The top reported proficiency rate is 20% in English language arts. The lowest is 8% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hulbert Ms
Hulbert Middle School sits in the small, rural town of Hulbert in western Cherokee County, a place where civic and school facilities are clustered close together along the main highway. The school serves grades six through eight and draws from a community that has seen a slow, modest population decline over recent decades; the town’s total population has moved downward over several census counts, and sources describe it as a largely rural place with limited commercial activity. The school’s enrollment is small for a middle school, and its student body reflects the broader community’s demographic makeup: about half of the students are American Indian or Alaska Native, a quarter are white, roughly a sixth are two or more races, and a small share are Hispanic. Fewer than a handful of students are Black, and there are no Asian or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students enrolled. Data on how many students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, receive special education services, or are English learners were not available, so a family would want to ask the school directly about those support structures.
On state assessments given in the most recent school year, Hulbert Middle School’s results show a clear pattern: proficiency rates are low across all tested grades and subjects. In math, the share of students scoring at the proficient level or above was a small percentage in sixth grade, a similarly small percentage in seventh grade, and an even smaller percentage in eighth grade. In English language arts, the outcomes were higher than in math but still low, with the largest share reaching proficiency in seventh grade, followed by eighth grade and then sixth grade. Eighth-grade science results were suppressed in the available data, so no proficiency rate is reported for that subject. Compared to other districts in Cherokee County, Hulbert Middle School’s overall proficiency across these tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile. A parent should be aware that the state recently changed cut scores for math and English language arts, which may affect how results from different years compare; trend data that would show whether performance is improving or declining over time was not available.
The school operates under the Hulbert district, which covers grades kindergarten through twelve across the town’s compact area. A search for recent district-level changes of lasting impact turned up little that was publicly reported. Housing in the zip code that serves the school is moderately priced compared to national benchmarks, with home values that rose at a pace faster than the state average in the year leading up to spring of a recent year. The estimated monthly mortgage payment on a typical home, after a standard down payment, is moderate relative to the national median household income, and rent consumes a smaller share of income than a mortgage would—but a family should weigh those figures against local wages and the area’s small-job-base economy, anchored by a community health center, an electric cooperative, and municipal services.
For a family considering Hulbert Middle School, the central academic picture is one of low measured proficiency on state tests in both math and English language arts. The school is small, situated in a rural town with limited walkability and few retail options, and the student body is predominantly Native American and white. The comparison to other districts in Cherokee County places this school’s academic results well below the midpoint. A parent may want to investigate what academic interventions or supports the school provides, how it addresses these performance levels, and what programs or enrichment are available, as the data do not provide that detail. The community itself offers basic amenities—a library, a park, a splash pad, and nearby state recreation areas—and the schools, including the middle school, are within easy reach of the town’s center, giving the setting a self-contained, small-town feel that some families will find appealing and others will find limiting.
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