Corpus Christi Sun

Jim Wells County schools enrolled 5,880 students who identified as economically disadvantaged in the state during the 2021-22 school year, according to the Texas Education Agency.

Of the 7,463 students enrolled in Jim Wells County schools, 78.8% were considered economically disadvantaged. This is a 16.6% increase over the previous school year.

Jim Wells County enrolled the 63rd highest number of students identified as economically disadvantaged among Texas counties.

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	Number of Economically Disadvantaged Students	Total Number of Students
Alice High School	1,013	1,295
Adams Middle School	856	1,014
Noonan Elementary School	490	536
Dubose Elementary School	464	498
Saenz Elementary School	460	502
Schallert Elementary School	414	524
Premont Ernest High Singleton Early College Academy	363	393
Orange Grove High School	316	556
Premont Collegiate High School	307	337
Orange Grove Primary School	276	448
Orange Grove Junior High School	244	402
Orange Grove Elementary School	225	367
Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco Elementary School	214	262
Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco High School	184	235
La Gloria Elementary School	54	94