<![CDATA[General Background: Islamic boarding schools integrate classical traditions into formal schooling to strengthen religious understanding. Specific Background: SMP Pondok Pesantren DDI Mangkoso implements traditional Kitab Kuning studies alongside the standard Islamic Religious Education and Character Education curriculum. Knowledge Gap: The exact statistical contribution and relationship between traditional classical text studies and formal academic performance in junior secondary pesantren settings require rigorous empirical evaluation. Aims: This study aims to describe the implementation of Kitab Kuning studies and student learning outcomes, and to analyze their statistical relationship at SMP Pondok Pesantren DDI Mangkoso, Barru Regency. Results: Utilizing a saturated sample of 56 students and simple linear regression analysis via SPSS 25, findings reveal that both Kitab Kuning implementation and learning outcomes are in the moderate category (mean scores of 80.2500 and 30.9464, respectively), with Kitab Kuning study exerting a positive and significant influence (sig. 0.005 < 0.05) contributing 68.7% to student learning outcomes. Novelty: This research provides empirical evidence that classical text methodologies directly predict formal academic mastery within a contemporary Islamic junior high school framework. Implications: Schools should optimize teacher competence, systematic lesson planning, and interactive teaching methods to leverage classical text studies for continuous character development and educational quality. Highlights Kitab Kuning implementation and student learning outcomes at SMP Pondok Pesantren DDI Mangkoso predominantly fall into the moderate category. Simple linear regression demonstrates a positive and statistically significant relationship between traditional classical text programs and formal academic scores. Classical Islamic text instruction accounts for a major 68.7% contribution to academic performance variance among junior secondary students. Keywords Kitab Kuning Study; Learning Outcomes; Islamic Religious Education; Student Performance; Pesantren Curriculum]]>
