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Karnes County

Texas · Public K-12

Karnes County's public schools, 15 in all, serve approximately 2,456 K-12 students inside Texas, with Karnes City ISD the largest district by enrollment. By level, that breaks down as 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 5 high schools.

7-year change in Karnes County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
2,456
-135 (-5%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
12
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
24%
was 26%
% Hispanic
72%
was 71%
% Black
2%
was 2%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
15
5 districts
Enrollment
2,456
NCES CCD
Median income
$60,214
Below Texas avg
Free/reduced lunch
62.1%
Above Texas avg
Elementary
5
1,246 students
Middle
2
383 students
High
5
827 students
Combined / other
3
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
KARNES CITY ISD
1,017 students · 5 districts in Karnes County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Karnes 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
White
51%
Hispanic
53%
Black
10%
Asian
0%
Two or more
28%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
24%
Hispanic
72%
Black
2%
Asian
0%
Two or more
1%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
14.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
13.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.9%
civilian labor
Median age
38
19.4% under 18

Test scores in Karnes County

Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 10 schools ranked. Texas state average: 52.7%.

Top 5 schools (ELA)
  1. FALLS CITY H S· 88.0%
  2. FALLS CITY EL· 78.0%
  3. KARNES CITY H S· 46.0%
  4. KENEDY MIDDLE· 44.0%
  5. KENEDY H S· 43.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
  1. RUNGE H S· 25.0%
  2. RUNGE EL· 26.0%
  3. KARNES CITY EL· 35.0%
  4. KARNES CITY J H· 38.0%
  5. KENEDY EL· 39.0%

See all 10 schools in Karnes County ranked by score →

All schools (15)

NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
KENEDY ELKenedyElementaryPK-05384·
KARNES CITY ELKarnes CityElementary02-05296·
KARNES CITY H SKarnes CityHigh09-12281·
FALLS CITY ELFalls CityElementaryPK-06258·
KARNES CITY J HKarnes CityMiddle06-08234·
KENEDY H SKenedyHigh09-12219·
KARNES CITY PRIKarnes CityElementaryPK-01206·
FALLS CITY H SFalls CityHigh07-12184·
KENEDY MIDDLEKenedyMiddle06-08149·
RUNGE ELRungeElementaryPK-06102·
CONNALLYKenedyHigh09-1283·
RUNGE H SRungeHigh07-1260·
ESCHOOL PREP ACADEMYKarnes CityCombinedM-M··
K ACADEMYKenedyCombinedM-M··
LONE STAR VIRTUAL ACADEMYKarnes CityCombinedM-M··

Cities in Karnes County

Karnes City6 schoolsKenedy5 schoolsFalls City2 schoolsRunge2 schools

About Karnes County

Karnes County is a sparse county of about 14,968 residents in Texas. Its public-school system enrolls approximately 2,456 students across 15 schools.

Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $60,214, about 14% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 14%. That income level is 9% lower than the Texas median.

On the level-by-level breakdown, Karnes County spans 5 elementary schools (1,246 students), 2 middle schools (383), 5 high schools (827), and 3 combined or other schools.

KARNES CITY ISD dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,017 students on its own.

Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,456 students, decreased 5% from the 2,591 reported in SY 2017-18.

In the discussion threads here, the community for Karnes County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Karnes County?
There are 15 public K-12 schools in Karnes County, Texas, with a combined enrollment of about 2,456.
How many high schools are in Karnes County?
Karnes County, Texas has 5 public high schools, serving approximately 827 students.
How many middle schools are in Karnes County?
Karnes County, Texas has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 383 students.
How many elementary schools are in Karnes County?
Karnes County, Texas has 5 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,246 students.
What is the largest school district in Karnes County?
KARNES CITY ISD is the largest school district in Karnes County, serving approximately 1,017 students. The county contains 5 school districts overall.
What is the population of Karnes County?
Karnes County, Texas has a population of approximately 14,968, with a median age of 38. About 19.4% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Karnes County?
Median household income in Karnes County is $60,214, below the Texas average of $66,482. About 13.6% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Karnes County?
Approximately 14.3% of adults 25 and older in Karnes County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Karnes County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 62.1% of students in Karnes County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Texas county average of 61.1%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Karnes County schools?
Across Karnes County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 12.9 to 1.

Karnes County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data