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Jefferson Elementary School

Q: Is Jefferson Elementary School a good school?

Jefferson Elementary School ranks 98 th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

98^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 89% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Jefferson Elementary School is a PK–5 school serving 464 students in Rochester, Minnesota, part of the Rochester Public School District, and it currently ranks near the top tenth of Minnesota elementary schools — 98th of 869 in 2025–2026 (89th percentile, 4 stars), well above its district's mid-pack statewide standing (227th of 458, 50th percentile).

That standing reflects a decade-long climb: Jefferson sat near the 54th percentile through 2018, rose into the mid-80s by 2020–21, and has held at 89–90 percentiles since 2023–24 — growth that now looks like a plateau. Proficiency is strong in every subject: 69.8% in math, 65.5% in reading, and 37.8% in science, roughly 25, 17, and 12 points above state averages. Among nearby schools, only Folwell Elementary School scores higher; Jefferson posts nearly identical math and reading results to Washington Elementary School while serving a notably higher share of low-income students, and edges out Lincoln K-8 School despite a much higher poverty rate. The two closest schools, Hoover Elementary School and Riverside Central Elementary School, rank far lower (35th and 20th percentile). Grades are evenly strong — math between 67% and 72% in grades 3–5 — and Jefferson offers full PK–5 continuity, unlike Churchill Elementary School (PK–2) and Hoover (grades 3–5).

Two trends are worth watching. Science has fallen sharply across three reporting years — 61.05% to 41.67% to 37.8% — though it still beats district and state averages. Reading has drifted down about four points (69.43% to 65.5%), while math is essentially flat. Results for specific student groups, such as special education students (91st percentile, 5 stars in 2025–26 and 98th the year before), can swing widely from year to year, so single-year changes are signals to watch rather than settled verdicts. The school's free/reduced-lunch rate has fallen from 36.19% to 32.54%, and its student–teacher ratio is 13.9. Overall, this is an unusually strong school relative to its district and neighborhood, with science the clear priority.

464

Students ?

13.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,443

Per pupil spending ?

32.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1201 10th Ave NE
Rochester, MN 55906-8888

(507) 328-3500

District: Rochester Public School District

Students who attend Jefferson Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Kellogg Middle School
High:	Century High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

63.4%

African American:

12.7%

Two or more races:

9.5%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare Jefferson Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 56th percentile in 2015 → 89th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Minnesota average (63% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 11% of Minnesota elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 33 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school63%

District avg41%

Minnesota avg43%

98^th of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Top 11%▲ up 35 pts since 2016

From top 46% (2016) to top 11% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 15Elementary Schools in the Rochester Public School District

