Palmer 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.

Palmer, Texas - 3 schools

An equity score of 36/100 ranks Palmer Isd #755 of 1044 districts in Texas (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,552 per pupil, Palmer Isd ranks #871 of 1202 Texas districts by per-pupil spending (Texas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,304
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$11,552
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Palmer Isd operates 3 public schools serving 1,304 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 Ellis County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,552 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 30.6% local, 54.9% state, and 14.5% 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 36/100, ranked #755 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.

a 450.3:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 16.2% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 47.8% White, 46.9% Hispanic or Latino, 1.4% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Palmer H S, with a diversity index of 55.6/100.

Its largest campus is Palmer El, enrolling 525 students (39% of the district's total enrollment).

Palmer El accounts for 38.9% of all Palmer Isd student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Palmer 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

Palmer Isd student-counselor ratio is 450:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Palmer Isd chronic absenteeism rate is 16.2% — 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 Palmer Isd is typically wider than the Palmer Isd-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

14.5%
Federal
54.9%
State
30.6%
Local

Funding Equity

36
Equity Score
755 / 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 Palmer Isd.

White 47.8%
Hispanic or Latino 46.9%
African American 1.4%
Multiracial 3.2%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 55.0/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Palmer H S 55.6
  2. 2 Palmer El 54.8
  3. 3 Palmer Middle 54.7

Programs & Resources

450.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
16.2%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Palmer Isd

School Enrollment
Palmer El
525
Palmer Middle
423
Palmer H S
403

How Palmer Isd Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Texas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Palacios Isd Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Paradise Isd Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
River Road Isd Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Goliad Isd Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Wall Isd Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

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

Compare Palmer 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 Palmer Isd?

Palmer Isd has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 elementary, 1 high. Total enrollment is 1,304 students.

How much does Palmer Isd spend per student?

Palmer Isd spends $11,552 per student. The district has an equity score of 36/100, ranking #755 in Texas.

What is the demographic composition of Palmer Isd?

Palmer Isd students are 47.8% White, 46.9% Hispanic or Latino, 1.4% African American, 0.4% Asian, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Palmer Isd?

Palmer Isd has an equity score of 36/100, ranking #755 out of 1044 districts in Texas.