Forest Country News

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

Of the 7,133 students attending Polk County schools, 58.5% were white. Hispanic students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 25.8% of the total enrollment.

In the previous school year, white students also made up the largest ethnic group in Polk County, comprising 59.2% of the student body.

Livingston Junior High School, Creekside Elementary School and Big Sandy School had the most diverse student body in Polk 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 1.1% 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
Big Sandy School	White	65.8%	512
Cedar Grove Elementary School	White	60%	513
Corrigan-Camden Elementary School	Hispanic	39.4%	401
Corrigan-Camden High School	Hispanic	40.4%	240
Corrigan-Camden Junior High School	Hispanic	40%	195
Creekside Elementary School	White	52%	515
Goodrich Elementary School	Hispanic	42.9%	140
Goodrich High School	Hispanic	41.9%	74
Goodrich Middle School	Hispanic	54.2%	48
Leggett Elementary School	White	72.7%	143
Leggett High School	White	56.3%	80
Livingston High School	White	57.7%	1,128
Livingston High School Academy	White	46.7%	15
Livingston Junior High School	White	59.2%	893
Onalaska Elementary School	White	77%	712
Onalaska Junior/Senior High School	White	81.2%	527
Pine Ridge Primary School	White	55.4%	475
Timber Creek Elementary School	White	58.4%	522