Longview Times

There were 455 Black students enrolled in Upshur County schools in the 2021-22 school year, 0.2% more than the previous year, according to the Texas Education Agency.

Data showed that Upshur County welcomed 7,439 students during the 2021-22 school year. Among them, Black comprised 6.1% of the student body to be the third most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 22 schools in Upshur County, Gilmer Elementary School recorded the highest enrollment of Black students in the 2021-22 school year, with a total of 111 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.

School name	% of Black students enrolment	Total enrollment
Gilmer Elementary School	9.9	1,116
Gilmer High School	9.9	785
Robert F. Hunt Elementary School	6.8	584
Ore City Elementary School	4	421
Bruce Junior High School	8.9	392
Gilmer Intermediate School	7.5	385
Union Grove Elementary School	0.5	378
New Diana High School	7.5	348
Harmony Elementary School	1.5	330
Big Sandy Elementary School	7.3	317
Harmony High School	0.7	291
New Diana Middle School	6.7	285
Ore City High School	4	247
Harmony Junior High School	0	242
Union Grove High School	0	212
Big Sandy High School	11.1	199
Ore City Middle School	3.6	193
Harmony Intermediate School	1.1	174
Union Hill High School	6.2	161
Big Sandy Junior High School	7.7	143
Sharon A. Richardson Elementary School	4.9	123
Union Grove Junior High School	0	113