Public schools in Jefferson, LA
5 open public schools with an address in Jefferson, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
5
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,830
5 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.7:1
Louisiana median 13.3:1
Charter schools
2
1 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Jefferson public schools
The federal directory lists 5 public schools in Jefferson, LA: 2 elementary, 3 high. The 5 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,830 students, an average of 566 per school. The largest campus is Riverdale High School (1,259 students), and the largest elementary school is Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy (731).
Jefferson Parish operates the most schools here (4), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 12.7:1, similar to the statewide school median of 13.3:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 2 charter schools, 1 magnet school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 0 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 62% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Jefferson
Elementary schools in Jefferson
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy Jefferson Parish · Charter | PK–08 | 731 | 12.7:1 | |
| Jefferson School Jefferson Parish | PK–08 | 619 | 13.6:1 |
High schools in Jefferson
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JCFA-East JCFA-East · Charter · Alternative School | 09–12 | 154 | 10.3:1 | |
| Jefferson Virtual High School Jefferson Parish | 09–12 | 67 | 4:1 | |
| Riverdale High School Jefferson Parish · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,259 | 17.9:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White30.8%
- Hispanic36%
- Black25.8%
- Asian3.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial3.3%
Enrollment-weighted across 5 Jefferson schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,830 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Jefferson
How many public schools are in Jefferson, LA?
The current NCES directory lists 5 open public schools with a location address in Jefferson: 2 elementary, 3 high. Together they reported 2,830 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Jefferson?
Schools with an address in Jefferson belong to 2 education agencies, led by Jefferson Parish (4 schools), JCFA-East (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Jefferson?
Riverdale High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Jefferson, with 1,259 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Jefferson?
Yes. 2 of the 5 public schools in Jefferson are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy, JCFA-East. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Jefferson schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Jefferson public schools is 12.7:1, similar to the Louisiana school median of 13.3:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Jefferson guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Louisiana cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Louisiana cities