Waelder 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.

Waelder, Texas - 1 schools

An equity score of 75/100 ranks Waelder Isd #121 of 1047 districts in Texas (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $15,741 per pupil, Waelder Isd ranks #289 of 1207 Texas districts by per-pupil spending (Texas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

290
Total Enrollment
1
Schools
$15,741
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Waelder Isd operates 1 public schools serving 290 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 Gonzales County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $15,741 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 1207 Texas districts by per-pupil spending. See how Texas compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 47.6% local, 29.8% state, and 22.7% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 75/100, ranked #121 of 1047 in Texas against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 1 schools offering Advanced Placement (3 AP courses district-wide), a 302:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 33.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 85.8% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% White, 5.0% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Waelder School, enrolling 302 students (100% of the district's total enrollment).

Waelder School accounts for 100.0% of all Waelder Isd student enrollment

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

Waelder Isd reports 95.5% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share is above 87.5%, so economic need is widespread across the measured student population. 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

Waelder Isd student-counselor ratio is 302:1 — 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 Waelder Isd is typically wider than the Waelder Isd-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Waelder Isd chronic absenteeism rate is 33.8% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

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

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

22.7%
Federal
29.8%
State
47.6%
Local

Funding Equity

75
Equity Score
121 / 1047
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 1 schools in Waelder Isd.

White 7.6%
Hispanic or Latino 85.8%
African American 5.0%
Multiracial 1.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 1
Schools with AP
3 AP courses total
302:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
33.8%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Waelder Isd

School Enrollment
Waelder School
302

How Waelder Isd Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Texas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Menard Isd Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
O'donnell Isd Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Driscoll Isd Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Abbott Isd Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Wellman-Union Cisd Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

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

Waelder Isd has 1 school, including 1 combined. Total enrollment is 290 students.

How much does Waelder Isd spend per student?

Waelder Isd spends $15,741 per student. The district has an equity score of 75/100, ranking #121 in Texas.

What is the demographic composition of Waelder Isd?

Waelder Isd students are 85.8% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% White, 5.0% African American, averaged across 1 school. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Waelder Isd?

Waelder Isd has an equity score of 75/100, ranking #121 out of 1047 districts in Texas.