Jefferson Schools K-12

Jefferson Schools K-12 is an alternative public school serving grades PK-12 in Monticello, Florida, with 663 students and a diverse student population, where 61.24% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

While Jefferson Schools K-12 has seen fluctuating graduation rates ranging from 66.7% to 89.7%, its chronic absenteeism rate is high, ranging from 30.9% to 53.7% over the past few years. The school consistently underperforms the state average on standardized tests, with proficiency rates ranging from 16% in 5th grade science to 68% in Biology 1, compared to the state averages of 55% and 71%, respectively. Interestingly, the nearby Turning Point alternative school, also in the Jefferson school district, has even lower test scores and higher chronic absenteeism rates than Jefferson Schools K-12, suggesting that the challenges faced by the school may be systemic issues within the district.

Despite the school's relatively high per-student spending, ranging from $15,267 to $15,623 over the past few years, the academic performance of Jefferson Schools K-12 remains significantly below the state average, raising questions about the effective allocation and utilization of resources within the school. Additionally, the school's student-teacher ratio has fluctuated, ranging from 14.1 to 20.4 over the past few years, which may contribute to the school's challenges in providing personalized attention and support to its students.