Jefferson High School

Q: Is Jefferson High School a good school?

Jefferson High School ranks 522 nd of 807 Florida high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Jefferson High School is a public high school located in Tampa, Florida, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,322 students. The school is part of the Hillsborough School District, which is ranked 45 out of 68 districts in Florida and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Jefferson High School faces significant challenges compared to nearby schools. The school has a significantly higher percentage of Hispanic (58.4%) and African American (29.35%) students, and an extremely high chronic absenteeism rate of 52% in the 2020-2021 school year. Academically, Jefferson High School consistently underperforms the Hillsborough district and the state of Florida in standardized test scores across various subjects, with only 18% of students proficient or better in Algebra 1 in the 2023-2024 school year, compared to 56% in the Hillsborough district and 55% statewide. The school's four-year graduation rate has fluctuated between 85.5% and 92.9% over the past few years, which is generally lower than surrounding schools like Robinson High School (86.7%) and Plant High School (87.1%).

The high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at Jefferson High School, reaching 81.5% in the 2020-2021 school year, suggests that the school serves a predominantly low-income and minority student population, which may contribute to the academic challenges it faces. While some nearby schools, such as Plant High School, perform significantly better than Jefferson High School, other schools in the Hillsborough district, like Leto High School, also struggle with similar challenges, indicating that the issues facing Jefferson High School may be systemic within the district.

Detail:

Public, Magnet 9-12

4401 W Cypress St
Tampa, FL 33607

(813) 872-5241

District: Hillsborough

SchoolDigger Rank:
522^nd of 807 Florida High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,215

Feeder schools for Jefferson High School:

Elementary:	Dickenson Elementary School
	Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary School
	West Tampa Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 20.3

Number of students: 1,322

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

58.4%

African American:

29.3%

White:

8.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 66.3%

See top rated Florida high schools

Compare Jefferson High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Jefferson High School ranks worse than 64.7% of high schools in Florida. It also ranks 29^th among 42 ranked high schools in the Hillsborough School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 31.81. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Jefferson High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (58.4%), African American (29.3%), White (8.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 66.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Jefferson High School is 20.3, which is the 17^th best among 42 high schools in the Hillsborough School District. (See more...)

Compare Jefferson High School employs 65 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Jefferson High School is $9,215, which is the 12^th highest among 42 high schools in the Hillsborough School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Jefferson High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Jefferson High School 522^nd of 807 Florida public high schools. (See Jefferson High School in the ranking list.)

Hillsborough:

SchoolDigger ranks Hillsborough 45^th of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

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Rank History for Jefferson High School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	FL State Percentile
2004	49.39	269^th	484	44.4%
2005	51.81	251^st	487	48.5%
2006	54.43	228^th	477	52.2%
2007	50.63	290^th	563	48.5%
2008	53.20	283^rd	577	51.0%
2009	48.39	336^th	587	42.8%
2010	46.12	378^th	620	39.0%
2011	44.38	387^th	622	37.8%
2012	33.23	380^th	606	37.3%
2013	42.21	353^rd	648	45.5%
2014	39.46	411^th	687	40.2%
2016	38.23	395^th	693	43.0%
2017	37.32	404^th	714	43.4%
2018	37.71	396^th	716	44.7%
2019	36.34	430^th	734	41.4%
2021	36.41	405^th	746	45.7%
2022	34.42	445^th	774	42.5%
2023	36.42	428^th	792	46.0%
2024	31.81	522^nd	807	35.3%

See the entire list of Florida High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Florida Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a student
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

