Total enrollment
1,072
-107 (-9%) vs SY 2020-21
Carson County
Texas · Public K-12
Carson County, Texas's 6 public schools span elementary through high school (2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high). Total enrollment is roughly 1,072 students.
4-year change in Carson County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
6
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Carson County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Texas | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 60.2% | #10 of 192 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,072 | #195 of 196 | #2,705 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 6 | #160 of 196 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 9.8:1 | #4 of 196 | #97 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 28.1% | #195 of 196 | #2,428 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 32.7% | #166 of 192 | #1,719 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.
Residents
5,801
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
6
3 districts
Enrollment
1,072
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$85,231
Above Texas avg
Free/reduced lunch
28.1%
Below Texas avg
Elementary
2
456 students
Middle
1
129 students
High
2
357 students
Combined / other
1
130 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
PANHANDLE ISD
620 students · 3 districts in Carson County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Carson 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+
26.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
3.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.2%
civilian labor
Median age
41
23.2% under 18
Test scores in Carson County
Latest 2025-26 ELA proficiency, 6 schools ranked. Texas state average: 55.6%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- PANHANDLE H S· 78.0%
- PANHANDLE J H· 78.0%
- PANHANDLE EL· 65.0%
- WHITE DEER H S· 61.0%
- GROOM SCHOOL· 53.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- WHITE DEER EL· 51.0%
- GROOM SCHOOL· 53.0%
- WHITE DEER H S· 61.0%
- PANHANDLE EL· 65.0%
- PANHANDLE H S· 78.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PANHANDLE EL | Panhandle | Elementary | PK-05 | 290 | · |
| PANHANDLE H S | Panhandle | High | 09-12 | 201 | · |
| WHITE DEER EL | White Deer | Elementary | PK-05 | 166 | · |
| WHITE DEER H S | White Deer | High | 06-12 | 156 | · |
| GROOM SCHOOL | Groom | Combined | PK-12 | 130 | · |
| PANHANDLE J H | Panhandle | Middle | 06-08 | 129 | · |
Cities in Carson County
About Carson County
Carson County is a small Texas county of about 5,801 residents, home to 6 public schools and roughly 1,072 students.
Stepping back, census numbers show the median household earns about $85,231 a year, roughly 26% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 4%. That income level is 28% higher than the Texas median.
For a sense of the school types, Carson County is made up of 2 elementary schools (456 students), 1 middle school (129), 2 high schools (357), and 1 combined or other schools.
PANHANDLE ISD dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 620 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment shrank 9%: 1,179 students in SY 2020-21 versus 1,072 in SY 2024-25.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Carson 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