227^th of 458Rochester Public School District among Minnesota districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	84.3	98 of 869	88.7%	★★★★☆
2025	84.9	94 of 872	89.2%	★★★★☆
2024	85.4	88 of 881	90.0%	★★★★★
2022	79.0	150 of 858	82.5%	★★★★☆
2021	79.3	140 of 869	83.9%	★★★★☆
2019	67.8	299 of 870	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.8	372 of 847	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	58.6	412 of 853	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	60.1	389 of 848	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	62.0	368 of 840	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	48.7	520 of 826	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	52.1	475 of 824	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	60.5	394 of 820	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	44.4	566 of 814	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2010	68.5	258 of 803	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	61.0	185 of 434	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2008	74.0	154 of 781	80.3%	★★★★☆
2007	68.7	221 of 777	71.6%	★★★★☆
2006	74.2	145 of 756	80.8%	★★★★☆
2005	67.7	211 of 685	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2004	53.7	370 of 676	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2003	68.1	201 of 674	70.2%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	38.3	199 of 315	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	84.8	25 of 298	91.6%	★★★★★
2022	65.9	79 of 282	72.0%	★★★★☆
2019	85.1	27 of 283	90.5%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	81.4	30 of 143	79.0%	★★★★☆
2019	44.2	74 of 136	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	66.2	57 of 134	57.5%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2019	23.3	217 of 239	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	33.7	172 of 242	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	85.3	71 of 790	91.0%	★★★★★
2025	91.3	26 of 799	96.7%	★★★★★
2024	76.9	156 of 809	80.7%	★★★★☆
2022	75.9	159 of 799	80.1%	★★★★☆
2021	73.9	176 of 783	77.5%	★★★★☆
2019	70.7	220 of 787	72.0%	★★★★☆
2018	61.8	340 of 774	56.1%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2019	57.2	83 of 219	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.5	73 of 220	66.8%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	64.0	226 of 764	70.4%	★★★★☆
2025	75.5	123 of 764	83.9%	★★★★☆
2024	83.0	71 of 793	91.0%	★★★★★
2022	72.7	127 of 663	80.8%	★★★★☆
2021	68.7	177 of 683	74.1%	★★★★☆
2019	54.2	355 of 740	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.6	318 of 728	56.3%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	79.1	138 of 807	82.9%	★★★★☆
2025	73.3	209 of 812	74.3%	★★★★☆
2024	84.6	78 of 826	90.6%	★★★★★
2022	77.7	141 of 808	82.5%	★★★★☆
2021	80.3	110 of 784	86.0%	★★★★☆
2019	61.4	355 of 798	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.7	396 of 779	49.2%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2019	51.4	46 of 96	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.5	39 of 98	60.2%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	79.5	55 of 579	90.5%	★★★★★
2025	94.2	13 of 562	97.7%	★★★★★
2024	81.9	59 of 572	89.7%	★★★★☆
2022	85.2	36 of 500	92.8%	★★★★★
2021	82.8	35 of 417	91.6%	★★★★★
2019	73.3	95 of 515	81.6%	★★★★☆
2018	63.3	145 of 463	68.7%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	86.6	49 of 710	93.1%	★★★★★
2025	82.3	78 of 714	89.1%	★★★★☆
2024	85.7	47 of 730	93.6%	★★★★★
2022	76.6	121 of 725	83.3%	★★★★☆
2021	73.3	151 of 710	78.7%	★★★★☆
2019	66.2	218 of 722	69.8%	★★★★☆
2018	53.0	350 of 712	50.8%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

White (2026)93rd percentile+4 vs school

Female (2026)91st percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)91st percentile~ school

Male (2026)83rd percentile-6 vs school

Asian (2026)79th percentile-10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)70th percentile-18 vs school

Hispanic (2019)62nd percentile-4 vs school

Multi-racial (2019)52nd percentile-14 vs school

African American (2026)37th percentile-52 vs school

English Language Learner (2019)9th percentile-56 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Math70%+25 vs state

Reading66%+17 vs state

Science38%+12 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, February 26, 2021

Great school means great teachers and staffs not just the district or beautiful building.
My kids moved from Rice Lake Elementary, one of the best schools in Centennial School District to Jefferson School. I was little concerned about my kids learning... After I got to know the teachers and staffs at Jefferson School, I just love them! They work so hard to get kids to where they need to... Thank you for your hard working. I understand that kids also need support from their parents... Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, July 22, 2015

We have loved our experience at Jefferson thus far. Our son has excelled. The principal and teaching staff seem so engaged with the students and with the "Jefferson community". Close Quote

