Harper 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, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Harper, Texas - 3 schools

An equity score of 35/100 ranks Harper Isd #775 of 1044 districts in Texas (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,575 per pupil, Harper Isd ranks #666 of 1202 Texas districts by per-pupil spending (Texas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

584
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$12,575
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Harper Isd operates 3 public schools serving 584 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Texas. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 elementary, 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 Gillespie County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,575 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 1202 Texas districts by per-pupil spending. See how Texas compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 80.0% local, 12.0% state, and 8.0% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 35/100, ranked #775 of 1044 in Texas against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (3 AP courses district-wide), a 197:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 7.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 75.8% White, 20.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Harper El, with a diversity index of 47.5/100.

Its largest campus is Harper El, enrolling 223 students (38% of the district's total enrollment).

Harper El accounts for 37.7% of all Harper Isd student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Harper Isd-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Harper Isd student-counselor ratio is 197:1 — 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 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Harper Isd chronic absenteeism rate is 7.9% — well below typical (typically associated with unusually small scale or exceptionally high per-unit investment)

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 Values this far below typical often correlate with unusually small scale or population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se — worth checking whether the underlying denominator is itself an outlier.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

8.0%
Federal
12.0%
State
80.0%
Local

Funding Equity

35
Equity Score
775 / 1044
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Harper Isd.

White 75.8%
Hispanic or Latino 20.8%
Multiracial 2.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 37.2/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Harper Isd's schools, below the Texas average of 44.7.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Harper El 47.5
  2. 2 Harper Middle 33.3
  3. 3 Harper H S 30.7

Programs & Resources

1 / 3
Schools with AP
3 AP courses total
197:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
7.9%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Harper Isd

School Enrollment
Harper El
223
Harper Middle
197
Harper H S
171

How Harper Isd Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Texas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Hale Center Isd Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Three Rivers Isd Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Iola Isd Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Bruceville-Eddy Isd Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Mart Isd Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Harper 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 · $12,031/pupil
Compare vs Harper Isd →
Dallas Isd
141,169 students · 240 schools · $12,650/pupil
Compare vs Harper Isd →
Cypress-Fairbanks Isd
118,010 students · 91 schools · $10,232/pupil
Compare vs Harper Isd →
Northside Isd
102,719 students · 124 schools · $10,615/pupil
Compare vs Harper Isd →
Katy Isd
92,667 students · 74 schools · $11,068/pupil
Compare vs Harper Isd →

Compare Harper 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 Harper Isd?

Harper Isd has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 elementary, 1 high. Total enrollment is 584 students.

How much does Harper Isd spend per student?

Harper Isd spends $12,575 per student. The district has an equity score of 35/100, ranking #775 in Texas.

What is the demographic composition of Harper Isd?

Harper Isd students are 75.8% White, 20.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% African American, 0.3% Asian, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Harper Isd?

Harper Isd has an equity score of 35/100, ranking #775 out of 1044 districts in Texas.