Tyler Reporter

There were 25 American Indian students enrolled in Cherokee County schools in the 2021-22 school year, 8.7% more than the previous year, according to the Texas Education Agency.

Data showed that Cherokee County welcomed 8,096 students during the 2021-22 school year. Among them, American Indian comprised 0.3% of the student body to be the second least represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 18 schools in Cherokee County, West Side Elementary School recorded the highest enrollment of American Indian students in the 2021-22 school year, with a total of five students.

Education in Texas is often a hot button issue, especially as test scores lag behind other states.

“The problems commonly cited are flaws in the school financing system, relatively low teacher salary, poor test performance by students…dropouts from traditional schools in favor of charter schools…gun violence, and mental health issues," claimed the Texas Almanac.

School name	% of American Indian students enrolment	Total enrollment
Jacksonville High School	0.3	1,265
Jacksonville Middle School	0.1	715
Nichols Intermediate School	0.6	662
Fred Douglass	0.3	602
Rusk High School	0.2	594
East Side Elementary School	0.7	571
New Summerfield School	0.2	538
Joe Wright Elementary School	0.4	536
Rusk Junior High School	0	481
G.W. Bradford Primary School	0	385
West Side Elementary School	1.3	372
Rusk Intermediate School	0.4	285
Wells School	0	258
Rusk Elementary School	0	256
Alto Elementary School	0	227
Alto Middle School	0	166
Alto High School	0	163
Compass Center	0	20