Hardin-Jefferson Independent School District
| Hardin-Jefferson Independent School District | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
520 West Herring
Sour Lake , Texas, 77659United States | |
| District information | |
| Type | Public |
| Grades | PK–12[1] |
| Schools | 5[1] |
| NCES District ID | 4822410[1] |
| Students and staff | |
| Students | 2,754 (2023–2024)[1] |
| Teachers | 183.00 (on an FTE basis) (2023–2024)[1] |
| Staff | 190.80 (on an FTE basis) (2023–2024)[1] |
| Student–teacher ratio | 15.05 (2023–2024)[1] |
| Other information | |
| Website | www |
Hardin-Jefferson Independent School District is a public school district based in Sour Lake, Texas (USA). The district covers south-central Hardin and northwestern Jefferson counties.
In addition to Sour Lake, the district serves the cities of China, Nome, and Bevil Oaks, as well as the unincorporated community of Pinewood Estates and parts of Beaumont's extraterritorial jurisdiction (west of Major Drive and Highway 90).
Hardin-Jefferson won the 2007 Boys Basketball State Championship, beating Abilene Wylie 56 to 44.
In 2009, the school district was rated "recognized" by the Texas Education Agency.[2]
History
In 2017, the site of the original Henderson Middle School was damaged by flooding from Hurricane Harvey, with the storm causing $30,000,000 in damages.[3]
As part of a cost-sharing agreement, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers awarded the district nearly $27.82 million of federal funds in 2020 to help HJISD replace Henderson Middle School.[3] The school district held two bond elections in 2020 to use the funds to build a new Henderson Middle School, as well as to fund other projects. Classes had been held in portable buildings.[4] Work on the projects began in the summer of 2021.[5] In 2023, the board of trustees voted to name the new building Hardin-Jefferson Junior High, saying it was part of aligning the school's name with other schools in the district.[6] This was after approximately 60 years of a school being named in honor of former principal J.H. Henderson,[6] remembered for his legacy surrounding integration as a Black educator.[7]
Schools
| Hardin-Jefferson High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
3155 Highway 326 South , , 77659 United States | |
| Coordinates | 30°06′14″N 94°24′20″W / 30.103865°N 94.405677°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public high school |
| Principal | Patrick Brown |
| Staff | 53.24 (FTE)[8] |
| Enrollment | 782[8] (2023-24) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 14.69[8] |
| Colors | Red, blue, and white[9] |
| Nickname | Hawks[9] |
| Website | Hardin-Jefferson High School |
- Hardin-Jefferson High (Grades 9–12)
- The high school campus, newly built for the '09-'10 school year, sits along Texas State Highway 326 next to its predecessor, now Henderson Middle School.
- Hardin-Jefferson Junior High (Grades 6–8)
- Built along Texas 326 next to Hardin-Jefferson High School on the site of its predecessor Henderson Middle School.[10]
- Sour Lake Elementary (Grades PK-5)
- Serving, largely, that of the district that lies in Hardin County (as well as some Nome residents), the campus sits along Highway 326 south of Sour Lake.
- China Elementary (Grades PK-5)
- Previously located in the center of China, the district instead allocated the old middle school campus (with considerable renovations) for use as the new elementary.
Former
- Henderson Middle (Grades 6–8)
- Previously located in China where China Elementary now stands, the district relocated the middle school staff and students to the old high school campus in 2009. Shut down due to damages called by Hurricane Harvey.
- Henderson Village (Grades 6–8)
- Portable classrooms opened in 2017 due to damages to Henderson Middle. Closed in 2023 due to new middle school opening.
Notable alumni
- Ben Broussard – Major League Baseball first baseman[11]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for HARDIN-JEFFERSON ISD". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
- ^ "2009 Accountability Rating System". Texas Education Agency. Archived from the original on October 25, 2015.
- ^ a b Windes, Isaac. "FEMA will pay to rebuild 2 SE Texas middle schools". Beaumont Enterprise.
- ^ Windes, Isaac (November 4, 2020). "Voters approve Hardin-Jefferson ISD bonds". Beaumont Enterprise.
- ^ "Hardin-Jefferson ISD Replacement Facilities - ICI Construction, Inc". Retrieved October 23, 2025.
- ^ a b Malick, Olivia (May 17, 2023). "School name change talks continue". Beaumont Enterprise. p. 1.
- ^ Ramos, Ralph (May 24, 1973). "Black Educator Retiring--Satisfied, At Peace". Beaumount Enterprise. p. 4.
- ^ a b c "Hardin-Jefferson High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
- ^ a b "Hardin-Jefferson High School". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
- ^ "3025 TX-326". Google Maps. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
- ^ "Ben Broussard Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved November 26, 2012.