Bloomington Jefferson High School ranks in the top 5% of Minnesota high schools, according to the latest list from U.S. News & World Report. Jefferson placed No. 58 out of 1,156 high schools in the state and No. 49 among Twin Cities metro schools.
Here are the numbers behind the ranking. Jefferson has an 88% graduation rate, 49% of its students take Advanced Placement exams, and its math and science proficiency is above the state average. U.S. News ranks schools on 3 things: how students do on state-required tests, graduation rates, and how well a school prepares students for college and careers.
Principal Mark Paulsen credited the people in the building, not the spreadsheet. "Jefferson stands out because of the way students and staff show up for one another," Paulsen said. "We care about creating a place where people feel welcomed, challenged and supported. It's wonderful to see the results of that commitment being recognized."
The Jaguars have ranked higher before. In April 2020, the district announced that U.S. News had put Jefferson at No. 15 in Minnesota, up from No. 19 the year before. The graduation rate cited then was 92%. That year, then-principal Jaysen Anderson said that "rankings like these aren't everything," though he added that he was proud of the school's culture and its rigorous academics.
Anderson's point still holds. No. 58 is less to brag about than No. 15, but it still puts Jefferson ahead of roughly 95% of the high schools in the state. Rankings are one snapshot, and they lean hard on test results and AP participation. They don't measure whether a kid found their people in the band room or on the robotics team. Still, Jefferson parents and alums can mention the top 5% the next time someone from across town starts talking.
