Ellis County Schools & Education
Ellis County, Texas
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
50/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
93.7%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
93.7%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 91.6%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,250
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,498
School Score
50/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 56/100
State Score Position
#177
of 253 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Ellis County
Measured School Summary
Ellis County performs at an average level with a school score of 50/100 and a solid graduation rate of 93.7%.
Funding Context
At $6,250 per pupil, Ellis County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 11% below the Texas average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 17% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Ellis County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
72 public schools and 11 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
50/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #177 of 253 Texas counties with school score data.
Completion
93.7%
2.1 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,250
$1,248 below the state average
School coverage
72
11 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Ellis County has 72 public schools across 11 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Ellis County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Large multi-district county
Ellis County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.
State position
#177
of 253 Texas counties with school score data. The county score is 6 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
MIDLOTHIAN ISD
Elementary to high school visible
10,990 students
14 listed schools in this county slice.
WAXAHACHIE ISD
Elementary to high school visible
10,837 students
17 listed schools in this county slice.
RED OAK ISD
Elementary to high school visible
6,499 students
8 listed schools in this county slice.
ENNIS ISD
Elementary to high school visible
6,185 students
11 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
WAXAHACHIE ISD is the largest listed district slice, with 17 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Ellis County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Ellis County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Ellis County, Texas
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Rapidly Growing Suburban Infrastructure
Ellis County hosts 72 public schools across 11 districts, supporting a large student body of 43,941. The landscape is dominated by 39 elementary schools and 13 high schools as the area continues to expand.
Elite Graduation and Efficient Spending
Students here excel with a 93.7% graduation rate, which is significantly higher than both state and national benchmarks. This success comes despite a lean per-pupil expenditure of $6,250, well below the national average of $13,000.
Midlothian and Waxahachie Lead
Midlothian ISD and Waxahachie ISD are the heavy hitters, each serving nearly 11,000 students. While traditional districts are the norm, five charter schools provide alternative options for local families.
A Mix of Suburban and Rural Charm
The county is split between 34 rural schools and 31 suburban campuses, with an average school size of 619. Massive facilities like Waxahachie High School enroll nearly 3,000 students, offering comprehensive extracurricular and academic programs.
School Overview
Total Schools
72
in Ellis County
Reported Enrollment
43,941
72 schools reporting
School Districts
11
districts
Charter Schools
5
7% of total
School Level Breakdown
11 School Districts in Ellis County
MIDLOTHIAN ISD
GuideWAXAHACHIE ISD
GuideRED OAK ISD
GuideENNIS ISD
GuideWAXAHACHIE FAITH FAMILY ACADEMY
FERRIS ISD
PALMER ISD
MAYPEARL ISD
ITALY ISD
AVALON ISD
72 Public Schools in Ellis County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 10 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 72 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAXAHACHIE H S | Profile | WAXAHACHIE ISD | WAXAHACHIE, 75167Rural: Fringe | 8–12 | High | 2,963 |
| RED OAK H S | Profile | RED OAK ISD | RED OAK, 75154Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,160 |
| MIDLOTHIAN H S | Profile | MIDLOTHIAN ISD | MIDLOTHIAN, 76065Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,994 |
| ENNIS H S | Profile | ENNIS ISD | ENNIS, 75119Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,791 |
| RED OAK MIDDLE | Profile | RED OAK ISD | RED OAK, 75154Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,546 |
| MIDLOTHIAN HERITAGE H S | Profile | MIDLOTHIAN ISD | MIDLOTHIAN, 76065Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,490 |
| LIFE H S WAXAHACHIE | Profile | LIFE SCHOOL | RED OAK, 75154Suburb: Large | 9–12 | Charter | 1,048 |
| LIFE SCHOOL RED OAK | Profile | LIFE SCHOOL | RED OAK, 75154Rural: Fringe | KG–6 | Charter | 1,037 |
| WALNUT GROVE MIDDLE | Profile | MIDLOTHIAN ISD | MIDLOTHIAN, 76065Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 992 |
| EARL & MARTHALU DIETERICH MIDDLE | Profile | MIDLOTHIAN ISD | MIDLOTHIAN, 76065Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 947 |
| ENNIS J H | Record | ENNIS ISD | ENNIS, 75119Rural: Fringe | 7–8 | Middle | 886 |
| COLEMAN J H | Record | WAXAHACHIE ISD | WAXAHACHIE, 75165Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 829 |
| FERRIS H S | Record | FERRIS ISD | FERRIS, 75125Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 821 |
| FINLEY J H | Record | WAXAHACHIE ISD | WAXAHACHIE, 75165Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 816 |
| HOWARD J H | Record | WAXAHACHIE ISD | WAXAHACHIE, 75165Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 758 |
| WEDGEWORTH EL | Record | WAXAHACHIE ISD | WAXAHACHIE, 75165Suburb: Large | KG–5 | Primary | 702 |
| RUSSELL P SCHUPMANN EL | Record | RED OAK ISD | RED OAK, 75154Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 682 |
| DOLORES MCCLATCHEY EL | Record | MIDLOTHIAN ISD | MIDLOTHIAN, 76065Suburb: Large | KG–5 | Primary | 679 |
| FRANK SEALE MIDDLE | Record | MIDLOTHIAN ISD | MIDLOTHIAN, 76065Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 671 |
| LONGBRANCH EL | Record | MIDLOTHIAN ISD | MIDLOTHIAN, 76065Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 652 |
WAXAHACHIE H S
WAXAHACHIE ISD
WAXAHACHIE, 75167 / Rural: Fringe
RED OAK H S
RED OAK ISD
RED OAK, 75154 / Suburb: Large
MIDLOTHIAN H S
MIDLOTHIAN ISD
MIDLOTHIAN, 76065 / Suburb: Large
ENNIS H S
ENNIS ISD
ENNIS, 75119 / Rural: Fringe
RED OAK MIDDLE
RED OAK ISD
RED OAK, 75154 / Suburb: Large
MIDLOTHIAN HERITAGE H S
MIDLOTHIAN ISD
MIDLOTHIAN, 76065 / Rural: Fringe
LIFE H S WAXAHACHIE
LIFE SCHOOL
RED OAK, 75154 / Suburb: Large
LIFE SCHOOL RED OAK
LIFE SCHOOL
RED OAK, 75154 / Rural: Fringe
WALNUT GROVE MIDDLE
MIDLOTHIAN ISD
MIDLOTHIAN, 76065 / Rural: Fringe
EARL & MARTHALU DIETERICH MIDDLE
MIDLOTHIAN ISD
MIDLOTHIAN, 76065 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,250
State avg $7,498
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Ellis County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Texas counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Texas?
How should I read the school score in Ellis County?
What is the graduation rate in Ellis County?
How much does Ellis County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Ellis County, Texas — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Ellis County, Texas?
Ellis County hosts 72 public schools across 11 districts, supporting a large student body of 43,941. The landscape is dominated by 39 elementary schools and 13 high schools as the area continues to expand.
How do schools in Ellis County perform academically?
Students here excel with a 93.7% graduation rate, which is significantly higher than both state and national benchmarks. This success comes despite a lean per-pupil expenditure of $6,250, well below the national average of $13,000.
What are the major school districts in Ellis County, Texas?
Midlothian ISD and Waxahachie ISD are the heavy hitters, each serving nearly 11,000 students. While traditional districts are the norm, five charter schools provide alternative options for local families.
What is the school experience like in Ellis County?
The county is split between 34 rural schools and 31 suburban campuses, with an average school size of 619. Massive facilities like Waxahachie High School enroll nearly 3,000 students, offering comprehensive extracurricular and academic programs.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.