Gholson 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.

Waco, Texas - 2 schools

An equity score of 49/100 ranks Gholson Isd #559 of 1047 districts in Texas (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,536 per pupil, Gholson Isd ranks #948 of 1207 Texas districts by per-pupil spending (Texas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

263
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$11,536
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Gholson Isd operates 2 public schools serving 263 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Texas. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 high 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 Mclennan County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,536 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 18.3% local, 65.0% state, and 16.6% 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 49/100, ranked #559 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 264:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 21.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 62.9% Hispanic or Latino, 32.4% White, 2.3% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Gholson School, enrolling 264 students (100% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Mclennan County Challenge Academy, at 1 students, a 264x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Gholson School accounts for 99.6% of all Gholson Isd student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Gholson Isd a distant remainder — means Gholson 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

Gholson Isd reports 64.1% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share sits between 62.5% and 75%, above a simple majority but below the highest descriptive band used here. 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

Gholson Isd student-counselor ratio is 264:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

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 Variation between sub-units within Gholson Isd is typically wider than the Gholson Isd-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Gholson Isd chronic absenteeism rate is 21.6% — 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 Gholson Isd is typically wider than the Gholson Isd-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

16.6%
Federal
65.0%
State
18.3%
Local

Funding Equity

49
Equity Score
559 / 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 2 schools in Gholson Isd.

White 32.4%
Hispanic or Latino 62.9%
African American 2.3%
Multiracial 2.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

264:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
21.6%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Gholson Isd

School Enrollment
Gholson School
264
Mclennan County Challenge Academy
1

How Gholson Isd Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Texas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Excellence in Leadership Academy Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Richland Collegiate High School Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Goodrich Isd Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Rotan Isd Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Bryson Isd Similar size Higher spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Gholson 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 Gholson Isd →
Dallas Isd
141,169 students · 240 schools · $14,470/pupil
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Cypress-Fairbanks Isd
118,010 students · 91 schools · $10,693/pupil
Compare vs Gholson Isd →
Northside Isd
102,719 students · 124 schools · $10,632/pupil
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Katy Isd
92,667 students · 74 schools · $11,284/pupil
Compare vs Gholson 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 Gholson 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 Gholson Isd?

Gholson Isd has 2 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high. Total enrollment is 263 students.

How much does Gholson Isd spend per student?

Gholson Isd spends $11,536 per student. The district has an equity score of 49/100, ranking #559 in Texas.

What is the demographic composition of Gholson Isd?

Gholson Isd students are 62.9% Hispanic or Latino, 32.4% White, 2.3% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Gholson Isd?

Gholson Isd has an equity score of 49/100, ranking #559 out of 1047 districts in Texas.