Hardee Junior High School

Summary:

Hardee Junior High School is a public school serving grades 6-12 in Wauchula, Florida, with a student population of 1,141 as of the 2022-2023 school year. The school is part of the Hardee School District, which is ranked 55 out of 68 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Hardee Junior High School faces several challenges, including a significantly higher Hispanic student population (63.28%) compared to the state average, high chronic absenteeism rates (34.5% to 40.1%), and lower test scores than the state averages across various subjects and grade levels. The school also has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 62.58% to 74.23%, which is significantly higher than the state average. Despite the school's relatively high spending per student, which has increased from $7,309 in 2019-2020 to $10,748 in 2022-2023, its academic performance remains below the state averages.

Interestingly, Hardee Junior High School and Hardee Senior High School have similar demographic and performance characteristics, with both schools experiencing lower test scores, higher chronic absenteeism, and higher free and reduced lunch rates compared to the state averages. In contrast, Fort Meade Middle/Senior High School, located in the neighboring Polk County, has a more diverse student population and generally higher test scores. However, Fort Meade Middle/Senior High School also has a high chronic absenteeism rate, similar to Hardee Junior High School.


Detail:

Public 6-12

 2401 Us Highway 17 N
       Wauchula, FL  33873


(863) 773-3147

District: Hardee

SchoolDigger Rank:
340th of 807 Florida High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,748 Help


Feeder schools for Hardee Junior High School:

Elementary:    Bowling Green Elementary School
    Hilltop Elementary School
    North Wauchula Elementary School
    Wauchula Elementary School
    More...

Student/teacher ratio:  16.5 Help
Number of students:  1,089

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
63.3%
White:
29.6%
African American:
5.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  69.1% Help


 See top rated Florida high schools

 Compare Hardee Junior High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Hardee Junior High School ranks worse than 58.2% of middle schools in Florida. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 42.31. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details Hardee Junior High School ranks better than 57.9% of high schools in Florida. It also ranks first among 3 ranked high schools in the Hardee School District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 46.8. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (63.3%), White (29.6%), African American (5.1%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 69.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Hardee Junior High School is 16.5, which is the lowest among 3 high schools in the Hardee School District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Hardee Junior High School employs 66 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Hardee Junior High School is $10,748. 1 high schools in the Hardee School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Hardee Junior High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Hardee Junior High School 696th of 1196 Florida public middle schools. (See Hardee Junior High School in the ranking list.)
SchoolDigger ranks Hardee Junior High School 340th of 807 Florida public high schools. (See Hardee Junior High School in the ranking list.)

Hardee:

SchoolDigger ranks Hardee 55th of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Hardee Junior High School?

Rank History for Hardee Junior High School

Help
Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools FL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 36.91 403rd 593 32.0%
2005 35.02 426th 602 29.2%
2006 33.44 472nd 675 30.1%
2007 32.39 527th 736 28.4%
2008 40.62 484th 740 34.6%
2009 36.99 532nd 780 31.8%
2010 41.40 545th 839 35.0%
2011 37.88 597th 891 33.0%
2012 31.76 629th 897 29.9%
2013 24.24 738th 956 22.8%
2014 24.55 782nd 999 21.7%
2016 27.49 736th 997 26.2%
2017 28.44 744th 1031 27.8%
2018 37.00 659th 1035 36.3%
2019 42.18 649th 1099 40.9%
2021 37.84 710th 1136 37.5%
2022 37.59 707th 1148 38.4%
2023 39.15 709th 1177 39.8%
2024 42.31 696th 1196 41.8%
See the entire list of Florida High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Florida Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Hardee Junior High School

Help
Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools FL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2016 49.37 279th 693 59.7%
2017 20.22 536th 714 24.9%
2018 28.34 488th 716 31.8%
2019 41.69 377th 734 48.6%
2021 46.77 293rd 746 60.7%
2022 44.72 336th 774 56.6%
2023 66.36 161st 792 79.7%
2024 46.80 340th 807 57.9%
See the entire list of Florida High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Florida Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Hardee Junior High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    






Data source: Florida Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)
0%

0%

0%

0%

100%

  

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!


