Hearne Independent School District (Isd)

The Hearne Independent School District (Isd) is a small, rural district in Texas serving approximately 718 students across two schools: Hearne Elementary (Pre-K through 6th grade) and Hearne Jh/High School (7th through 12th grade), with over 90% of students facing economic disadvantage.

Comparing the two schools, Hearne Jh/High School is the relative standout, earning a 1-star rating for the 2025-2026 school year and a slightly higher state percentile rank (11th) than the elementary school (9th). It shows pockets of strength in Biology and U.S. History, where proficiency approaches state averages, and boasts a graduation rate of 90.6%. In contrast, Hearne Elementary has received 0 stars for three consecutive years, with foundational reading and math skills struggling. A key paradox is that the junior/high school spends 57% more per student ($19,583 vs. $12,488) and has a lower student-teacher ratio (7.6:1 vs. 11.8:1), yet overall academic performance remains critically low, suggesting challenges beyond funding.

Math proficiency is a systemic crisis across the district, collapsing from 33.33% in 3rd grade to 15.15% in 5th grade, and reaching 0% for 7th graders. However, the high school's 90.6% graduation rate is a bright spot, indicating strong support systems that keep students on track despite low test scores. Year-over-year volatility, such as 3rd-grade reading jumping from 16.07% to 36.84%, makes trends hard to identify, but the district's focus on student persistence offers a foundation for potential improvement.