Texas State Board Of Education Secretary Pat Hardy (2024) | twitter.com/pathardy
Texas State Board Of Education Secretary Pat Hardy (2024) | twitter.com/pathardy
Of the 12,802 students attending Rusk County schools, 44% were white. Hispanic students comprised the second-largest ethnic group in the county, making up 35.9% of the student body.
In the previous school year, white students were also the most represented group in Rusk County districts, comprising 45.1% of the student body.
Laneville ISD had the most even distribution of races among county districts, with 34% Black students, 31.3% Hispanic students, 27.3% white students, and 7.3% multiracial students.
In the 2022-23 school year, the total number of students enrolled in the county increased 0.9% compared to the previous year.
The main offices of all districts mentioned in the story are located in cities associated with Rusk County.
The Texas education system is currently torn between public schools and taxpayer-funded private schools.
Critics argue that private schools use funds that should go to the public school system, while private school advocates claim they’re offering better education for more Texas students.
Education in Texas is often a hot button issue, especially as test scores lag behind other states.
“The problems commonly cited are flaws in the school financing system, relatively low teacher salary, poor test performance by students…dropouts from traditional schools in favor of charter schools…gun violence, and mental health issues,” claimed the Texas Almanac.
| District | Most prevalent ethnic group | Percent of Total Student Body | Total enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlisle ISD | Hispanic | 54.4% | 623 |
| Henderson ISD | White | 42.1% | 3,400 |
| Kilgore ISD | White | 43% | 3,821 |
| Laneville ISD | Black | 34% | 150 |
| Leveretts Chapel ISD | Hispanic | 44.9% | 234 |
| Mount Enterprise ISD | White | 72.6% | 496 |
| Overton ISD | White | 71.3% | 494 |
| Tatum ISD | White | 46.7% | 1,476 |
| The Excel Center (for Adults) | Hispanic | 55.9% | 1,060 |
| West Rusk County Consolidated ISD | White | 54.7% | 1,048 |
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