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Enrollment information for Jefferson High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	730	348	38	323	3	n/a	n/a	0	1442
1989	691	310	27	327	5	n/a	n/a	0	1360
1990	626	261	38	332	1	n/a	n/a	0	1258
1991	594	245	50	360	2	n/a	n/a	0	1251
1992	555	242	43	366	2	n/a	n/a	0	1208
1993	535	303	53	436	2	n/a	n/a	0	1329
1994	557	329	45	443	2	n/a	n/a	0	1376
1995	594	479	52	592	3	n/a	n/a	0	1720
1996	594	479	52	592	3	n/a	n/a	0	1720
1997	643	528	58	674	2	n/a	n/a	0	1905
1998	458	408	35	618	1	n/a	n/a	0	1520
1999	454	363	28	620	3	n/a	n/a	0	1468
2000	456	377	29	667	3	n/a	n/a	0	1532
2001	447	394	29	682	3	n/a	n/a	0	1555
2002	326	569	18	759	0	n/a	n/a	0	1672
2003	326	569	18	759	0	n/a	n/a	0	1672
2004	376	563	27	824	3	n/a	n/a	0	1793
2005	342	598	41	891	2	n/a	n/a	0	1874
2006	343	632	35	866	6	n/a	n/a	0	1882
2007	296	605	32	870	7	n/a	n/a	61	1871
2008	259	658	28	894	6	n/a	n/a	67	1912
2009	226	567	25	826	6	n/a	n/a	76	1726
2010	186	618	27	775	5	n/a	n/a	78	1689
2011	173	602	28	874	10	3	40	0	1730
2012	172	580	23	861	12	3	38	0	1689
2013	152	543	20	857	8	4	39	0	1623
2014	143	470	17	862	8	3	41	0	1544
2015	152	434	19	860	6	1	46	0	1518
2016	144	474	25	969	8	1	47	0	1668
2017	165	506	23	989	4	1	47	0	1735
2018	177	534	19	1037	5	3	43	0	1818
2019	141	561	15	1012	3	5	38	0	1775
2020	133	545	17	937	2	7	40	0	1681
2021	125	543	15	871	2	7	42	0	1605
2022	123	448	14	771	2	4	35	0	1397
2023	111	388	14	772	2	2	33	0	1322

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Jefferson High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1442	99.0	14.5	31.2
1989	1360	91.0	14.9	29.4
1990	1258	89.0	14.1	31.7
1991	1251	89.0	14.0	34.4
1992	1208	88.0	13.7	36
1993	1329	79.0	16.8	35.7
1994	1376	89.0	15.5	40.9
1995	1720	103.0	16.7	38.8
1996	1720	103.0	16.7	38.8
1997	1905	106.0	18.0	40.1
1998	1520	86.0	17.7	40.7
1999	1468	87.0	16.9	46.3
2000	1532	94.0	16.3	48.3
2001	1555	97.0	16.0	46.9
2002	1672	112.0	14.9	53.6
2003	1672	112.0	14.9	53.6
2004	1793	121.0	14.8	52.9
2005	1874	124.0	15.1	56.7
2006	1882	50.0	37.6	55.5
2007	1871	79.0	23.7	59.8
2008	1912	105.5	18.1	59.2
2009	1726	109.0	16.7	65.9
2010	1689	99.0	17.0	67.2
2011	1730	97.4	17.7	67.9
2012	1689	97.0	17.4	68.4
2013	1623	99.0	16.3	72
2014	1544	98.0	15.7	73.2
2015	1518	97.0	15.6	76.1
2016	1668	93.0	17.9	76.1
2017	1735	101.0	17.1	75.6
2018	1818	101.0	18.0	77.2
2019	1775	91.0	19.5	76.4
2020	1681	93.0	18.0	76.5
2021	1605	87.5	18.3	81.5
2022	1397	74.0	18.8	73.9
2023	1322	65.0	20.3	66.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Jefferson High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1442	99.0	14.5	31.2
1989	1360	91.0	14.9	29.4
1990	1258	89.0	14.1	31.7
1991	1251	89.0	14.0	34.4
1992	1208	88.0	13.7	36
1993	1329	79.0	16.8	35.7
1994	1376	89.0	15.5	40.9
1995	1720	103.0	16.7	38.8
1996	1720	103.0	16.7	38.8
1997	1905	106.0	18.0	40.1
1998	1520	86.0	17.7	40.7
1999	1468	87.0	16.9	46.3
2000	1532	94.0	16.3	48.3
2001	1555	97.0	16.0	46.9
2002	1672	112.0	14.9	53.6
2003	1672	112.0	14.9	53.6
2004	1793	121.0	14.8	52.9
2005	1874	124.0	15.1	56.7
2006	1882	50.0	37.6	55.5
2007	1871	79.0	23.7	59.8
2008	1912	105.5	18.1	59.2
2009	1726	109.0	16.7	65.9
2010	1689	99.0	17.0	67.2
2011	1730	97.4	17.7	67.9
2012	1689	97.0	17.4	68.4
2013	1623	99.0	16.3	72
2014	1544	98.0	15.7	73.2
2015	1518	97.0	15.6	76.1
2016	1668	93.0	17.9	76.1
2017	1735	101.0	17.1	75.6
2018	1818	101.0	18.0	77.2
2019	1775	91.0	19.5	76.4
2020	1681	93.0	18.0	76.5
2021	1605	87.5	18.3	81.5
2022	1397	74.0	18.8	73.9
2023	1322	65.0	20.3	66.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Jefferson High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$770 (10.3%)	$6,719 (89.7%)	$7,489
2019	$626 (8.2%)	$7,014 (91.8%)	$7,640
2020	$739 (8.8%)	$7,622 (91.2%)	$8,362
2021	$1,367 (15.8%)	$7,258 (84.2%)	$8,625
2022	$1,286 (14.6%)	$7,542 (85.4%)	$8,829
2023	$1,742 (18.9%)	$7,473 (81.1%)	$9,215

