Hartford Jr./sr. High School, Hartford KS

Original Research by School Decision on Hartford Jr./sr. High School

Hartford Jr./Sr. High School is a combined middle and high school serving sixth through twelfth grade in the small rural town of Hartford, Kansas, part of the Southern Lyon County school district. The school sits in the Neosho River valley, roughly a short drive from Emporia, in a community that is compact and residential. Enrollment is modest for a school that spans seven grade levels, and most students are white, with a very small share identifying as Hispanic or two or more races. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a context where a majority of families face economic pressure.

Academically, the school’s performance on Kansas state assessments is a soft spot that parents may want to look into further with the school itself. The test results that are available cover grades six through eight in math, English language arts, and science; data for high school grades were not reported in the source material. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above declines notably from sixth to eighth grade. English language arts results follow a similar pattern, with a moderate share of seventh graders reaching proficiency but a much lower share among eighth graders. Science results for eighth grade are also low. When placed relative to districts in Lyon County, the school’s overall proficiency index sits in the bottom quartile among the four districts, indicating that academic attainment across tested subjects and grades trails most of its neighbors. The state changed its cut scores for these assessments, so trend comparisons with prior years are uncertain, and a parent should ask whether the current numbers reflect a new baseline or a longer pattern.

The school offers no publicly reported data on several measures that many families consider important. No graduation rate was available for the high school grades, which is unusual for a school serving twelfth grade—a parent may want to request that figure directly from the district. Chronic absenteeism rates and discipline data were also missing, as were staff-to-student ratios, course access information (such as Advanced Placement, dual credit, or career and technical education pathways), and the school’s Title I status. The district itself appears stable; a search for recent major changes in Southern Lyon County found little to note.

The surrounding community is very small. Hartford’s population declined over the past couple of decades but has seen slight growth in recent years. Housing values in the area are around the statewide benchmark, and rents relative to income are modest, making the area relatively affordable compared to national norms. The town is primarily residential with limited commercial activity; the school is likely integrated into the town’s center rather than on a separated campus. Nearby outdoor recreation includes the Neosho River, John Redmond Reservoir, and the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge.

For a parent or resident considering this school, the picture is one of a small, rural academic setting serving a high-poverty student body. The academic results on state tests are low relative to the county, and the lack of data on high school outcomes, graduation rates, and program offerings means that a family would need to do additional direct research with the school to understand the full range of opportunities and supports. The school may fit a family looking for a close-knit environment in a quiet town, but the academic pathway and peer outcomes beyond eighth grade remain unclear from the available information.

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Academic performance

State test results and graduation outcomes.

Graduation rate (ACGR)

>=80%Cohort of 19 students · Class of 2021

The federal source publishes a banded range instead of an exact rate when the graduating cohort is small enough that an exact number could risk identifying individual students.

How this school compares to all schools in this state

Each dot is one school’s SY 2020-21 graduation rate, binned by integer rate. Taller columns mean more schools at that rate. This school is highlighted.

348 schools plotted. 12 additional schools' rates are federally suppressed and not shown. Data: EDFacts SY 2020-21.

Math

Grade 638%

School 38% · District 61% · ▼ 23 pts below district

▼ 3 pts below state median

Grade 730%

School 30% · District 48% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▼ 5 pts below state median

Grade 814%

School 14% · District 33% · ▼ 19 pts below district

▼ 20 pts below state median

English language arts

Grade 638%

School 38% · District 45% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 4 pts below state median

Grade 750%

School 50% · District 40% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▲ 9 pts above state median

Grade 814%

School 14% · District 29% · ▼ 15 pts below district

▼ 23 pts below state median

Science

Grade 814%

School 14% · District 36% · ▼ 21 pts below district

▼ 22 pts below state median

This schoolSouthern Lyon County, 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.