North Coastal News

There were 635 Black students enrolled in Matagorda County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 1.4% less than the previous year, according to the Texas Education Agency.

Data showed that Matagorda County welcomed 7,084 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, Black students comprised 9% of the student body to be the third most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 18 schools in Matagorda County, Bay City High School recorded the highest enrollment of Black students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of 128 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
Bay City High School	12.4	1,031
Bay City Junior High School	15.2	789
Tenie Holmes Elementary School	14.4	780
Roberts Elementary School	15.8	513
Cherry Elementary School	15.7	466
Palacios High School	1.3	383
Van Vleck High School	10.1	355
Central Elementary School	0.9	349
Van Vleck Elementary School	5	303
Palacios Junior High School	0.7	293
Blessing Elementary School	0	284
East Side Intermediate School	0.7	275
Tidehaven High School	2.6	274
Markham Elementary School	5.5	254
Van Vleck Junior High School	7	243
Tidehaven Intermediate School	2.1	233
Van Vleck Intermediate School	8.8	170
Matagorda School	0	89