Total enrollment
70,449
+3,559 (+5%) vs SY 2020-21
Bell County
Texas · Public K-12
From the largest high school to the smallest elementary school, Bell County's 130 public schools collectively enroll about 71,041 K-12 students, with Killeen ISD the heaviest district by enrollment. The level mix is 73 elementary, 25 middle, and 26 high schools.
4-year change in Bell County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
113
+12 (+12%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Bell County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Texas | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 44.1% | #114 of 192 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 71,041 | #15 of 196 | #152 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 115 | #14 of 196 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.0:1 | #151 of 196 | #1,749 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 57.1% | #133 of 196 | #1,241 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 72.5% | #4 of 192 | #45 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Bell County school rankings
Residents
386,897
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
130
16 districts
Enrollment
71,041
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$68,865
Above Texas avg
Free/reduced lunch
57.1%
Below Texas avg
Elementary
73
35,358 students
Middle
25
15,079 students
High
26
19,925 students
Combined / other
6
679 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
KILLEEN ISD
39,396 students · 16 districts in Bell County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Bell County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
27.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
11.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.8%
civilian labor
Median age
32
27.5% under 18
Test scores in Bell County
Latest 2025-26 ELA proficiency, 92 schools ranked. Texas state average: 55.6%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- BELTON NEW TECH H S AT WASKOW· 84.0%
- LAKEWOOD EL· 78.0%
- HOLLAND H S· 77.0%
- ACADEMY H S· 75.0%
- RICHARD E CAVAZOS EL· 73.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- BARTLETT SCHOOLS· 34.0%
- KILLEEN EL· 34.0%
- SOUTHWEST EL· 35.0%
- EASTERN HILLS MIDDLE· 36.0%
- PALO ALTO MIDDLE· 36.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOLAN CREEK SCHOOL | Belton | Elementary | KG-07 | 109 | · |
| GATEWAY H S | Killeen | High | 09-12 | 84 | · |
| FRED W EDWARDS ACADEMY AEC | Temple | High | 09-12 | 77 | · |
| PRIORITY CHARTER SCHOOLS - KILLEEN | Killeen | Elementary | KG-05 | 76 | · |
| CEDAR CREST | Belton | High | 06-12 | 75 | · |
| WHEATLEY ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION CENTER | Temple | Combined | 01-12 | 55 | · |
| GATEWAY MIDDLE | Killeen | Middle | 06-08 | 48 | · |
| DISTRICT ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM | Belton | High | 07-12 | 46 | · |
| BELL COUNTY INSPIRE ACADEMY | Killeen | High | 07-12 | 44 | · |
| ADVENTHEALTH SCHOOL | Killeen | Combined | 02-12 | 13 | · |
| EL ALTER LEARNING CENTER | Killeen | Elementary | KG-05 | 13 | · |
| KI CHARTER - TEMPLE | Temple | High | 07-12 | 9 | · |
| BELL CO J J A E P | Temple | High | 10-10 | 1 | · |
| BELL COUNTY DAEP | Rogers | Middle | 08-08 | 1 | · |
| KILLEEN JJAEP | Killeen | High | 09-09 | 1 | · |
| BELL COUNTY ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL | Little River | High | 07-12 | 0 | · |
| BELTON NEW TECH H S AT WASKOW | Belton | High | 11-12 | 0 | · |
| EL146 | Killeen | Elementary | PK-05 | 0 | · |
| EL147 | Killeen | Elementary | PK-05 | 0 | · |
| ACADEMY JJAEP | Little River | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| BELL CO J J A E P | Killeen | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| BELL CO JJAEP | Bartlett | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| BELL CO JJAEP | Killeen | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| BELL COUNTY DAEP | Little River Academy | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| BELL COUNTY JJAEP | Rogers | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| BELL COUNTY JJAEP | Killeen | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| BELL COUNTY JJAEP | Florence | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| SALADO ESY EL | Salado | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| SCOTT & WHITE HOSPITAL | Temple | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| TROY J J A E P | Killeen | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Bell County
About Bell County
In Texas, Bell County is a sizable county of about 386,897 residents. 130 public schools across the county teaches about 71,041 students between them.
In context, census numbers show median household income runs near $68,865, about 27% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 11%.
Looking at the level breakdown, Bell County comprises 73 elementary schools (35,358 students), 25 middle schools (15,079), 26 high schools (19,925), and 6 combined or other schools.
KILLEEN ISD dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 39,396 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 70,449 students, expanded 5% from the 66,890 reported in SY 2020-21. Over that span, Bell County gained 12 schools, going from 101 to 113.
On allk12, the community for Bell County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data