Tyler Reporter

There were 115 African American students enrolled in ARP ISD schools in the 2021-22 school year, 6.5% more than the previous year, according to the Texas Education Agency.

Data showed that ARP ISD schools welcomed 924 students during the 2021-22 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 12.4% of the student body to be one of the most represented ethnicities in the district.

ARP ISD roughly covers schools within Smith County and has a main office in Arp.

Among the three schools in ARP ISD schools, Arp Elementary School recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2021-22 school year, with a total of 57 students.

The Texas education system is currently torn between public schools and taxpayer-funded private schools.

Critics argue that private schools use funds that should go to the public school system, while private school advocates claim they’re offering better education for more Texas students.

Year	Total District Enrollment	Total of African American Students	African American students %
2021-22	924	115	12.4
2020-21	876	108	12.3
2019-20	889	119	13.4