Concho Valley News

There were 22 Black students enrolled in Runnels County schools in the 2021-22 school year, 15.8% more than the previous year, according to the Texas Education Agency.

Data showed that Runnels County welcomed 2,021 students during the 2021-22 school year. Among them, Black comprised 1.1% of the student body to be the second least represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 16 schools in Runnels County, Ballinger Junior High School recorded the highest enrollment of Black students in the 2021-22 school year, with a total of five 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
Ballinger Elementary School	1.1	374
Winters Elementary School	0.7	307
Miles Elementary School	0.4	261
Ballinger High School	1.6	256
Miles High School	0.5	220
Ballinger Junior High School	2.5	201
Winters High School	1.8	164
Olfen School	0.7	134
Winters Junior High School	0	80
Fairview Accelerated (DAEP)	0	6
Wall Special Programs	0	5
Fairview DAEP	25	4
Winters/Fairview AEP	0	3
Fairview Accelerated	0	2
Fairview Accelerated	0	2
Fairview Special Programs	0	2