Hill Country Chronicle

White students made up the largest ethnic group in Gillespie County schools in the 2022-23 school year, according to the Texas Education Agency.

Of the 3,700 students attending Gillespie County schools, 51.8% were white. Hispanic students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 45.6% of the total enrollment.

In the previous school year, white students also made up the largest ethnic group in Gillespie County, comprising 52.3% of the student body.

Fredericksburg High School, Fredericksburg Elementary School and Fredericksburg Primary School had the most diverse student body in Gillespie County, including white, American Indian, Black, Asian, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and multiracial.

In the 2022-23 school year, total public school enrollment in the county dropped 0.1% when compared to the previous year.

Education in Texas is often a hot button issue, especially as test scores lag behind other states.

“The problems commonly cited are flaws in the school financing system, relatively low teacher salary, poor test performance by students…dropouts from traditional schools in favor of charter schools…gun violence, and mental health issues,” claimed the Texas Almanac.

School name	Most prevalent ethnic group	Percent of Total Student Body	Total enrollment
Alter School	Hispanic	57.5%	40
Doss Elementary School	White	54.5%	22
Fredericksburg Elementary School	Hispanic	56.5%	744
Fredericksburg High School	White	51%	1,003
Fredericksburg Middle School	Hispanic	52.3%	684
Fredericksburg Primary School	Hispanic	58.1%	515
Harper Elementary School	White	71.9%	217
Harper High School	White	86.7%	188
Harper Middle School	White	82.7%	179
Stonewall Elementary School	White	80.6%	108