Gary Isd

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Gary, Texas - 1 schools

An equity score of 57/100 ranks Gary Isd #400 of 1047 districts in Texas (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,781 per pupil, Gary Isd ranks #736 of 1207 Texas districts by per-pupil spending (Texas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

493
Total Enrollment
1
Schools
$12,781
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Gary Isd operates 1 public schools serving 493 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Texas. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Panola County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,781 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 1207 Texas districts by per-pupil spending. See how Texas compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 24.8% local, 52.6% state, and 22.6% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 57/100, ranked #400 of 1047 in Texas against a state average of 50, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 238:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 24.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 89.7% White, 8.0% Hispanic or Latino, 0.8% Asian across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Gary School, enrolling 476 students (100% of the district's total enrollment).

Gary School accounts for 96.6% of all Gary Isd student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Gary Isd a distant remainder — means Gary Isd-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Because it contains a majority of the affected population, enrollment-weighted aggregates will sit closer to this entity's reported fields than to those of smaller peers; an unweighted entity count answers a different question.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Gary Isd reports 58.6% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share clears the 50% majority mark. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Gary Isd student-counselor ratio is 238:1 — low (typically associated with meeting or exceeding the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommended 250:1 benchmark, which correlates with stronger college and career counseling capacity)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Gary Isd chronic absenteeism rate is 24.8% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Gary Isd is typically wider than the Gary Isd-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

22.6%
Federal
52.6%
State
24.8%
Local

Funding Equity

57
Equity Score
400 / 1047
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 1 schools in Gary Isd.

White 89.7%
Hispanic or Latino 8.0%
Asian 0.8%
Multiracial 1.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

238:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
24.8%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Gary Isd

School Enrollment
Gary School
476

How Gary Isd Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Texas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Nova Academy Southeast Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Cedars International Academy Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Manara Academy Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Archer City Isd Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco Isd Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Gary Isd's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Texas

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Houston Isd
189,934 students · 274 schools · $13,072/pupil
Compare vs Gary Isd →
Dallas Isd
141,169 students · 240 schools · $14,470/pupil
Compare vs Gary Isd →
Cypress-Fairbanks Isd
118,010 students · 91 schools · $10,693/pupil
Compare vs Gary Isd →
Northside Isd
102,719 students · 124 schools · $10,632/pupil
Compare vs Gary Isd →
Katy Isd
92,667 students · 74 schools · $11,284/pupil
Compare vs Gary Isd →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Gary Isd

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Houston Isd →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Gary Isd?

Gary Isd has 1 school, including 1 combined. Total enrollment is 493 students.

How much does Gary Isd spend per student?

Gary Isd spends $12,781 per student. The district has an equity score of 57/100, ranking #400 in Texas.

What is the demographic composition of Gary Isd?

Gary Isd students are 89.7% White, 8.0% Hispanic or Latino, 0.8% Asian, averaged across 1 school. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Gary Isd?

Gary Isd has an equity score of 57/100, ranking #400 out of 1047 districts in Texas.