Public schools in Jefferson City, MO
24 open public schools with an address in Jefferson City, operated by 5 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
24
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
9,079
24 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
11.7:1
Missouri median 12.3:1
Charter schools
0
2 virtual
An overview of Jefferson City public schools
The federal directory lists 24 public schools in Jefferson City, MO: 12 elementary, 3 middle, 7 high, 2 combined or other. The 24 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 9,079 students, an average of 378 per school. The largest campus is Jefferson City High (1,353 students), and the largest elementary school is Clarence Lawson Elem. (440).
Jefferson City operates the most schools here (16), and 2 regular districts have at least one Jefferson City campus, plus 3 charter, service, or other agencies. 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 11.7:1, similar to the statewide school median of 12.3:1. 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 virtual schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 3 of 5 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 50% 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 City
Jefferson City
Public school district
16 schools in Jefferson City · 18 total
Blair Oaks R-II
Public school district
4 schools in Jefferson City
Mo Virtual Instruction Program
State operated agency
2 schools in Jefferson City
Department of Corrections
State operated agency
1 school in Jefferson City · 19 total
Mo Schls for the Sev Disabled
State operated agency
1 school in Jefferson City · 35 total
Elementary schools in Jefferson City
12| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belair Elem. Jefferson City | KG–05 | 363 | 11.9:1 | |
| Blair Oaks Elem. Blair Oaks R-II | PK–02 | 224 | 12.6:1 | |
| Blair Oaks Intermediate Blair Oaks R-II | 03–05 | 228 | 12.3:1 | |
| Cedar Hill Elem. Jefferson City | KG–05 | 313 | 11.1:1 | |
| Clarence Lawson Elem. Jefferson City | KG–05 | 440 | 12.2:1 | |
| East Elem. Jefferson City | KG–05 | 286 | 9.5:1 | |
| Mocap Elem.school Mo Virtual Instruction Program · Virtual · Alternative School | KG–05 | 0 | — | |
| Moreau Heights Elem. Jefferson City | KG–05 | 324 | 10:1 | |
| Pioneer Trail Elementary Jefferson City | KG–05 | 396 | 11.3:1 | |
| South Elem. Jefferson City | KG–05 | 302 | 11.3:1 | |
| Thorpe J. Gordon Elem. Jefferson City | KG–05 | 294 | 10.5:1 | |
| West Elem. Jefferson City | KG–05 | 317 | 11.8:1 |
Middle schools in Jefferson City
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blair Oaks Middle School Blair Oaks R-II | 06–08 | 290 | 15.7:1 | |
| Lewis and Clark Middle Jefferson City | 06–08 | 966 | 11.6:1 | |
| Thomas Jefferson Middle Jefferson City | 06–08 | 927 | 11.9:1 |
High schools in Jefferson City
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algoa Correctional Center Department of Corrections · Alternative School | 07–12 | 0 | — | |
| Blair Oaks High Blair Oaks R-II | 09–12 | 421 | 15.8:1 | |
| Capital City High School Jefferson City | 09–12 | 1,314 | 13.6:1 | |
| Jefferson City High Jefferson City | 09–12 | 1,353 | 13.2:1 | |
| Mocap High School Mo Virtual Instruction Program · Virtual · Alternative School | 06–12 | 0 | — | |
| Nichols Career Ctr. Jefferson City · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| Prenger Family Ctr. Jefferson City · Alternative School | 09–12 | 0 | — |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Jefferson City
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H Kenneth Kirchner School Mo Schls for the Sev Disabled · Special Education School | KG–12 | 16 | 3.2:1 | |
| Jc Early Childhood Ctr. Jefferson City | PK–PK | 305 | 10:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White63%
- Hispanic7.3%
- Black17.9%
- Asian1.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial9.6%
Enrollment-weighted across 19 Jefferson City schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (9,079 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Jefferson City
How many public schools are in Jefferson City, MO?
The current NCES directory lists 24 open public schools with a location address in Jefferson City: 12 elementary, 3 middle, 7 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 9,079 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Jefferson City?
Schools with an address in Jefferson City belong to 5 education agencies, led by Jefferson City (16 schools), Blair Oaks R-II (4 schools), Mo Virtual Instruction Program (2 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Jefferson City?
Jefferson City High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Jefferson City, with 1,353 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Jefferson City?
No school with an address in Jefferson City is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Missouri.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Jefferson City schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Jefferson City public schools is 11.7:1, similar to the Missouri school median of 12.3:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Jefferson City 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 Missouri 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 Missouri cities