Enrollment information for Hardee Junior High School

Help
Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 602 95 3 228 1 n/a n/a 0 929
1989 573 97 3 262 4 n/a n/a 0 939
1990 574 95 5 270 4 n/a n/a 0 948
1991 588 94 3 296 5 n/a n/a 0 986
1992 639 98 3 331 4 n/a n/a 0 1075
1993 663 110 1 430 6 n/a n/a 0 1210
1994 671 99 2 488 5 n/a n/a 0 1265
1995 600 106 3 535 1 n/a n/a 0 1245
1996 600 106 3 535 1 n/a n/a 0 1245
1997 588 118 3 527 3 n/a n/a 0 1239
1998 546 119 3 542 5 n/a n/a 0 1215
1999 529 106 3 549 2 n/a n/a 0 1189
2000 508 113 3 514 1 n/a n/a 0 1139
2001 520 108 5 510 0 n/a n/a 0 1143
2002 559 111 9 553 0 n/a n/a 0 1232
2003 559 111 9 553 0 n/a n/a 0 1232
2004 546 96 9 582 0 n/a n/a 0 1233
2005 501 86 14 629 1 n/a n/a 0 1231
2006 470 85 15 569 2 n/a n/a 0 1141
2007 420 76 21 553 2 n/a n/a 2 1074
2008 439 69 22 530 2 n/a n/a 4 1066
2009 464 64 22 571 2 n/a n/a 6 1129
2010 458 76 14 583 8 n/a n/a 16 1155
2011 432 74 15 612 9 1 12 0 1155
2012 373 71 11 644 7 1 12 0 1119
2013 370 80 12 686 4 1 17 0 1170
2014 370 72 14 715 3 0 13 0 1187
2015 374 72 8 735 1 0 19 0 1209
2016 364 58 10 723 1 1 28 0 1185
2017 357 66 10 723 2 1 28 0 1187
2018 359 74 11 729 7 1 21 0 1202
2019 299 71 10 789 0 1 21 0 1191
2020 326 70 7 808 2 1 22 0 1236
2021 319 59 7 780 1 0 18 0 1184
2022 338 66 6 759 0 1 18 0 1188
2023 335 58 11 722 0 0 15 0 1141
2024 322 55 7 689 0 0 16 0 1089

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Hardee Junior High School

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 929 62.0 14.9 48.3
1989 939 65.0 14.4 50.1
1990 948 67.0 14.1 50.6
1991 986 65.0 15.1 53.2
1992 1075 69.0 15.5 46.6
1993 1210 71.0 17.0 55.6
1994 1265 76.0 16.6 60
1995 1245 73.0 17.1 45.4
1996 1245 73.0 17.1 45.4
1997 1239 75.0 16.5 60.5
1998 1215 72.0 16.9 55.1
1999 1189 72.0 16.5 65.9
2000 1139 68.0 16.8 68
2001 1143 74.0 15.4 73.4
2002 1232 73.0 16.9 68.3
2003 1232 73.0 16.9 68.3
2004 1233 74.0 16.7 71
2005 1231 75.0 16.4 63
2006 1141 80.0 14.3 65.1
2007 1074 71.0 15.1 60.4
2008 1066 66.0 16.2 64.5
2009 1129 72.9 16.6 71.2
2010 1155 69.0 16.7 74.1
2011 1155 69.0 16.7 77.3
2012 1119 69.0 16.2 83.2
2013 1170 73.0 16.0 82.1
2014 1187 66.0 17.9 81.5
2015 1209 69.0 17.5 79.6
2016 1185 69.0 17.1 64.7
2017 1187 67.0 17.7 62
2018 1202 70.0 17.1 65.5
2019 1191 60.0 19.8 63.3
2020 1236 64.0 19.3 68.7
2021 1184 63.0 18.7 62.6
2022 1188 66.0 18.0 63.6
2023 1141 62.0 18.4 74.2
2024 1089 66.0 16.5 69.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Hardee Junior High School

