Forest Country News

There were 610 Black students enrolled in Polk County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 1.6% less than the previous year, according to the Texas Education Agency.

Data showed that Polk County welcomed 7,133 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, Black students comprised 8.6% of the student body to be the third most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 18 schools in Polk County, Livingston High School recorded the highest enrollment of Black students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of 118 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
Livingston High School	10.5	1,128
Livingston Junior High School	8.8	893
Onalaska Elementary School	2.8	712
Onalaska Junior/Senior High School	2.7	527
Timber Creek Elementary School	8.6	522
Creekside Elementary School	7.8	515
Cedar Grove Elementary School	7.6	513
Big Sandy School	1.4	512
Pine Ridge Primary School	7.6	475
Corrigan-Camden Elementary School	13.5	401
Corrigan-Camden High School	23.8	240
Corrigan-Camden Junior High School	21.5	195
Leggett Elementary School	7.7	143
Goodrich Elementary School	10	140
Leggett High School	12.5	80
Goodrich High School	20.3	74
Goodrich Middle School	14.6	48
Livingston High School Academy	13.3	15