Enrollment
264
Combined
DISTRICT 133 · STATE 485
SCHOOL COMMUNITY·GHOLSON ISD·NCES 482061002073
GHOLSON ISD
137 HAMILTON DR, WACO, TX 76705 · (254) 829-1528 · McLennan County
GRADES PK–12COMBINED41-RURALTITLE IREGULAR SCHOOL264 STUDENTS
Student : Teacher
13.3:1
20 FTE teachers
DISTRICT 13.3:1 · STATE 11.7:1
Free / Reduced Lunch
72%
191 students
DISTRICT 72% · STATE 65%
Community
0
0 members
Enrollment and student:teacher ratio compared against other combined schools. Free/Reduced Lunch and demographics compared against all schools.
Enrollment by grade
Student demographics
Student head counts by race/ethnicity from federal NCES enrollment data. Very small groups may be suppressed in the source, so categories do not always sum exactly to total enrollment.
Gender split
Test scores
STAAR 2023-24 . % Meets Grade Level or AboveReading
55.0%
TX avg 51.8% . +17.0pp since 2020
Mathematics
26.0%
TX avg 42.0% . -12.0pp since 2020
What this means: On the STAAR, Texas's statewide test, about 55 of every 100 students at this school read at grade level and about 26 of 100 do math at grade level. Across all Texas schools, those numbers are about 52 and 42. Reading scores are up about 17 points since 2020, while math scores are down about 12 points.
Source: STAAR. All students, all grades. See all years and grades →
BeatsExpectations
Demographically-adjusted score · methodologyTier
AS EXPECTED
Performing as predicted given the school's student profile
Actual proficiency
38.7%
composite math + reading, all grades
Predicted
42.3%
based on TX schools with similar FRL share
Beats by
-3.6pp
below demographic expectation
What this means: About 39% of students here test proficient in math and reading, compared with the roughly 42% typical for Texas schools with a similar share of low-income students. BeatsExpectations measures results against demographically similar schools rather than by raw scores, and this school falls within the typical range, neither among Texas's top nor bottom 10%.
BeatsExpectations runs a per-state regression of proficiency on free/reduced-lunch share, then scores each school by residual. How this is calculated →
7-year change
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25Enrollment
264
+7 (+3%) vs 2017
Student : Teacher
13.3:1
was 13.2:1
% White
65%
was 68%
% Hispanic
26%
was 28%
% Black
5%
was 2%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data
About GHOLSON ISD
GHOLSON ISD is one of the modestly sized K-12 campuss in WACO, Texas, part of GHOLSON ISD, with 264 students on its rolls from grades pre-K through 12. Compared to the state average of about 485 students per school, that is 46% smaller than typical.
GHOLSON ISD comprises 2 schools with combined enrollment of 265 students; GHOLSON ISD is among them.
In terms of who attends, GHOLSON ISD logs that the largest single group is White, at 65% of enrollment. The remainder is composed of 26% Hispanic, 5% multiracial, 5% Black.
Looking at school resources, On paper, GHOLSON ISD has 20 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 13.3:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 11.7:1, putting GHOLSON ISD higher than the state norm the norm. Around 72% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, often used as a Title I proxy. That share is higher than McLennan County's rate of about 62%.
Adjusting for the school's free-and-reduced-lunch share, GHOLSON ISD tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 42.3% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 38.7%.
In the surrounding community, ACS estimates for McLennan County put median household income runs about $66,643, 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 11%. In all, McLennan County runs 124 public schools (combined enrollment of about 45,703 students), of which GHOLSON ISD is one.
CHINA SPRING EL is the nearest neighboring public school, about 5.3 miles from this campus. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a ten-mile radius, suggesting a relatively low-density school footprint. On composite proficiency, GHOLSON ISD comes 7th of 7 in the immediate cluster, behind the nearby-schools average of 59.3%.
Geographically, the school is in a rural area.
Trend over the last 7 years. Over the past 7-year window, the student count grew 3%: 257 students in 2018 compared to 264 in 2025.
Inside the community feed, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around enrollment questions, classroom assignments, and PTA news. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.
McLennan County at a glance
View full county profilePopulation
266,067
Census ACS
Median income
$66,643
Household, ACS
Bachelor's+
29%
Adults 25+
Poverty rate
11%
Below federal line
Schools in county
124
45,703 students
Quick facts
Related schools
Other schools in WACO
- MIDWAY H SHigh · 2,687 students
- WACO H SHigh · 1,885 students
- UNIVERSITY H SHigh · 1,752 students
- TENNYSON MIDDLEMiddle · 963 students
- LA VEGA H SHigh · 881 students
- BELL'S HILL ELElementary · 786 students
Nearby schools
- CHINA SPRING EL5.3 mi · 613
- CHINA SPRING PRI6.3 mi · 456
- TAG6.3 mi · 11
- CHINA SPRING INT6.3 mi · 491
- CHINA SPRING MIDDLE6.6 mi · 483
- CHINA SPRING H S6.7 mi · 959
Frequently asked questions
About GHOLSON ISDWhat is the total enrollment at GHOLSON ISD?
GHOLSON ISD enrolls approximately 264 students in grades PK-12.
What grades does GHOLSON ISD serve?
GHOLSON ISD serves grades PK-12.
How many teachers does GHOLSON ISD have?
GHOLSON ISD employs 20 FTE teachers, for a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.3:1.
What is the racial breakdown of students at GHOLSON ISD?
At GHOLSON ISD, the student body is approximately 65% White, 26% Hispanic, 5% Black, 5% Two or more.
Is GHOLSON ISD public or private?
GHOLSON ISD is a public K-12 school, overseen by GHOLSON ISD.
Data sourceSchool profile facts are sourced from the NCES. Community content is posted by allk12 members.