Total enrollment
10,350
-294 (-3%) vs SY 2020-21
Rusk County
Texas · Public K-12
Of the public K-12 schools operating across Texas, 29 sit inside Rusk County, collectively enrolling roughly 10,350 students (13 elementary, 5 middle, and 7 high).
4-year change in Rusk County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
27
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Rusk County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Texas | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 42.9% | #126 of 192 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 10,350 | #67 of 196 | #797 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 27 | #53 of 196 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.5:1 | #94 of 196 | #1,140 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 66.0% | #68 of 196 | #864 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 65.4% | #30 of 192 | #307 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.
Rusk County school rankings
Residents
52,842
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
29
10 districts
Enrollment
10,350
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$68,658
Above Texas avg
Free/reduced lunch
66.0%
Above Texas avg
Elementary
13
4,871 students
Middle
5
2,155 students
High
7
2,539 students
Combined / other
4
785 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
HENDERSON ISD
3,245 students · 10 districts in Rusk County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Rusk 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+
17.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
10.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.5%
civilian labor
Median age
39
22.6% under 18
Test scores in Rusk County
Latest 2025-26 ELA proficiency, 22 schools ranked. Texas state average: 55.6%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- LEVERETTS CHAPEL H S· 74.0%
- MT ENTERPRISE H S· 65.0%
- TATUM H S· 65.0%
- WEST RUSK H S· 62.0%
- LEVERETTS CHAPEL J H· 60.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- OVERTON EL· 39.0%
- WILLIAM E WYLIE EL· 39.0%
- LEVERETTS CHAPEL EL· 40.0%
- LANEVILLE SCHOOL· 41.0%
- WEST RUSK INT· 42.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HENDERSON H S | Henderson | High | 09-12 | 1,018 | · |
| KILGORE MIDDLE | Kilgore | Middle | 06-08 | 840 | · |
| HENDERSON MIDDLE | Henderson | Middle | 06-08 | 700 | · |
| WILLIAM E WYLIE EL | Henderson | Elementary | 01-03 | 698 | · |
| CARLISLE SCHOOL | Henderson | Combined | PK-12 | 646 | · |
| KILGORE PRI | Kilgore | Elementary | PK-01 | 621 | · |
| KILGORE INT | Kilgore | Elementary | 04-05 | 531 | · |
| CHANDLER EL | Kilgore | Elementary | 02-03 | 501 | · |
| TATUM H S | Tatum | High | 09-12 | 437 | · |
| NORTHSIDE EL | Henderson | Elementary | 04-05 | 430 | · |
| MONNIE MEYER WYLIE PRI | Henderson | Elementary | PK-KG | 399 | · |
| WEST RUSK H S | New London | High | 09-12 | 356 | · |
| TATUM PRI | Tatum | Elementary | PK-02 | 328 | · |
| TATUM MIDDLE | Tatum | Middle | 06-08 | 321 | · |
| TATUM EL | Tatum | Elementary | 03-05 | 306 | · |
| OVERTON H S | Overton | High | 06-12 | 267 | · |
| OVERTON EL | Overton | Elementary | PK-05 | 256 | · |
| MT ENTERPRISE EL | Mt Enterprise | Elementary | PK-05 | 252 | · |
| MT ENTERPRISE H S | Mt Enterprise | High | 06-12 | 249 | · |
| WEST RUSK MIDDLE | New London | Middle | 06-08 | 242 | · |
| WEST RUSK EL | New London | Elementary | PK-02 | 216 | · |
| WEST RUSK INT | New London | Elementary | 03-05 | 215 | · |
| BILLY MOORE | Overton | High | 09-12 | 140 | · |
| LANEVILLE SCHOOL | Laneville | Combined | PK-12 | 139 | · |
| LEVERETTS CHAPEL EL | Overton | Elementary | PK-05 | 118 | · |
| LEVERETTS CHAPEL H S | Overton | High | 09-12 | 72 | · |
| LEVERETTS CHAPEL J H | Overton | Middle | 06-08 | 52 | · |
| ARP COOP ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL | New London | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| BRADSHAW | Henderson | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Rusk County
About Rusk County
Across the compact Texas county of Rusk County of about 52,842 residents, the public-school footprint covers 29 schools and about 10,350 students.
For perspective, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $68,658, 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 10%.
In terms of grade levels, Rusk County consists of 13 elementary schools (4,871 students), 5 middle schools (2,155), 7 high schools (2,539), and 4 combined or other schools.
HENDERSON ISD dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 3,245 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 3%: 10,644 students in SY 2020-21 versus 10,350 in SY 2024-25.
On this page, the community for Rusk County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data