On April 22, 2024-25 school year data was released for economic disadvantage in public school districts in the Public Education Information Management System report.
The gist
The TEA defines economically disadvantaged as students who are “eligible to participate in the national free or reduced-price lunch program.”
In Montgomery County, 41.52% of students receive free lunch while 6.31% receive reduced lunch during the 2024-25 school year, according to the data. Overall, 47.9% of public school students in the county are economically disadvantaged while 52.09% are not economically disadvantaged, according to the TEA. The previous year, the numbers show 51.14% of county students were economically disadvantaged students while 49.79% were not.
The following are the percentages of students who receive free and reduced lunches enrolled in five Montgomery County school districts:
- Conroe ISD: 36.77% receive free lunch and 5.89% receive reduced lunch
- Magnolia ISD: 40.88% receive free lunch, and the number receiving reduced lunch was not available
- Montgomery ISD: 22.16% receive free lunch and 4.36% receive reduced lunch
- New Caney ISD: 64.35% receive free lunch and 7.04% receive reduced lunch
- Willis ISD: 52.84% receive free lunch, and the number receiving reduced lunch was not available
Community Impact analyzed data from the TEA to learn how many students were considered to be in the economically disadvantaged category in five Montgomery County school districts.
According to the data, the following percentage of students are economically disadvantaged:
- Conroe ISD: 44% of students
- Magnolia ISD: 47% of students
- Montgomery ISD: 28% of students
- New Caney ISD: 72% of students
- Willis ISD: 60% of students
Students who meet the qualifications for economic disadvantage qualify for the free pre-K program and free or reduced meals. According to CISD officials, the district also provides school supplies and backpacks for economically disadvantaged students and connects families with resources to get their basic needs met with the help of community organizations.
“Montgomery County has numerous organizations that directly or indirectly support our schools and families. We are fortunate to have such a generous and caring community," Sarah Blakelock, CISD’s executive director of communications, said in a statement.
Blakelock said the Montgomery County Food Bank has food assistance programs such as the Backpack Program that sends food home with students on the weekends.
A total of 31 campuses in CISD have been designated as Title I schools, meaning they receive federal funding to support programs aimed at improving academic achievement for students from low-income families. A report is given to the TEA each school year along with the percentages of low-income percentage.
