The top reported proficiency rate is 58% in Math. The lowest is 41% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Russell Hawkins Jr. High
Russell Hawkins Jr. High is a public junior high school in Jackson, Missouri, serving seventh and eighth graders within the Jackson R-II School District. It is a regular school, not a charter or magnet, and its student body of roughly average size for a two-grade middle school is drawn from a community that bills itself as the fastest growing in Southeast Missouri. The school sits in a district that has recently invested heavily in facilities, with a 2022 bond issue approved by voters funding a new elementary school and safety upgrades, and a new Innovation Center at the high school opening in 2024.
Academically, the school’s performance on the Missouri Assessment Program presents a mixed picture that a parent will want to weigh carefully. In mathematics, the share of students scoring proficient or above is meaningfully above the midpoint in both seventh and eighth grade. In eighth-grade science, about half of students reach that bar. English language arts is the weaker subject: seventh-grade proficiency is notably lower, and while eighth-grade performance improves, it still trails math and science. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index lands in the top quartile when compared with other districts within Cape Girardeau County. That is a clear relative strength. But the gap between math and English arts suggests that the school’s academic program may not be equally strong across the board; a family focused on literacy support might want to ask how the school addresses this pattern.
The student body is predominantly white, with small shares of Hispanic, Black, Asian, and multiracial students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with Individualized Education Programs and English learners was not available, so a parent with a child in either category should confirm directly with the school. The school environment data, including discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, and staffing ratios, also was not reported, so those dimensions of daily life are not captured here.
Jackson itself is a traditional small city with a historic courthouse square, a range of housing from older homes to newer subdivisions, and a growing population. The city emphasizes its parks and recreational trail system. Within easy reach are the larger retail and medical resources of Cape Girardeau, as well as Southeast Missouri State University. The district’s new elementary school, opened in 2024, is a direct response to growth and should help contain class sizes at the lower grades, though the impact on the junior high is indirect. The district also adopted a five-year strategic plan in 2025 focused on academic achievement, social-emotional learning, and workforce development, and its property tax rate has been stable. These signals point to a community that is investing in its schools and planning ahead.
For a family considering Russell Hawkins, the school sits in a district with momentum and a community that is growing. The math and science scores are a draw; the English language arts scores warrant a conversation with the school about how struggling readers are supported. Without data on discipline, attendance, or course access, a parent should tour the building and speak with current families to get a fuller sense of day-to-day life. The school delivers a solid academic foundation for many students, but the gaps in available information and in subject performance mean that a close look is warranted.
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