Total enrollment
2,117
-290 (-12%) vs SY 2020-21
Dawson County
Texas · Public K-12
Dawson County, Texas hosts 4 public K-12 schools and around 2,117 students, averaging roughly 529 per school. Lamesa ISD runs the largest share.
4-year change in Dawson County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
4
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Dawson County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Texas | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 33.1% | #184 of 192 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 2,117 | #155 of 196 | #2,178 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 4 | #186 of 196 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.3:1 | #52 of 196 | #621 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 68.0% | #60 of 196 | #801 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 38.9% | #152 of 192 | #1,522 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
12,134
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
4
4 districts
Enrollment
2,117
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$54,360
Below Texas avg
Free/reduced lunch
68.0%
Above Texas avg
Elementary
0
schools
Middle
0
schools
High
0
schools
Combined / other
4
2,117 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
LAMESA ISD
1,484 students · 4 districts in Dawson County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Dawson 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+
12.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
16.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.4%
civilian labor
Median age
35
24.3% under 18
Test scores in Dawson County
Latest 2025-26 ELA proficiency, 4 schools ranked. Texas state average: 55.6%.
Top 4 schools (ELA)
- KLONDIKE ISD· 87.0%
- SANDS CISD· 61.0%
- LAMESA SCHOOLS· 37.0%
- DAWSON SCHOOL· 36.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAMESA SCHOOLS | Lamesa | Combined | PK-12 | 1,484 | · |
| KLONDIKE ISD | Lamesa | Combined | PK-12 | 261 | · |
| SANDS CISD | Ackerly | Combined | PK-12 | 232 | · |
| DAWSON SCHOOL | Welch | Combined | PK-12 | 140 | · |
Cities in Dawson County
About Dawson County
Dawson County is a sparse Texas county of about 12,134 residents, home to 4 public schools and roughly 2,117 students.
Stepping back, census numbers show the median household earns about $54,360 a year, roughly 13% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 17%. That income level is 18% noticeably below the Texas median.
LAMESA ISD dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,484 students on its own.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,117 students, contracted 12% from the 2,407 reported in SY 2020-21.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Dawson County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data