Jefferson City School District elementary schools offer instruction in language arts, social studies, science, math, fine arts, and physical education. Two middle schools, identical in physical design, feature innovative curriculums for grades 6-8. All ninth graders attend the Simonsen Center; in tenth grade, the students transfer to Jefferson City High School. High school students may also opt to enroll in classes offered by Nichols Career Center, which offers classes in a variety of vocational areas.
The following is a summary of data regarding the Jefferson City public school system as of the 2002–2003 school year.
Total enrollment: 8,338
Number of facilities
elementary schools: 11
junior high/middle schools: 2
senior high schools: 1
Student/teacher ratio: 14.5:1
Teacher salaries
average: $41,062
Funding per pupil: $6,095
Jefferson City is home to 10 private schools. The largest of these is Helias Interparish High School, which enrolls about 900 students from three local Catholic parishes. Emphasis at Helias is placed on a four-year program in math, science, English, social studies, and foreign language. Courses are taught in computer applications with computer assisted instruction in other courses.
Public Schools Information: Jefferson City Public Schools, 315 E. Dunklin St., Jefferson City, MO 65101; telephone (573)659-3000
Lincoln University, founded in 1866 by African American Civil War veterans, has changed over time from an African American university to a major coeducational state university with a multi-ethnic student body. The university offers undergraduate degrees in arts and sciences, as well as accounting, business administration, public administration, marketing, business education, economics, computer science, technology, military science, and agribusiness. Graduate programs are available in business, education, and social science.
Jefferson City is served by the Missouri River Regional Library, which has nearly 200,000 volumes and approximately 400 periodical subscriptions. The library has special collections on local and state history. The system has one branch and two bookmobiles.
The Missouri State Library has special collections on health and education policy issues, human service, legislative reference, public finance, and state government. The Wolfner Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, featuring braille and large-type books, has holdings of 321,832 volumes and 70 periodical subscriptions. Other state libraries located in the city are the Missouri Committee on Legislative Research, with 5,200 volumes and 125 periodical subscriptions; the Missouri Department of Corrections Libraries, with more than 100,000 book titles; the Missouri Supreme Court Library, which has more than 110,000 volumes; and the Office of the Secretary of State, Missouri State Archives, which has 12,500 volumes.
Other local libraries include Lincoln University's Inman E. Page Library, which has nearly 180,000 volumes, and special collections on ethnic studies, and the library of the Cole County Historical Society, which has special collections on oral history.
Lincoln University's Cooperative Research Program conducts studies in agricultural science, nutrition, and environmental science.
Public Library Information: Missouri River Regional Library, 214 Adams St., Jefferson City, MO 65102; telephone (573)634-2464; fax (573)634-7028