The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in Science. The lowest is 10% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Highland West Jhs
Highland West JHS serves seventh and eighth graders in the Moore Public Schools district, one of several junior highs in this fast-growing Oklahoma City suburb. The school enrolls a population that is predominantly white and Hispanic, with smaller shares of students who are two or more races, Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Asian. Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education status, and English learner counts were not reported in the data, so a parent cannot gauge the school’s economic or special-population profile from these figures.
Academically, the state testing results present a picture worth examining closely. In seventh-grade math, about one out of every seven students scored at the proficient level or above. In eighth-grade math, that figure dropped to roughly one out of every fifteen. English language arts results followed a similar pattern: roughly one in six seventh graders were proficient, and about one in seven eighth graders. Science, tested only in eighth grade, showed a somewhat higher share, with roughly three out of every ten students reaching proficiency. Compared to other school districts in Cleveland County, Highland West’s overall proficiency across these tested subjects placed it in the bottom quartile. It is important to note that Oklahoma changed the cut scores for the math and English language arts assessments in the 2024-25 school year, so these results reflect a new standard and cannot be directly compared to prior years. A parent interested in the school should ask how the school is responding to these results and what supports are in place.
The school itself is a conventional junior high in a suburban setting. Moore sits between Oklahoma City and Norman, shaped by Interstate 35 and U.S. Highway 77, and the community is largely car-dependent. The city has seen rapid population growth over recent decades, annexing land and more than doubling in size. Civic amenities include a public library, several parks, a community center, and a pool. Major local employers include the Moore Medical Center and the Moore Norman Technology Center.
The district context matters here. Moore Public Schools has invested substantially in teacher salaries in recent years, raising the minimum and maximum pay on the schedule by a wide margin, a move that could affect classroom quality and staff retention. District revenue per student has also grown steadily over several years, signaling increased financial support for programs and staffing. These district-level investments may or may not be felt directly at Highland West, but they suggest a system that is putting resources into its workforce.
Housing in Moore is priced at a level that is broadly in line with the state average, with both home values and rents having increased moderately over the recent period. The typical monthly mortgage payment and rent amount are close to one another, meaning that buying and renting are roughly comparable options for many households. The median household income nationally provides a benchmark, but local income data for Moore was not included in the information provided, so a complete affordability picture would require additional research.
For a parent, the central question is academic support. The proficiency rates across both grades and subjects are low, and the school sits at the bottom of its comparison group among Cleveland County districts. A parent would want to understand the school’s approach to intervention, the curriculum, and how the staff are working to move these numbers. The district’s recent salary increases and revenue growth suggest capacity to act, but the school-level data does not describe specific programs or staffing ratios. The school’s enrollment is moderate for a two-grade junior high, and the student body is diverse in racial and ethnic terms. The setting is purely suburban, so families who want a walkable downtown school culture will not find that here. For a family weighing options within Moore, Highland West warrants a direct conversation with the school about what the academic experience looks like day to day and what improvement efforts are underway.
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