Longview Times

White students made up the largest ethnic group in Upshur County schools in the 2022-23 school year, according to the Texas Education Agency.

Of the 8,012 students attending Upshur County schools, 66.7% were white. Hispanic students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 18.9% of the total enrollment.

In the previous school year, white students also made up the largest ethnic group in Upshur County, comprising 68.1% of the student body.

Gladewater High School and Gilmer Elementary School had the most diverse student body in Upshur County, including white, American Indian, Black, Asian, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and multiracial.

In the 2022-23 school year, total public school enrollment in the county increased by 0.9% when compared to the previous year.

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.

School name	Most prevalent ethnic group	Percent of Total Student Body	Total enrollment
Azleway - Big Sandy	Hispanic	45.5%	22
Big Sandy Elementary School	White	68.8%	337
Big Sandy High School	White	69.3%	189
Big Sandy Junior High School	White	65.5%	145
Bruce Junior High School	White	55.9%	429
Gilmer Elementary School	White	57.2%	1,179
Gilmer High School	White	58.5%	815
Gilmer Intermediate School	White	56.7%	402
Gladewater High School	White	53.2%	459
Harmony Elementary School	White	74.8%	313
Harmony High School	White	75.2%	282
Harmony Intermediate School	White	76.3%	156
Harmony Junior High School	White	75.6%	258
New Diana High School	White	73.3%	330
New Diana Middle School	White	71.3%	282
Ore City Elementary School	White	63.9%	399
Ore City High School	White	68.3%	243
Ore City Middle School	White	69.4%	183
Robert F. Hunt Elementary School	White	78%	574
Sharon A. Richardson Elementary School	White	69.4%	111
Union Grove Elementary School	White	83%	406
Union Grove High School	White	85.2%	229
Union Grove Junior High School	White	79.4%	126
Union Hill High School	White	78.3%	143