Summary
Jefferson Junior High School in Toledo, OH, is a grade 8 only middle school in the Washington Local district with 496 students, located in a Toledo-area community that includes nearby suburban districts. It ranked 636th of 1,046 Ohio middle schools in 2025–2026 (39th percentile, 2 stars), a slight improvement from 35th percentile in 2023–2024 but far below its 2008–2009 peak of 72nd percentile, while Washington Local itself ranked 571st of 773 Ohio districts (26th percentile, 1 star).
The biggest red flag is chronic absenteeism: 33.2% in 2025–2026, higher than the district’s 21.3% and higher than every nearby middle school, including Washington Junior High School (24.4%), Lake Middle School (20.0%), Perrysburg Junior High School (9.2%), Maumee Middle School (18.1%), Springfield Middle School (25.0%), Fassett Junior High School (22.4%), Sylvania Timberstone Junior High School (14.2%), Rossford Junior High School (16.9%), Sylvania Mccord Junior High School (9.6%), and Sylvania Arbor Hills Junior High School (23.2%). Core 8th grade proficiency also trails the state: science 55.3% vs 61.2%, math 33.2% vs 52%, and ELA 56.4% vs 58.3%. Jefferson’s 63.1% free/reduced lunch rate and 19.8 student–teacher ratio are higher than most peers, while spending was $7,685. Its core scores almost exactly mirror the district’s, so Jefferson is not an outlier within Washington Local.
The standout strength is advanced math: Algebra I and Geometry end-of-course tests both showed 100% proficiency in 2025–2026, far above the district and state. Because overall 8th grade math is only 33.2%, those results likely reflect a smaller advanced cohort, not all students. Subgroup results are mixed: special education and gifted students rank lower, while low-income students are near the school average. Compared with Washington Junior High School, which serves grade 7 nearby, Jefferson has a similar rank and slightly higher ELA, but much higher absenteeism. Overall, Jefferson offers a strong advanced math pathway, yet attendance, grade-level math and science, and special education support are the most important areas to watch.
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