The bulletin board for America's public schools. Parents, teachers, students, and staff. One community per school.

Refugio County

Texas · Public K-12

From the largest high school to the smallest elementary campus, Refugio County's 7 public schools collectively enroll about 1,197 K-12 students, with Refugio ISD the heaviest district by enrollment. By grade band, the county runs 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools.

7-year change in Refugio County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
1,197
-93 (-7%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
7
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
28%
was 30%
% Hispanic
65%
was 62%
% Black
6%
was 7%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
7
3 districts
Enrollment
1,197
NCES CCD
Median income
$60,181
Below Texas avg
Free/reduced lunch
56.6%
Below Texas avg
Elementary
3
534 students
Middle
1
134 students
High
3
529 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
REFUGIO ISD
656 students · 3 districts in Refugio County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Refugio 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
57%
Hispanic
50%
Black
7%
Asian
0%
Two or more
30%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
28%
Hispanic
64%
Black
6%
Asian
0%
Two or more
1%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
14.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
13.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.5%
civilian labor
Median age
42
21.7% under 18

Test scores in Refugio County

Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 7 schools ranked. Texas state average: 52.7%.

Top 5 schools (ELA)
  1. AUSTWELL-TIVOLI EL· 61.0%
  2. REFUGIO H S· 50.0%
  3. AUSTWELL-TIVOLI H S· 49.0%
  4. REFUGIO J H· 45.0%
  5. WOODSBORO H S· 44.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
  1. WOODSBORO EL· 33.0%
  2. REFUGIO EL· 36.0%
  3. WOODSBORO H S· 44.0%
  4. REFUGIO J H· 45.0%
  5. AUSTWELL-TIVOLI H S· 49.0%

See all 7 schools in Refugio County ranked by score →

All schools (7)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
REFUGIO ELRefugioElementaryPK-05300·
WOODSBORO H SWoodsboroHigh06-12233·
REFUGIO H SRefugioHigh09-12222·
WOODSBORO ELWoodsboroElementaryPK-05167·
REFUGIO J HRefugioMiddle06-08134·
AUSTWELL-TIVOLI H STivoliHigh06-1274·
AUSTWELL-TIVOLI ELTivoliElementaryPK-0567·

Cities in Refugio County

Refugio3 schoolsTivoli2 schoolsWoodsboro2 schools

About Refugio County

Refugio County is a thinly populated Texas county of about 6,707 residents, home to 7 public schools and roughly 1,197 students.

Stepping back, census numbers show median household income runs near $60,181, roughly 14% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 14%. That income level is 9% noticeably below the Texas median.

Looking at the level breakdown, Refugio County covers 3 elementary schools (534 students), 1 middle school (134), and 3 high schools (529).

The largest single district in Refugio County is REFUGIO ISD, which alone enrolls about 656 students.

Looking at the last 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Refugio County has declined 7% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 1,290 students to 1,197. On the demographic side, Hispanic enrollment moved from 62% to 65% over the same window.

On this page, the community for Refugio County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Refugio County?
There are 7 public K-12 schools in Refugio County, Texas, with a combined enrollment of about 1,197.
How many high schools are in Refugio County?
Refugio County, Texas has 3 public high schools, serving approximately 529 students.
How many middle schools are in Refugio County?
Refugio County, Texas has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 134 students.
How many elementary schools are in Refugio County?
Refugio County, Texas has 3 public elementary schools, serving approximately 534 students.
What is the largest school district in Refugio County?
REFUGIO ISD is the largest school district in Refugio County, serving approximately 656 students. The county contains 3 school districts overall.
What is the population of Refugio County?
Refugio County, Texas has a population of approximately 6,707, with a median age of 42. About 21.7% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Refugio County?
Median household income in Refugio County is $60,181, below the Texas average of $66,482. About 13.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Refugio County?
Approximately 14.0% of adults 25 and older in Refugio County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Refugio County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 56.6% of students in Refugio County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Texas county average of 61.1%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Refugio County schools?
Across Refugio County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 11.6 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data