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Jefferson High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 430^th of 734 High schools	Ranks 428^th of 792 High schools	4.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
9th Grade English Language Arts (Jefferson High School)	47	36	11%
9th Grade English Language Arts (Hillsborough)	55	50	5%
9th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	55	51	4%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Jefferson High School)	41	38	3%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Hillsborough)	53	49	4%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	53	49	4%
End of Course Biology 1 (Jefferson High School)	61	59	2%
End of Course Biology 1 (Hillsborough)	67	62	5%
End of Course Biology 1 (Florida)	67	63	4%
End of Course US History (Jefferson High School)	68	64	4%
End of Course US History (Hillsborough)	73	65	8%
End of Course US History (Florida)	70	63	7%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Jefferson High School)	23	33	10%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Hillsborough)	63	60	3%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Florida)	62	54	8%
End of Course Geometry (Jefferson High School)	45	43	2%
End of Course Geometry (Hillsborough)	57	53	4%
End of Course Geometry (Florida)	57	50	7%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1775	1322	25.5%
African American	561	388	30.8%
American Indian	3	2	33.3%
Asian	15	14	6.7%
Hispanic	1012	772	23.7%
Pacific Islander	5	2	60%
White	141	111	21.3%
Two or More Races	38	33	13.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	76.4%	66.3%	10.1%