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 929 62.0 14.9 48.3
1989 939 65.0 14.4 50.1
1990 948 67.0 14.1 50.6
1991 986 65.0 15.1 53.2
1992 1075 69.0 15.5 46.6
1993 1210 71.0 17.0 55.6
1994 1265 76.0 16.6 60
1995 1245 73.0 17.1 45.4
1996 1245 73.0 17.1 45.4
1997 1239 75.0 16.5 60.5
1998 1215 72.0 16.9 55.1
1999 1189 72.0 16.5 65.9
2000 1139 68.0 16.8 68
2001 1143 74.0 15.4 73.4
2002 1232 73.0 16.9 68.3
2003 1232 73.0 16.9 68.3
2004 1233 74.0 16.7 71
2005 1231 75.0 16.4 63
2006 1141 80.0 14.3 65.1
2007 1074 71.0 15.1 60.4
2008 1066 66.0 16.2 64.5
2009 1129 72.9 16.6 71.2
2010 1155 69.0 16.7 74.1
2011 1155 69.0 16.7 77.3
2012 1119 69.0 16.2 83.2
2013 1170 73.0 16.0 82.1
2014 1187 66.0 17.9 81.5
2015 1209 69.0 17.5 79.6
2016 1185 69.0 17.1 64.7
2017 1187 67.0 17.7 62
2018 1202 70.0 17.1 65.5
2019 1191 60.0 19.8 63.3
2020 1236 64.0 19.3 68.7
2021 1184 63.0 18.7 62.6
2022 1188 66.0 18.0 63.6
2023 1141 62.0 18.4 74.2
2024 1089 66.0 16.5 69.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Hardee Junior High School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018 $951 (11.9%) $7,027 (88.1%) $7,978
2019 $1,000 (12.1%) $7,255 (87.9%) $8,255
2020 $819 (11.2%) $6,491 (88.8%) $7,309
2021 $1,221 (15.0%) $6,938 (85.0%) $8,159
2022 $2,108 (22.8%) $7,143 (77.2%) $9,252
2023 $2,509 (23.3%) $8,240 (76.7%) $10,748

Data source: Florida Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Hardee Junior High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 649th of 1099 Middle schoolsRanks 709th of 1177 Middle schools
 1.2%
Ranks 377th of 734 High schoolsRanks 161st of 792 High schools
 31%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Hardee Junior High School)4742
 5%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Hardee)4742
 5%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5452
 2%
6th Grade Mathematics (Hardee Junior High School)4443
 1%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Hardee)4443
 1%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Florida)5549
 6%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Hardee Junior High School)3842
 4%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Hardee)3842
 4%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5248
 4%
7th Grade Mathematics (Hardee Junior High School)5947
 12%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Hardee)5946
 13%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Florida)5446
 8%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Hardee Junior High School)4934
 15%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Hardee)4835
 13%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5649
 7%
8th Grade Mathematics (Hardee Junior High School)5536
 19%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Hardee)5336
 17%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Florida)4642
 4%
8th Grade Science (Hardee Junior High School)3736
 1%
   8th Grade Science (Hardee)3635
 1%
   8th Grade Science (Florida)4844
 4%
End of Course Civics (Hardee Junior High School)6047
 13%
   End of Course Civics (Hardee)6050
 10%
   End of Course Civics (Florida)7166
 5%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Hardee Junior High School)9993
 6%
   End of Course Algebra 1 (Hardee)5340
 13%
   End of Course Algebra 1 (Florida)6254
 8%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students11911141
 4.2%
African American7158
 18.3%
American Indian00
Asian1011
 10%
Hispanic789722
 8.5%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White299335
 12%
Two or More Races2115
 28.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients63.3%74.2%
 10.9%


Schools Near Hardee Junior High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Hardee Junior High School

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,089 students attended Hardee Junior High School.

Hardee Junior High School ranks 340th of 807 Florida high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students at Hardee Junior High School are 63% Hispanic, 30% White, 5% African American, 1% Two or more races.


Rate Hardee Junior High School!



Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Hardee Junior High School!




SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





Diagnostics

None retrieved from Database in 2881 milliseconds.