7,448 economically disadvantaged students were taught in Rusk County schools in 2023-24 school year

Rusk County schools enrolled 7,448 students classified as economically disadvantaged during the 2023-24 school year, according to the Texas Education Agency.

Of the 10,443 students enrolled in Rusk County schools, 71.3% were considered economically disadvantaged. This is a 0.8% decrease from the previous school year.

Rusk County enrolled the 57th highest number of students identified as economically disadvantaged among Texas counties.

A recent study by WalletHub classified Texas as one of the least-educated states in the U.S., ranking it 41st out of 50 in educational quality and student outcomes.

Underfunding is a frequently cited challenge facing Texas’ school districts. According to a 2024 report from the Texas Education Agency, per-pupil funding has not increased since 2019, despite inflation rates rising by more than 20% since then.

“As a result, many districts in our very own Central Texas region are being forced to cut back on essential programs, services, consider school closures, and adopt deficit budgets just to provide students with the education that they deserve,” Hutto ISD Trustee James Matlock stated in an interview.