Hardin-jefferson J H, Sour Lake Tx TX

Original Research by School Decision on Hardin-jefferson J H

Hardin-Jefferson Junior High serves grades six through eight in Sour Lake, a small community in Hardin County. The school enrolls a mid-sized cohort for its grade band, drawn largely from the surrounding rural area. The student body is predominantly white, with notable representation of Black and Hispanic students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a community with economic diversity.

Academic performance shows a clear grade-level pattern. Sixth graders perform at moderate levels in both English language arts and math, with just over half meeting proficiency in ELA and less than half in math. Seventh-grade math performance dips notably, with only about a third of students meeting the standard, though ELA holds roughly even. Eighth grade marks a significant shift upward. In math, students at that grade nearly reach the proficiency threshold, and in ELA nearly two-thirds meet or exceed it. Science and social studies are tested only in eighth grade; science performance is solidly in the middle range, while social studies proficiency is notably lower, with roughly a quarter of eighth graders meeting the standard.

Across all subjects and grades, eight in ten students reach at least the "approaches" performance level. About half meet grade-level standards, and a quarter of students demonstrate mastery. This indicates a school where the majority of students are moving forward but where a material portion require intervention or additional support to close proficiency gaps.

Compared to other districts in Hardin County, Hardin-Jefferson Junior High ranks in the top quartile on overall proficiency, suggesting its results outpace most peers in the immediate region.

The school sits within the Hardin-Jefferson Independent School District. Information on specific programs, school climate initiatives, or strategic priorities was not available. Housing in the surrounding zip code is moderately priced relative to state and national benchmarks, and residential mortgage affordability is reasonable, making the area accessible to families working in the region's employment landscape. Enrollment data from the district as a whole and information on parent-driven changes or recent initiatives were not retrieved, so a reader seeking clarity on the district's direction or school-specific programs may want to contact the school directly.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 644%

School 44% · District 44%

▲ 10 pts above state median

Grade 730%

School 30% · District 30%

▲ 3 pts above state median

Grade 878%

School 78% · District 78%

▲ 36 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 653%

School 53% · District 53%

▲ 1 pts above state median

Grade 747%

School 47% · District 47%

▼ 2 pts below state median

Grade 868%

School 68% · District 68%

▲ 13 pts above state median

Science

Grade 864%

School 64% · District 64%

▲ 22 pts above state median

Social studies

Grade 826%

School 26% · District 26%

▲ 2 pts above state median

This schoolHARDIN-JEFFERSON ISD, 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income42%Higher-income60%18 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income35%Higher-income56%21 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income57%Higher-income74%17 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income31%Higher-income51%20 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income26%Higher-income34%8 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income71%Higher-income82%11 pp gap