students across Jefferson County.
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 1,705 students to 1,683.
On allk12, 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