About the School

A mission-driven, classical liberal arts education awaits your child at Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School. Located in Joplin, Missouri, and serving a four-state area, TJ is the region’s only non-sectarian independent college preparatory school.

As an independent school TJ doesn’t receive government funding. Instead, we’re supported by tuition and philanthropy. This frees us to do what we know is best to prepare students, not for standardized tests, but for success in college—and in life.

Led by caring and committed faculty, our diverse learning community fosters well-grounded, positive attitudes, and fosters responsibility and self-discipline. At the beginning of each school year, all students commit to TJ’s Honor Code, pledging to conduct themselves with integrity, compassion, respect, and honesty. The goal of a TJ education is to help your child grow into an engaged citizen who is guided by a strong moral compass.

At TJ, faculty encourage your child to think critically, test new capacities, and find joy in learning. They create a nurturing and supportive environment where your child gains the confidence to reach his or her full potential.

Athletics and other extracurricular activities, such as music and theater, nurture your child’s leadership skills and demonstrate the importance of teamwork and perseverance.

How do we know TJ’s unique approach works? The proof is in our graduates. Virtually all TJ graduates matriculate to four-year colleges or universities immediately after graduation, and all are well-prepared to succeed there. Our alumni are positively contributing to their families, their careers, their communities, and the world.