Schools Near Jefferson High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				FAST English Language Arts (2024)		EOC Algebra 1 (2024)	EOC Geometry (2024)	EOC Biology 1 (2024)	EOC US History (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 9th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 10th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC US History End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Jefferson High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	4401 W Cypress St	Tampa	33607	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	Yes	No	Yes	(813) 872-5241	1,322	65	20.3	66.3%	111 (8.4%)	388 (29.3%)	772 (58.4%)	14 (1.1%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	33 (2.5%)	31.8	522^nd of 807 public high schools	35.3%		36.4	428^th of 792 public high schools	46.0%	94	43.0	42.0	18.0	34.0	57.0	58.0	$9,215	$1,742	$7,473
Les Peters Academy	Public	6-12	3930 W Dr Martin Luther King	Tampa	33614	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	No	(813) 871-7655	21	3	7.0	14.3%	9 (42.9%)	8 (38.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (19.0%)								(n/a)
Plant High School	Public	9-12	2415 S Himes Ave	Tampa	33629	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	No	(813) 272-3033	2,507	109	23.0	16.2%	1,711 (68.2%)	130 (5.2%)	455 (18.1%)	88 (3.5%)	3 (0.1%)	1 (0.0%)	119 (4.7%)	78.3	77^th of 807 public high schools	90.5%		80.3	70^th of 792 public high schools	91.2%	7	75.0	73.0	50.0	78.0	85.0	88.0	$7,593	$1,183	$6,411
Blake High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	1701 N Boulevard	Tampa	33607	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	Yes	No	Yes	(813) 272-3422	1,537	71	21.6	54.9%	336 (21.9%)	649 (42.2%)	440 (28.6%)	18 (1.2%)	2 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	92 (6.0%)	30.4	535^th of 807 public high schools	33.7%		34.3	453^rd of 792 public high schools	42.8%	82	40.0	44.0	31.0	44.0	44.0	56.0	$8,817	$1,975	$6,843
Leto High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	4409 W Sligh Ave	Tampa	33614	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	Yes	No	Yes	(813) 872-5300	2,062	91	22.7	66.4%	182 (8.8%)	152 (7.4%)	1,644 (79.7%)	46 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.0%)	37 (1.8%)	33.1	504^th of 807 public high schools	37.5%		32	481^st of 792 public high schools	39.3%	23	34.0	39.0	38.0	49.0	57.0	62.0	$8,166	$1,834	$6,332
Hillsborough Ese Contracted Residential Placement	Public	6-12	1202 E Palm Ave	Tampa	33605	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	No	(813) 273-7513	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Seminole Heights Charter High School	Public, Charter	7-12	4006 N Florida Ave	Tampa	33603	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	Yes	No	No	Yes	(813) 234-0809	239	4	59.7	71.5%	18 (7.5%)	132 (55.2%)	81 (33.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.3%)	3.2	754^th of 807 public high schools	6.6%		3.5	740^th of 792 public high schools	6.6%	14	11.0	11.0	0.0	5.0	3.0	12.0	$9,392	$3,357	$6,035
Hillsborough High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	5000 N Central Ave	Tampa	33603	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	Yes	No	Yes	(813) 276-5620	1,891	89	21.2	55.5%	305 (16.1%)	559 (29.6%)	803 (42.5%)	153 (8.1%)	2 (0.1%)	3 (0.2%)	66 (3.5%)	35.4	469^th of 807 public high schools	41.9%		33.6	465^th of 792 public high schools	41.3%	4	41.0	48.0	24.0	38.0	56.0	60.0	$7,935	$1,341	$6,594
Ami Kids Tampa	Public	6-12	1730 Maritime Blvd	Tampa	33605	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	No	(813) 248-5091	30	2	15.0	36.7%	2 (6.7%)	14 (46.7%)	13 (43.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.3%)								(n/a)
Robinson High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	6311 S Lois Ave	Tampa	33616	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	Yes	No	No	(813) 272-3006	1,354	68	20.0	41.1%	633 (46.8%)	193 (14.3%)	304 (22.5%)	109 (8.1%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.4%)	110 (8.1%)	63.3	187^th of 807 public high schools	76.8%		68.5	141^st of 792 public high schools	82.2%	46	61.0	67.0	29.0	56.0	71.0	92.0	$9,188	$1,335	$7,852

Frequently Asked Questions about Jefferson High School

How many students attend Jefferson High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,322 students attended Jefferson High School.

What is the racial makeup of Jefferson High School?

Students at Jefferson High School are 58% Hispanic, 29% African American, 8% White, 2% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Is Jefferson High School a good school?

Jefferson High School ranks 522^nd of 807 Florida high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into Jefferson High School?

Jefferson High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Dickenson Elementary School
Elementary : Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary School
Elementary : West Tampa Elementary School

What district is Jefferson High School in?

Hillsborough

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