East Central Texas News

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

Of the 8,188 students attending Anderson County schools, 52.1% were white. Hispanic students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 26.8% of the total enrollment.

In the previous school year, white students also made up the largest ethnic group in Anderson County, comprising 52.1% of the student body.

Westwood High School had the most even distribution of races among the county schools, which included 42.7% white students, 31.1% Hispanic students, 18.5% Black students, 6.4% multiracial students, 0.7% American Indian students, 0.5% Asian students, and 0.2% Pacific Islander students.

In the 2022-23 school year, total public school enrollment in the county increased by 0.2% 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
Cayuga Elementary School	White	81.7%	257
Cayuga High School	White	80.7%	171
Cayuga Middle School	White	79.5%	166
Elkhart Elementary School	White	77.1%	327
Elkhart High School	White	79.7%	315
Elkhart Intermediate School	White	79.1%	282
Elkhart Middle School	White	81.9%	270
Frankston Elementary School	White	76.7%	373
Frankston High School	White	70.2%	245
Frankston Middle School	White	78.3%	184
Neches Elementary School	White	76.5%	170
Neches High School	White	77.9%	140
Northside Primary School	Hispanic	39.4%	465
Palestine High School	Hispanic	45.1%	998
Palestine Junior High School	Hispanic	42.6%	493
Slocum High School	White	89.2%	93
Slocum PK - 8	White	89.5%	256
Southside Elementary School	Hispanic	45.9%	447
Story Intermediate School	Hispanic	41.3%	673
UT Tyler University Academy at Palestine	White	57.9%	228
Washington Early Childhood Center	Hispanic	43.9%	221
Westwood Elementary School	White	46.8%	408
Westwood High School	White	42.7%	438
Westwood Junior High School	White	46.3%	205
Westwood Primary School	White	47.9%	363