The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in Science. The lowest is 40% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hurricane Intermediate
Hurricane Intermediate serves sixth and seventh graders in the Washington County School District, operating as the intermediate tier between the district’s elementary schools and its middle school. The school sits in Hurricane, a city that has transformed from a small farming community known for peach and pecan orchards into a fast-growing gateway for Zion National Park and a hub for major distribution centers including Walmart, Pepsi-Cola, and Orgill. That growth shows up in the district as a whole, which added roughly one-quarter more students over a few years, driving ongoing school construction and boundary adjustments.
Academically, Hurricane Intermediate’s state testing results place it in the middle range among Washington County’s seven districts, with an overall proficiency index above the midpoint. On the RISE assessments, about two in five students meet the proficient or advanced bar in math, a similar share in English language arts, and roughly half in science. Science is the relative strength. The math and ELA figures are modest, and a parent may want to ask the school how it supports students who are not yet at that level and how it challenges those who are. Because the school only covers two grade levels, there are no graduation rate, chronic absenteeism, or postsecondary readiness data to consider.
The student body of about seven hundred is predominantly white, with a Hispanic population making up a noticeable share and small numbers of other racial and ethnic groups. Economic diversity is present: roughly four in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school’s records did not include counts of students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent seeking information on special education or language support services would need to contact the school directly.
Hurricane itself is heavily auto-oriented, with State Street as the main commercial corridor and Interstate 15 bordering the northwest side. The city’s residential areas spread across the valley, and while a recreational trail runs along the historic Hurricane Canal, most trips require a car. Housing values in the 84737 zip code are higher than the national average, and rents have been rising faster than home prices. The local economy mixes distribution-center employment with tourism-related jobs serving Zion and Sand Hollow State Park.
For a parent, this is a school in a district that is under enrollment pressure, which means that capacity, class sizes, and attendance boundaries are topics worth monitoring. The school itself offers a focused intermediate experience for two grades, with solid but not standout test scores and a student body that reflects the broader community’s demographics. A family comfortable with a mid-sized school in a growing, car-dependent town and interested in a setting where the academic performance is near the middle of the county pack may find it a pragmatic fit. Those looking for unusually high proficiency rates or a wide menu of specialized programs will want to look further into what the school offers beyond the core instruction.
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