Waco ISD

Public school district · McLennan County · Texas · NCES district ID 4844280

Waco ISD spent $14,294 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, more than 87% of the other Texas districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 (median $12,244). Its 23 schools enrolled 13,376 students in 2024-25; 26.3% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $14,400 per student, up 0.7% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 81% (Texas: 90.3%).

NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 · Census Bureau school finances 2023-24 · NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 · method

Spending per student among Texas districts of similar size

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Waco ISD in enrollment (13,246 to 14,046 students) and Waco ISD itself.

Current spending per student, Texas districts closest in size to Waco ISD, FY23Waco ISD $14,294; Southwest ISD $13,119; Eagle Pass ISD $12,625; Victoria ISD $11,524; Belton ISD $11,135; Magnolia ISD $10,946; San Angelo ISD $10,684; Grapevine-Colleyville ISD $10,666; Coppell ISD $10,455; Wichita Falls ISD $10,200; State median, 1,000+ students $12,244.8k10k12k14k16kWaco ISD$14,294Southwest ISD$13,119Eagle Pass ISD$12,625Victoria ISD$11,524Belton ISD$11,135Magnolia ISD$10,946San Angelo ISD$10,684Grapevine-Colleyville ISD$10,666Coppell ISD$10,455Wichita Falls ISD$10,200State median, 1,000+ students $12,244
Current spending per student, Texas districts closest in size to Waco ISD, FY23Waco ISD $14,294; Southwest ISD $13,119; Eagle Pass ISD $12,625; Victoria ISD $11,524; Belton ISD $11,135; Magnolia ISD $10,946; San Angelo ISD $10,684; Grapevine-Colleyville ISD $10,666; Coppell ISD $10,455; Wichita Falls ISD $10,200; State median, 1,000+ students $12,244.8k10k12k14k16kWaco ISD$14,294Southwest ISD$13,119Eagle Pass ISD$12,625Victoria ISD$11,524Belton ISD$11,135Magnolia ISD$10,946San Angelo ISD$10,684Grapevine-Colleyville ISD$10,666Coppell ISD$10,455Wichita Falls ISD$10,200State median, 1,000+ students $12,244
Current spending per student, Texas districts closest in size to Waco ISD, FY23Waco ISD $14,294; Southwest ISD $13,119; Eagle Pass ISD $12,625; Victoria ISD $11,524; Belton ISD $11,135; Magnolia ISD $10,946; San Angelo ISD $10,684; Grapevine-Colleyville ISD $10,666; Coppell ISD $10,455; Wichita Falls ISD $10,200; State median, 1,000+ students $12,244.8k12k16kWaco ISD$14,294Southwest ISD$13,119Eagle Pass ISD$12,625Victoria ISD$11,524Belton ISD$11,135Magnolia ISD$10,946San Angelo ISD$10,684Grapevine-Colleyville ISD$10,666Coppell ISD$10,455Wichita Falls ISD$10,200State median, 1,000+ students $12,244
Current spending per student, Texas districts closest in size to Waco ISD, FY23Waco ISD $14,294; Southwest ISD $13,119; Eagle Pass ISD $12,625; Victoria ISD $11,524; Belton ISD $11,135; Magnolia ISD $10,946; San Angelo ISD $10,684; Grapevine-Colleyville ISD $10,666; Coppell ISD $10,455; Wichita Falls ISD $10,200; State median, 1,000+ students $12,244.8k12k16kWaco ISD$14,294Southwest ISD$13,119Eagle Pass ISD$12,625Victoria ISD$11,524Belton ISD$11,135Magnolia ISD$10,946San Angelo ISD$10,684Grapevine-Colleyville ISD$10,666Coppell ISD$10,455Wichita Falls ISD$10,200State median, 1,000+ students $12,244

Where the money came from

$245,264,000 in revenue: 26.3% state, 50.7% local and 23.0% federal. Total spending including $123,168,000 of capital outlay was $340,188,000, or $24,609 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

Waco ISD revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $64,460,000; Local $124,466,000; Federal $56,338,000; total $245,264,000.
  • State$64,460,000 26%
  • Local$124,466,000 51%
  • Federal$56,338,000 23%

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 577 districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).

Enrollment fell from 2022-23 to 2024-25

13,824 students in 2022-23, 13,517 students in 2023-24, 13,376 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.

Waco ISD enrollment by school year2022-23: 13,824, 2023-24: 13,517, 2024-25: 13,37605k10k15k2022-2313,8242023-2413,5172024-2513,376
Waco ISD enrollment by school year2022-23: 13,824, 2023-24: 13,517, 2024-25: 13,37605k10k15k2022-2313,8242023-2413,5172024-2513,376
Waco ISD enrollment by school year2022-23: 13,824, 2023-24: 13,517, 2024-25: 13,37605k10k15k2022-2313,8242023-2413,5172024-2513,376
Waco ISD enrollment by school year2022-23: 13,824, 2023-24: 13,517, 2024-25: 13,37605k10k15k2022-2313,8242023-2413,5172024-2513,376

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-2313,824984.814.0
2023-2413,517970.013.9
2024-2513,376921.914.5

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.

$51,933,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $3,757 per student

Waco ISD booked $51,933,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 997 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $52,079 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 58 in 100 Texas districts with a figure (state median $50,660, 1,054 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Texas teacher salary at $58,887 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).

ProgramTeacher salariesShare
Regular programs$33,790,00065.1%
Special education$8,628,00016.6%
Vocational$3,171,0006.1%
Other programs$6,344,00012.2%

Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $3,344 in 2018-19, $3,536 in 2019-20, $3,678 in 2020-21, $3,733 in 2021-22, $3,757 in 2022-23.

