The top reported proficiency rate is 37% in English language arts. The lowest is 26% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Jackson Heights High School and Middle School
Jackson Heights High School and Middle School is a combined campus serving grades seven through twelve in rural Jackson County, Kansas, part of the North Jackson school district. The school sits outside Holton, the county seat, a small Midwestern agricultural hub with a traditional courthouse square, a community hospital, and a population that has seen a slight decline in recent years. For families considering this school, the context is a stable, rural community with affordable housing—home values in the area run below the state average and have grown modestly—and a local economy anchored by county government, the hospital, and the school district itself.
The school enrolls a relatively small student body, with the middle and high school grades combined on one campus. The student population is predominantly white, with small shares of American Indian, Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. About half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure that places the school in a moderate range for economic need. The school does not appear to be a charter or magnet, and Title I status was not reported. No information on special education or English learner populations was available in the data provided.
Academically, the most concrete evidence comes from Kansas state assessments in math, English language arts, and science, which are administered in grades seven and eight. Because the school serves grades seven through twelve, but state testing data is only present for the middle school grades, the picture for high school performance is incomplete. In the tested grades, proficiency rates were below the state average across subjects. In math, about a quarter of seventh graders and slightly more than a quarter of eighth graders met the state’s proficiency benchmark. In English language arts, seventh graders scored higher, with nearly half proficient, while eighth graders were at roughly the same level as in math. Eighth grade science proficiency was also around that lower figure. When compared to other districts in Jackson County, the school’s overall proficiency index placed it in the bottom quartile among the four districts. This is a soft spot; a parent may want to ask the school about how it supports students in core academic subjects, particularly as they move from middle to high school.
The graduation rate for the school was not reported in the data, so it is not possible to comment on how many students complete high school on time. Similarly, information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing, and course access—such as AP, dual-credit, or career and technical education offerings—was absent. These gaps are common for a school of this type, but they do leave a limited picture of the full academic experience, especially for the high school grades.
The housing market in the area is relatively affordable, with home values below the national median and a price-to-income ratio that suggests homeownership is reachable for many local families. The community has not seen major new housing developments, consistent with the population trend. The district itself reported no recent changes of note in publicly available materials.
Jackson Heights is a combined rural school that serves a small, predominantly white community with moderate economic diversity. Its academic performance on state assessments in the middle grades is below the county average, and a parent moving to the area would want to learn more about the high school’s offerings, graduation outcomes, and any support structures in place for students who struggle with core subjects. The school’s setting is quiet and affordable, a fit for families who value a small-town environment and a single campus that carries students from middle school through graduation.
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