Jefferson Middle School, Olympia WA

Original Research by School Decision on Jefferson Middle School

Jefferson Middle School is a regular public school serving grades six through eight in the Olympia School District, situated in the state capital of Washington. It sits on the west side of Olympia, a city that blends state government functions, a residential community, a college-town atmosphere with The Evergreen State College, and a recognized arts and music scene. The school itself is a typical mid-sized middle school for its grade band, drawing students from its surrounding neighborhood.

Academically, Jefferson Middle School performs at a notably high level relative to other schools in Thurston County. State assessments in English language arts and math, where students in each grade take the Smarter Balanced tests, show a clear pattern. English language arts proficiency is broadly strong across all three grades, with seventh graders posting especially high results. Math proficiency is solid but more variable, with sixth and eighth graders scoring at a similar level and seventh graders again higher. Science, tested only in eighth grade, also shows a strong proficiency rate. Taken together, the school’s overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades places it in the top tier when measured against other districts in Thurston County. This is a meaningful strength: families looking for a middle school where a large majority of students meet state standards in reading and writing, and a solid majority in math and science, will find that here.

The student body is diverse in background. Around half of the students are white, with notable shares identifying as Asian, Hispanic, and two or more races, and smaller shares as Black and other groups. About half of the students come from households with income low enough to qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a substantial share that indicates economic variety within the school. Data on the number of students with disabilities or who are English learners was not available in the provided information, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those services and support structures.

Olympia itself provides a distinctive backdrop. As the state capital, it offers a stable institutional presence, fare-free public bus service through Intercity Transit, and a walkable downtown near Budd Inlet. The housing market reflects the wider Puget Sound region: home values are elevated relative to national benchmarks, and the cost of renting or buying consumes a significant portion of a typical household income. The Olympia School District did not have publicly reported recent changes of a lasting, parent-relevant nature as of the timeframe reviewed.

Jefferson Middle School fits a family seeking a high-performing academic environment in a capital-city setting with strong state-test results that outpace many neighboring districts. The school’s economic diversity and solid proficiency levels suggest it serves as a well-regarded academic anchor within its attendance area. Those concerned about specific support for English learners or special education would want to follow up with the school directly, as that data was not in the material reviewed.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 654%

School 54% · District 52% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▲ 17 pts above state median · ▲ 15 pts above county median

Grade 764%

School 64% · District 55% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 26 pts above state median · ▲ 25 pts above county median

Grade 854%

School 54% · District 52% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▲ 20 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 663%

School 63% · District 36% · ▲ 26 pts above district

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 15 pts above county median

Grade 775%

School 75% · District 67% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 25 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

Grade 870%

School 70% · District 66% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 15 pts above county median

Science

Grade 861%

School 61% · District 60% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 19 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

This schoolOlympia School District, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 5Lower-income41%Higher-income85%44 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income36%Higher-income85%49 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income53%Higher-income90%37 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income52%Higher-income86%35 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 5Lower-income16%Higher-income63%48 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income24%Higher-income79%54 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income44%Higher-income78%34 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income25%Higher-income78%54 pp gap