Abilene Times

There were 23,094 students enrolled in Taylor County schools in the 2023-24 school year, 4.1% less than the previous year, according to the Texas Education Agency.

At the time, Taylor County had the 45th largest enrollment in the state.

Data also showed that white students made up 44.3% of the student body, the largest percentage in Taylor County schools, followed by Hispanic students at 39%, Black students at 10%, Asian students at 1.7%, American Indian students at 0.3%, Pacific Islander students at 0.2% and multiracial students at 4.5%.

Underfunding is a frequently cited challenge facing the state's school district. According to a 2024 report from the Texas Education Agency, per-pupil funding has not increased since 2019, despite inflation rates rising by more than 20% since then.

“As a result, many districts in our very own Central Texas region are being forced to cut back on essential programs, services, consider school closures, and adopt deficit budgets just to provide students with the education that they deserve,” Hutto ISD Trustee James Matlock stated in an interview.

School name	Total enrollment in 2022-23	Total enrollment in 2023-24	% change
Abilene High School	1,966	1,903	-3.2%
Academy for Technology Engineering Math & Science	372	386	3.8%
Alcorta Elementary School	451	395	-12.4%
Austin Elementary School	724	699	-3.5%
Bassetti Elementary School	553	542	-2%
Bonham Elementary School	482	478	-0.8%
Bowie Elementary School	476	478	0.4%
Buffalo Gap Elementary School	394	256	-35%
Clack Middle School	707	740	4.7%
Cooper High School	1,716	1,596	-7%
Craig Middle School	783	757	-3.3%
Crockett Early Headstart	132	132	0%
DAEP	100	96	-4%
Dyess Elementary School	617	592	-4.1%
Jim Ned High School	457	461	0.9%
Jim Ned Middle School	373	227	-39.1%
Juvenile Detention Center	11	14	27.3%
Lawn Elementary School	400	298	-25.5%
Long Early Learning Center	809	751	-7.2%
Madison Middle School	785	778	-0.9%
Mann Middle School	879	759	-13.7%
Martinez Elementary School	412	391	-5.1%
Merkel Elementary School	565	589	4.2%
Merkel High School	327	295	-9.8%
Ortiz Elementary School	484	447	-7.6%
Premier High School of Abilene	146	174	19.2%
Purcell Elementary School	635	594	-6.5%
Stafford Elementary School	447	458	2.5%
Taylor Elementary School	658	640	-2.7%
Texas Leadership of Abilene	727	870	19.7%
Thomas Elementary School	414	389	-6%
Trent Independent School District	131	146	11.5%
Ward Elementary School	494	473	-4.3%
Woodson Center for Excellence	139	149	7.2%
Wylie East Elementary School	789	796	0.9%
Wylie East Junior High School	524	552	5.3%
Wylie High School	1,467	1,517	3.4%
Wylie West Early Childhood Center	421	184	-56.3%
Wylie West Elementary School	428	623	45.6%
Wylie West Intermediate School	459	465	1.3%
Wylie West Junior High School	972	989	1.7%