Summary:
Refugio, Texas, is home to a single middle school, Refugio J H, which serves grades 6 through 8 with a total enrollment of 134 students in the Refugio Independent School District (Isd).
Refugio J H presents a picture of stark contrasts. On one hand, the school boasts an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 8.5:1 and a spending per student of $12,991, suggesting a well-resourced environment. However, its overall state ranking has declined to the 25th percentile (a 1-star rating) for the 2025-2026 school year. The most dramatic standout is in advanced math: 92.31% of 8th graders taking the Algebra I end-of-course exam were proficient, far exceeding the state average of 54.03%. This is a remarkable achievement, especially when compared to the school's significant struggles in standard math, where only 15% of 6th graders and 14.71% of 7th graders were proficient. The school also shows a persistent weakness in 8th-grade Social Studies, with only 12% of students proficient, well below the state average of 31.69%.
For parents, the key takeaway is that Refugio J H is a school of extremes. While it has a zero percent dropout rate and a strong advanced math program for select students, core academic performance in reading and math for most grade levels is below state averages. The 6th-grade reading proficiency rate of 22.5% and 6th-grade math rate of 15% are particularly concerning. The school's small size means that year-to-year performance can be volatile, as the success of a single cohort can dramatically shift overall averages. The high level of economic disadvantage (64.93% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch) may present challenges, but the low student-teacher ratio offers potential for individualized attention that could be leveraged for improvement.
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