East Central Texas News

There were 1,289 Black students enrolled in Anderson County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 0.4% less than the previous year, according to the Texas Education Agency.

Data showed that Anderson County welcomed 8,188 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, Black students comprised 15.7% of the student body to be the third most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 25 schools in Anderson County, Palestine High School recorded the highest enrollment of Black students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of 211 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
Palestine High School	21.1	998
Story Intermediate School	27.3	673
Palestine Junior High School	24.7	493
Northside Primary School	23.4	465
Southside Elementary School	26.4	447
Westwood High School	18.5	438
Westwood Elementary School	20.6	408
Frankston Elementary School	7.5	373
Westwood Primary School	22.6	363
Elkhart Elementary School	4.3	327
Elkhart High School	3.8	315
Elkhart Intermediate School	4.6	282
Elkhart Middle School	3.3	270
Cayuga Elementary School	5.4	257
Slocum PK - 8	0	256
Frankston High School	10.2	245
UT Tyler University Academy at Palestine	8.8	228
Washington Early Childhood Center	29	221
Westwood Junior High School	24.9	205
Frankston Middle School	6	184
Cayuga High School	3.5	171
Neches Elementary School	7.6	170
Cayuga Middle School	4.8	166
Neches High School	7.1	140
Slocum High School	0	93