Summary:
Terrell Independent School District (ISD) is home to a single middle school, Herman Furlough Junior Middle, which serves grades 6 through 8 and has a substantial enrollment of 1,166 students. The school serves a high-poverty community, with 76.5% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and it currently holds a 1-star rating, ranking in the 17th percentile statewide—a slight decline from the 21st percentile in the previous year.
Academically, the school shows a stark contrast between subjects. Reading is a relative strength, with proficiency rates in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades hovering around 38-44%, though still below state averages by about 10 to 14 points. Mathematics, however, is a major concern: 7th-grade math proficiency is alarmingly low at just 4.79%, nearly 25 points below the state average. In a surprising twist, the school excels in advanced math, with 61.34% of students scoring proficient in Algebra I—7.31 points above the state average. This "Algebra I paradox" suggests a highly selective advanced track, while the majority of students in standard math struggle significantly. Social studies proficiency in 8th grade is also low at 17.89%, compared to the state average of 31.69%.
The school's dropout rate of 1.3% is slightly better than the district average of 1.6%, and the student-teacher ratio of 16.5:1 indicates moderate class sizes. The district spent $10,689 per student in 2020-2021. For parents, the key takeaway is that while Herman Furlough Junior Middle faces significant challenges—especially in standard math and social studies—its strong Algebra I performance shows that students can achieve high results with the right support. The declining state ranking and extreme gaps in math proficiency suggest that targeted interventions are urgently needed to help the broader student body succeed.
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