Schools Near Jefferson Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCA-IV Reading (2026)							MCA-IV Science (2026)			MCA-III Math (2026)							Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-IV Reading 3rd Grade	MCA-IV Reading 4th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 5th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 6th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 7th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 8th Grade	MCA-IV Reading All Grades	MCA-IV Science 5th Grade	MCA-IV Science 8th Grade	MCA-IV Science All Grades	MCA-III Math 3rd Grade	MCA-III Math 4th Grade	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	Total
Jefferson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1201 10th Ave NE	Rochester	55906	Olmsted County	Rochester Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 328-3500	464	0	13.9	32.5%	294 (63.4%)	59 (12.7%)	34 (7.3%)	33 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (9.5%)	84.3	98^th of 869 public elementary schools	88.7%		84.9	94^th of 872 public elementary schools	89.2%	4	60.5	71.3	65.2				65.5	37.8		37.8	72.1	70.0	67.4				69.8	$13,443
Churchill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	2240 7th Ave NE	Rochester	55906	Olmsted County	Rochester Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 328-3150	192	0	15.2	47.9%	93 (48.4%)	40 (20.8%)	24 (12.5%)	8 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (14.1%)								(n/a)																		$11,939
Hoover Elementary School	Public	3-5	369 Elton Hills Dr NW	Rochester	55901	Olmsted County	Rochester Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 328-3450	228	0	14.3	42.1%	111 (48.7%)	39 (17.1%)	43 (18.9%)	9 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.9%)	24 (10.5%)	39.6	569^th of 869 public elementary schools	34.5%		43.2	536^th of 872 public elementary schools	38.5%	33	39.0	35.1	57.0				44.2	24.1		24.1	41.4	41.6	29.1				36.9	$15,828
Early Childhood Year Round	Public	PK-K	369 Elton Hills Dr NW	Rochester	55901	Olmsted County	Rochester Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 328-3450	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)																		$4,032
Riverside Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	506 5th Ave SE	Rochester	55904	Olmsted County	Rochester Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 328-3700	509	0	10.1	59.7%	172 (33.8%)	78 (15.3%)	170 (33.4%)	24 (4.7%)	7 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (11.4%)	23.9	691^st of 869 public elementary schools	20.5%		20.8	708^th of 872 public elementary schools	18.8%	17	28.4	18.8	41.1	55.6			30.2	11.4		11.4	42.0	32.6	24.7	66.7			35.6	$17,286
Washington Elementary School	Public	K-5	1200 11th Ave NW	Rochester	55901	Olmsted County	Rochester Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 328-3800	334	0	15.5	19.8%	185 (55.4%)	21 (6.3%)	21 (6.3%)	70 (21.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (11.1%)	79.4	156^th of 869 public elementary schools	82.0%		84.6	99^th of 872 public elementary schools	88.6%	57	60.8	77.2	62.0				67.1	26.0		26.0	68.6	83.9	52.0				68.8	$12,463
Lincoln K-8 School	Public	K-8	1122 8th Ave SE	Rochester	55904	Olmsted County	Rochester Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 328-3550	506	0	17.6	17.0%	333 (65.8%)	46 (9.1%)	25 (4.9%)	55 (10.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (9.3%)	81.9	126^th of 869 public elementary schools	85.5%		74.6	212^th of 872 public elementary schools	75.7%	86	58.6	63.3	65.0	52.2	51.1	77.3	61.3	41.7	34.1	38.5	73.7	75.0	63.8	52.2	40.4	62.8	62.4	$11,594
Elton Hills Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1421 Elton Hills Dr NW	Rochester	55901	Olmsted County	Rochester Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 328-3200	308	0	13.1	57.8%	157 (51.0%)	59 (19.2%)	36 (11.7%)	17 (5.5%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (12.0%)	51.1	446^th of 869 public elementary schools	48.7%		50.5	471^st of 872 public elementary schools	46.0%	25	41.3	49.0	48.1				46.3	27.8		27.8	45.7	58.0	39.6				47.7	$12,408
MNSync Online Elementary	Public, Virtual	K-6	2130 College View Road East	Rochester	55904	Olmsted County	Rochester Public School District	No	No	Yes	No	(507) 328-4830	68	0	11.1	61.8%	25 (36.8%)	21 (30.9%)	9 (13.2%)	2 (2.9%)	1 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (14.7%)								(n/a)							23.5										26.3
Sunset Terrace Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1707 19th Ave NW	Rochester	55901	Olmsted County	Rochester Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 328-3770	437	0	12.8	55.8%	184 (42.1%)	107 (24.5%)	47 (10.8%)	44 (10.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (12.4%)	25.4	679^th of 869 public elementary schools	21.9%		37	589^th of 872 public elementary schools	32.5%	90	30.0	39.0	36.9				35.2	10.7		10.7	41.4	42.5	22.6				35.5	$12,381

Frequently Asked Questions about Jefferson Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Jefferson Elementary School?

Students at Jefferson Elementary School are 63% White, 13% African American, 9% Two or more races, 7% Hispanic, 7% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Jefferson Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Jefferson Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Kellogg Middle School
High : Century High School

How many students attend Jefferson Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 464 students attended Jefferson Elementary School.

What district is Jefferson Elementary School in?

Rochester Public School District

Is Jefferson Elementary School a good school?

Jefferson Elementary School ranks 98^th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Jefferson Elementary School!

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

2024–25 through 2025–26 MCA-III & MCA-IV test scoresNewSep 30, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCA-III test scoresAug 29, 2025

2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesMay 8, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Minnesota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.