Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath (2024) | onestarfoundation.org
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath (2024) | onestarfoundation.org
Of the 79,642 students attending Bell County schools, 35.8% were Hispanic. White students comprised the second-largest ethnic group in the county, making up 29.5% of the student body.
In the previous school year, Hispanic students were also the most represented group in Bell County districts, comprising 34.7% of the student body.
Killeen ISD had the most even distribution of races among county districts, with 33.9% Hispanic students, 33.4% Black students, 18.3% white students, 9.6% multiracial students, 2.3% Asian students, 2.1% Pacific Islander students, and 0.5% American Indian students.
In the 2022-23 school year, the total number of students enrolled in the county increased 1.1% compared to the previous year.
The main offices of all districts mentioned in the story are located in cities associated with Bell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy ISD | White | 60.6% | 1,835 |
| Bartlett ISD | Hispanic | 61% | 461 |
| Belton ISD | White | 48.6% | 13,644 |
| Holland ISD | White | 67.8% | 634 |
| Inspire Academies | Hispanic | 53.1% | 735 |
| Killeen ISD | Hispanic | 33.9% | 43,935 |
| Orenda Charter School | White | 54.7% | 1,878 |
| Priority Charter Schools | White | 34.8% | 751 |
| Richard Milburn Alter High School (Killeen) | Hispanic | 65.4% | 1,693 |
| Rogers ISD | White | 64.3% | 880 |
| Salado ISD | White | 68.5% | 2,336 |
| Temple ISD | Hispanic | 47.6% | 8,615 |
| Troy ISD | White | 60.5% | 1,690 |
| University of Texas University Charter School | White | 45.6% | 555 |
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY
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