Kennedale J H, Kennedale TX - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Kennedale J H

Kennedale Junior High serves grades six through eight in a mid-sized school community in Tarrant County. The school draws a diverse student body with roughly equal shares identifying as white, Black, and Hispanic, along with smaller populations of Asian and multiracial students. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a community with significant economic need.

State testing data from the most recent year reveals a school in transition across its grade levels. In English language arts, sixth and seventh graders show roughly consistent proficiency, while eighth graders perform at a higher rate. Mathematics tells a more uneven story: sixth grade proficiency is modest, seventh grade proficiency is very low, and eighth grade improves sharply to the level of about half the students meeting proficiency. Science and social studies testing occur only at eighth grade; about half the students meet proficiency in science, while social studies proficiency is lower. Overall, when looking at students across all tested subjects and grades, the school's proficiency sits somewhat above the midpoint among Tarrant County districts, a position that reflects both real strength in eighth-grade ELA and eighth-grade math, and notable softness in seventh-grade math.

The school is part of Kennedale ISD, a district undergoing significant operational and facility changes. Beginning in January 2026, the district moved to a four-day instructional week, with students attending Tuesday through Friday and most Mondays off. School days are longer to comply with state hour requirements, a shift that reshapes family schedules and childcare needs. The district cited staff recruitment, retention, and student engagement as reasons for the change. In 2023, voters approved bond funds for school building improvements, a performing arts center, and technology, though a second bond package focused on athletic facilities and additional performing arts work was rejected by voters in 2025.

The Kennedale area has median home values and rental costs aligned with broader suburban markets in the region, with housing affordability measured against local incomes in the mid-range for the national comparison. A parent considering this school should recognize that state test results vary considerably by grade, suggesting either uneven student preparation across cohorts or grade-specific instructional patterns worth exploring with the school directly. The four-day week is a defining feature of the current environment and affects how families manage work and school schedules. The school's diversity and economic context reflect a working-class suburban community with real academic need.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 628%

School 28% · District 28%

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 77%

School 7% · District 7%

▼ 20 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Grade 850%

School 50% · District 50%

▲ 8 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 646%

School 46% · District 46%

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 746%

School 46% · District 46%

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 856%

School 56% · District 56%

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Science

Grade 846%

School 46% · District 46%

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 828%

School 28% · District 28%

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

This schoolKENNEDALE 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-income37%Higher-income63%26 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income36%Higher-income60%24 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income45%Higher-income71%26 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income21%Higher-income41%20 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income7%Higher-income6%1 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income44%Higher-income60%16 pp gap