Located in TERRELL, TX. Serving grades 06 through 08.
Herman Furlough Jr Middle is a regular public middle school serving grades six through eight in Terrell, a growing city in Kaufman County that sits between the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and rural Texas. The school enrolls a student body that is majority Hispanic with substantial Black, white, and multiracial representation. About four out of five students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of the area.
The school's most recent state test results show proficiency rates that deserve straightforward attention. In English language arts, performance is uneven across the grade band. Sixth graders show stronger proficiency, while seventh graders lag noticeably, with eighth graders recovering to roughly the sixth-grade level. In math, the picture is more consistently weak. Sixth and eighth graders both show low proficiency rates, while seventh graders show even lower results. Science and social studies, tested only at eighth grade, show proficiency rates similar to or slightly below math. When collapsed across all subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency sits below the midpoint among Kaufman County districts.
This is a moment for parents to look closely at what these numbers mean for their child's learning path. The variation by grade in ELA suggests that seventh grade may be a particular point of transition or challenge; a parent might ask the school directly about what's happening in that year and what supports exist. The persistently low math proficiency across the grade band, and especially the gap between sixth and seventh grade, points to a curriculum or instructional challenge worth understanding in detail with the school's leadership.
The broader Terrell ISD context matters here. The district has adopted a four-day school week, running Monday through Thursday with Friday independent learning, a structural change that affects family logistics and childcare planning. The district has also tightened bus eligibility, now serving only students living a certain distance or more from their zoned school, shifting transportation responsibility to families living closer. More positively, the district passed a substantial bond in May 2025 to address capacity strain from rapid growth in the county; that funding includes plans for a new middle school campus, suggesting the district is responding to overcrowding and planning facility improvements. Additionally, Terrell ISD is launching specialized choice schools in 2026-2027, including a STEM Academy and a College Preparatory Academy, which may offer new pathways for students seeking focused academic programs.
Terrell itself is one of the fastest-growing cities in one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation. Terrell's economy centers on manufacturing, warehousing, and retail, with major employers including steel mills, logistics operations, and retail distribution. The city has a walkable historic downtown and is experiencing rapid residential expansion through large master-planned communities. The housing market here is more affordable than state and national benchmarks, making the area attractive to families relocating for work or seeking lower housing costs.
For a family considering Terrell and this middle school, the key question is whether current academic performance and the school's instructional program align with their child's needs. The ELA results suggest students can reach proficiency, but math presents a more serious gap. The four-day week and transportation constraints are logistical realities to plan around. The district's capital investments and upcoming choice schools signal growth and diversification of options, though Herman Furlough itself will remain a traditional neighborhood middle school.
Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.
Officially reported figures, 2024-25.
All reported measures, by topic.