Waco ISD teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,344, 2019-20: $3,536, 2020-21: $3,678, 2021-22: $3,733, 2022-23: $3,75701k2k3k4k2018-19$3,3442019-20$3,5362020-21$3,6782021-22$3,7332022-23$3,757
Waco ISD teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,344, 2019-20: $3,536, 2020-21: $3,678, 2021-22: $3,733, 2022-23: $3,75701k2k3k4k2018-19$3,3442019-20$3,5362020-21$3,6782021-22$3,7332022-23$3,757
Waco ISD teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,344, 2019-20: $3,536, 2020-21: $3,678, 2021-22: $3,733, 2022-23: $3,75701k2k3k4k2018-19$3,3442019-20$3,5362020-21$3,6782021-22$3,7332022-23$3,757
Waco ISD teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,344, 2019-20: $3,536, 2020-21: $3,678, 2021-22: $3,733, 2022-23: $3,75701k2k3k4k2018-19$3,3442019-20$3,5362020-21$3,6782021-22$3,7332022-23$3,757

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).

State test results, 2021-22

In 2021-22, the students tested in Waco ISD scored proficient or above: 34% in reading and 20% in math, against 52% in reading and 42% in math across Texas. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within Texas, not across states. Where a state published results by grade only, the grades tested are combined, weighted by the students tested in each.

Students proficient or above, 2021-22
SubjectThis districtTexasStudents tested
Reading and language arts34%52%6,027
Math20%42%5,029

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.

Graduation rate, class of 2023

81% of the 975 students in Waco ISD's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 90.3% across Texas. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.

Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, class of 2023
This districtTexas
Four-year graduation rate81%90.3%
Students in the class975403,301

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.

15 elementary schools, 7,106 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Bell's Hill Elementary78615.794.0%Schoolwide program
Lake Air Montessori School73413.466.5%Schoolwide program
Dean Highland Elementary61717.293.4%Schoolwide program
Parkdale Elementary49713.891.5%Schoolwide program
South Waco Elementary49018.196.7%Schoolwide program
Alta Vista Elementary47914.588.1%Schoolwide program
Crestview Elementary46415.593.1%Schoolwide program
Cedar Ridge Elementary44615.593.9%Schoolwide program
Kendrick Elementary44614.492.6%Schoolwide program
Hillcrest Pds Magnet43114.861.9%Schoolwide program
Provident Heights Elementary38314.793.2%Schoolwide program
J H Hines Elementary37919.498.2%Schoolwide program
The other 3 elementary schools
SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Brook Avenue Elementary35617.096.9%Schoolwide program
Mountainview Elementary34913.783.4%Schoolwide program
West Avenue Elementary24913.895.2%Schoolwide program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

3 middle schools, 2,472 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Tennyson Middle96315.680.5%Schoolwide program
Cesar Chavez Middle78613.992.7%Schoolwide program
Indian Spring Middle72313.094.7%Schoolwide program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

4 high schools, 3,700 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Waco High School1,88513.482.2%Schoolwide program
University High School1,75214.283.0%Schoolwide program
Challenge Academy5213.486.5%Not Title I
Bill Logue Detention Center1191.772.7%Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

1 other school, 98 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
G L Wiley Opportunity Center986.581.6%Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

2 more schools on file: small, closed or in an earlier directory

These records carry fewer federal fields than a full school page needs, so each is summarized here with what NCES reports.

G W Carver Middle

Middle school in Waco; 393 students; 11.9 students per teacher.

Brazos High School

High school in Waco; last listed in the 2024-25 NCES directory (closed); 86 students; 11.4 students per teacher.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 and earlier directories: the last year each school was listed, its students and its teachers.

Contact Waco ISD

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.

What to look at next about Waco ISD

  1. Texas districts by spending per studentWaco ISD ranks 75 of 577 Texas districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($14,294).#75 of 577
  2. Every school district in TexasWaco ISD is the number 91 by size of 1,212 Texas districts, with 13,824 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#91 of 1,212
  3. Eagle Pass ISDThe next larger Texas district: 13,935 students in fall 2022, $12,625 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$12,625
  4. Grapevine-Colleyville ISDThe next smaller Texas district: 13,772 students in fall 2022, $10,666 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$10,666
  5. Compare Waco ISD with Eagle Pass ISDEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Waco High School, its largest high school1,885 students in 2024-25, 13.4 per teacher.1,885
  7. Teacher salary spending across TexasWaco ISD spent $52,079 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $50,660); spending, not a salary.$52,079
  8. Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.

Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).

Questions about Waco ISD

  1. How many schools and students are in Waco ISD?
    23 schools were open in 2024-25 (15 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high, 1 other), enrolling 13,376 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does Waco ISD spend per student?
    $14,294 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the Texas median for districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $12,244 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $14,400 per student, up 0.7% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does Waco ISD's money come from?
    $245,264,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 26.3% state, 50.7% local and 23.0% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in Waco ISD live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 4,757 of the 17,636 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 27.0%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.
  5. How much does Waco ISD spend on teacher salaries?
    $51,933,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $3,757 per student. Divided by the 997 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $52,079 per teacher, more than 58 in 100 Texas districts (state median $50,660). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Texas teacher salary at $58,887 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
  6. How do students in Waco ISD do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in Waco ISD scored proficient or above: 34% in reading and 20% in math, against 52% in reading and 42% in math across Texas. Texas's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.
  7. What is the graduation rate in Waco ISD?
    81% of the 975 students in Waco ISD's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 90.3% across Texas. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.
  8. What is Waco ISD's NCES district ID?
    4844280. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.

Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.

Sources

Every federal file behind this record
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
  • Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
  • EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
  • EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25

Compiled from official source data by .