Total enrollment
8,635
+299 (+4%) vs SY 2020-21
Jefferson County
Ohio · Public K-12
Inside Jefferson County, Ohio, public K-12 schools number 24 and serve about 8,635 students out of a population of 64,518. By grade band, the county runs 13 elementary, 5 middle, and 6 high schools.
4-year change in Jefferson County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
24
+1 (+4%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Jefferson County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Ohio | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 8,635 | #41 of 88 | #898 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 24 | #36 of 88 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 16.0:1 | #35 of 88 | #2,072 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 58.5% | #18 of 78 | #1,180 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 34.8% | #28 of 88 | #1,660 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
64,518
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
24
6 districts
Enrollment
8,635
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$59,055
Below Ohio avg
Free/reduced lunch
58.5%
Above Ohio avg
Elementary
13
4,144 students
Middle
5
1,820 students
High
6
2,671 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Steubenville City
2,841 students · 6 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+
20.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
13.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.0%
civilian labor
Median age
44
19.4% under 18
Test scores in Jefferson County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 22 schools ranked. Ohio state average: 59.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Wells Academy· 99.0%
- McKinley STEM Academy· 96.2%
- Pugliese Elementary West· 95.8%
- East Garfield Elementary School· 83.2%
- Indian Creek High School· 77.2%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Buckeye Local High School· 45.5%
- Buckeye Local Junior High· 45.7%
- Cross Creek Elementary· 51.4%
- Indian Creek Middle School Grades 7 & 8· 54.4%
- Edison Jr. High School· 62.2%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harding Middle School | Steubenville | Middle | 05-08 | 793 | · |
| Steubenville High School | Steubenville | High | 09-12 | 706 | · |
| Indian Creek High School | Wintersville | High | 09-12 | 517 | · |
| Cross Creek Elementary | Wintersville | Elementary | PK-04 | 496 | · |
| Pugliese Elementary West | Steubenville | Elementary | PK-04 | 449 | · |
| Stanton Elementary School | Hammondsville | Elementary | PK-06 | 408 | · |
| Toronto Jr. / Sr. High School | Toronto | High | 06-12 | 383 | · |
| East Garfield Elementary School | Steubenville | Elementary | PK-04 | 382 | · |
| Hills Elementary School | Mingo Junction | Elementary | PK-04 | 377 | · |
| John E Gregg Elementary School | Bergholz | Elementary | PK-06 | 377 | · |
| Toronto Elementary School | Toronto | Elementary | KG-05 | 374 | · |
| Edison High School | Richmond | High | 09-12 | 368 | · |
| Buckeye Local High School | Rayland | High | 09-12 | 359 | · |
| Jefferson County | Bloomingdale | High | 11-12 | 338 | · |
| Wells Academy | Steubenville | Elementary | PK-04 | 336 | · |
| Buckeye Local Junior High | Rayland | Middle | 06-08 | 299 | · |
| Buckeye South Elementary School | Tiltonsville | Elementary | PK-05 | 282 | · |
| Indian Creek Middle School Grades 5 & 6 | Mingo Junction | Middle | 05-06 | 260 | · |
| Indian Creek Middle School Grades 7 & 8 | Mingo Junction | Middle | 07-08 | 249 | · |
| Buckeye North Elementary School | Brilliant | Elementary | PK-05 | 235 | · |
| Edison Jr. High School | Richmond | Middle | 07-08 | 219 | · |
| McKinley STEM Academy | Steubenville | Elementary | PK-04 | 175 | · |
| Buckeye West Elementary School | Adena | Elementary | PK-05 | 172 | · |
| Karaffa Elementary | Toronto | Elementary | PK-PK | 81 | · |
Cities in Jefferson County
About Jefferson County
Jefferson County is an average-sized Ohio county of about 64,518 residents, home to 24 public schools and roughly 8,635 students.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $59,055, 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 13%. That income level is 15% below the Ohio median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Jefferson County consists of 13 elementary schools (4,144 students), 5 middle schools (1,820), and 6 high schools (2,671).
Steubenville City is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 2,841 students across Jefferson County.
Looking at the last 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Jefferson County has increased 4% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 8,336 students to 8,635. Over that span, Jefferson County gained 1 school, going from 23 to 24.
On this page, the community for Jefferson County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data