Total enrollment
6,951
-18 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Matagorda County
Texas · Public K-12
Matagorda County operates 18 public K-12 schools across Texas, with a combined student body of roughly 7,199 and a county population near 36,329. By grade band, the county runs 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools.
4-year change in Matagorda County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
15
-3 (-17%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Matagorda County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Texas | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 47.8% | #75 of 192 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 7,199 | #79 of 196 | #1,031 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 16 | #87 of 196 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.0:1 | #155 of 196 | #1,772 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 63.0% | #90 of 196 | #973 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 53.9% | #92 of 192 | #904 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.
Matagorda County school rankings
Residents
36,329
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
18
5 districts
Enrollment
7,199
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$58,628
Below Texas avg
Free/reduced lunch
63.0%
Above Texas avg
Elementary
8
3,520 students
Middle
3
1,219 students
High
4
2,351 students
Combined / other
3
109 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
BAY CITY ISD
3,473 students · 5 districts in Matagorda County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Matagorda 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+
22.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
16.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
8.7%
civilian labor
Median age
38
25.6% under 18
Test scores in Matagorda County
Latest 2025-26 ELA proficiency, 13 schools ranked. Texas state average: 55.6%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- BLESSING EL· 82.0%
- MARKHAM EL· 78.0%
- TIDEHAVEN H S· 74.0%
- TIDEHAVEN INT· 70.0%
- MATAGORDA ISD· 55.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- PALACIOS EL· 42.0%
- TENIE HOLMES EL· 42.0%
- BAY CITY J H· 44.0%
- BAY CITY H S· 45.0%
- VAN VLECK EL· 48.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAY CITY H S | Bay City | High | 09-12 | 1,042 | · |
| TENIE HOLMES EL | Bay City | Elementary | 03-05 | 763 | · |
| BAY CITY J H | Bay City | Middle | 06-08 | 750 | · |
| PALACIOS JUNIOR SENIOR H S | Palacios | High | 06-12 | 655 | · |
| PALACIOS EL | Palacios | Elementary | PK-05 | 610 | · |
| ROBERTS EL | Bay City | Elementary | 01-02 | 486 | · |
| VAN VLECK EL | Van Vleck | Elementary | PK-05 | 447 | · |
| CHERRY EL | Bay City | Elementary | PK-KG | 432 | · |
| VAN VLECK H S | Van Vleck | High | 09-12 | 342 | · |
| TIDEHAVEN H S | El Maton | High | 09-12 | 312 | · |
| BLESSING EL | Blessing | Elementary | PK-05 | 279 | · |
| MARKHAM EL | Markham | Elementary | PK-05 | 255 | · |
| VAN VLECK JR H S | Van Vleck | Middle | 06-08 | 250 | · |
| EAST SIDE INT | Palacios | Elementary | 03-05 | 248 | · |
| TIDEHAVEN INT | El Maton | Middle | 06-08 | 219 | · |
| MATAGORDA ISD | Matagorda | Combined | PK-11 | 109 | · |
| PALACIOS J H | Palacios | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| VAN VLECK INT | Van Vleck | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Matagorda County
About Matagorda County
Matagorda County is a small Texas county of about 36,329 residents, home to 18 public schools and roughly 7,199 students.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $58,628 a year, about 22% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 17%. That income level is 12% noticeably below the Texas median.
For a sense of the school types, Matagorda County spans 8 elementary schools (3,520 students), 3 middle schools (1,219), 4 high schools (2,351), and 3 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Matagorda County is BAY CITY ISD, which alone enrolls about 3,473 students.
Trend over the past 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment remained close to its prior level: 6,969 students in SY 2020-21 versus 6,951 in SY 2024-25. Matagorda County now counts 15 public schools, down from 18 in SY 2020-21.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Matagorda County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data