Corpus Christi Sun

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

Of the 7,597 students attending Jim Wells County schools, 85.1% were Hispanic. White students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 13.8% of the total enrollment.

In the previous school year, Hispanic students also made up the largest ethnic group in Jim Wells County, comprising 85.5% of the student body.

Orange Grove High School had the most even distribution of races among the county schools, which included 63.3% Hispanic students, 34.6% white students, 1.3% multiracial students, 0.5% Black students, and 0.4% Asian students.

In the 2022-23 school year, total public school enrollment in the county increased by 1.8% 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
Adams Middle School	Hispanic	93.7%	1,029
Alice High School	Hispanic	93.3%	1,290
Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco Elementary School	Hispanic	87.2%	266
Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco High School	Hispanic	91.2%	228
Dubose Elementary School	Hispanic	90.5%	536
La Gloria Elementary School	Hispanic	94.1%	102
Noonan Elementary School	Hispanic	92.1%	572
Orange Grove Elementary School	Hispanic	62%	358
Orange Grove High School	Hispanic	63.3%	558
Orange Grove Junior High School	Hispanic	58.3%	396
Orange Grove Primary School	Hispanic	61.4%	443
Premont Collegiate High School	Hispanic	95%	361
Premont Ernest High Singleton Early College Academy	Hispanic	98.2%	379
Saenz Elementary School	Hispanic	94.4%	533
Schallert Elementary School	Hispanic	83.2%	546