schoolsbycounty

Matagorda County Schools & Education

School Score

52/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

91.5%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

91.5%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 91.6%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,121

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,498

School Score

52/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 56/100

State Score Position

#163

of 253 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Matagorda County

Measured School Summary

Matagorda County performs at an average level with a school score of 52/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.5%.

Funding Context

At $7,121 per pupil, Matagorda County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 8% below the Texas average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Matagorda 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

18 public schools and 5 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

52/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #163 of 253 Texas counties with school score data.

Completion

91.5%

0.1 pts below the state average

Funding context

$7,121

$377 below the state average

School coverage

18

5 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

Matagorda County has 18 public schools across 5 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.

Parent decision brief

What Matagorda 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.

Mixed school landscape

Matagorda County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.

State position

#163

of 253 Texas counties with school score data. The county score is 4 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.

BAY CITY ISD

Elementary to high school visible

3,579 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 1Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

PALACIOS ISD

Elementary to high school visible

1,300 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

VAN VLECK ISD

Elementary to high school visible

1,071 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

TIDEHAVEN ISD

Elementary to high school visible

1,045 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

BAY CITY ISD is the largest listed district slice, with 5 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 Matagorda County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Matagorda County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Matagorda 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.

Broad Options Across Matagorda Districts

Matagorda County features a diverse landscape of 18 public schools organized into five different districts. This infrastructure supports 7,084 students with a wide range of elementary, middle, and high school options.

Bay City ISD Leads the Region

Bay City ISD is the largest provider, serving 3,579 students across five schools. Other major districts include Palacios ISD with 1,300 students and Tidehaven ISD with 1,045 students, providing ample choice for residents.

Town Centers and Rural Outposts

The area offers a mix of 10 town schools and 8 rural campuses, catering to different lifestyle preferences. Bay City High School is the largest facility with 1,031 students, while the average school size across the county is 394 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

18

in Matagorda County

Reported Enrollment

7,084

18 schools reporting

School Districts

5

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary9
Middle4
High4
Other1

5 School Districts in Matagorda County

BAY CITY ISD

Guide
5 schools
3,579 students
Open district guide

PALACIOS ISD

4 schools
1,300 students

VAN VLECK ISD

4 schools
1,071 students

TIDEHAVEN ISD

4 schools
1,045 students

MATAGORDA ISD

1 school
89 students

18 Public Schools in Matagorda County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 18 of 18 matching schools

BAY CITY H S

BAY CITY ISD

BAY CITY, 77414 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,031 students

BAY CITY J H

BAY CITY ISD

BAY CITY, 77414 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle789 students

TENIE HOLMES EL

BAY CITY ISD

BAY CITY, 77414 / Town: Distant

Record3–5Primary780 students

ROBERTS EL

BAY CITY ISD

BAY CITY, 77414 / Town: Distant

Record1–2Primary513 students

CHERRY EL

BAY CITY ISD

BAY CITY, 77414 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–KGPrimary466 students

PALACIOS H S

PALACIOS ISD

PALACIOS, 77465 / Town: Remote

Record9–12High383 students

VAN VLECK H S

VAN VLECK ISD

VAN VLECK, 77482 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High355 students

CENTRAL EL

PALACIOS ISD

PALACIOS, 77465 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–2Primary349 students

VAN VLECK EL

VAN VLECK ISD

VAN VLECK, 77482 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–3Primary303 students

PALACIOS J H

PALACIOS ISD

PALACIOS, 77465 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Middle293 students

BLESSING EL

TIDEHAVEN ISD

BLESSING, 77419 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary284 students

EAST SIDE INT

PALACIOS ISD

PALACIOS, 77465 / Town: Remote

Record3–5Primary275 students

TIDEHAVEN H S

TIDEHAVEN ISD

EL MATON, 77440 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High274 students

MARKHAM EL

TIDEHAVEN ISD

MARKHAM, 77456 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary254 students

VAN VLECK JR H S

VAN VLECK ISD

VAN VLECK, 77482 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle243 students

TIDEHAVEN INT

TIDEHAVEN ISD

EL MATON, 77440 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle233 students

VAN VLECK INT

VAN VLECK ISD

VAN VLECK, 77482 / Town: Distant

Record4–5Primary170 students

MATAGORDA SCHOOL

MATAGORDA ISD

MATAGORDA, 77457 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–12Other89 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,121

State avg $7,498

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Matagorda County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Texas counties have the highest graduation rates?
Moore County (98.5%), Rockwall County (98.5%), and Titus County (97.8%) currently lead Texas among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Texas?
Across Texas counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,498. The highest current county values are Glasscock County ($12,819), Borden County ($12,654), and King County ($12,630). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Matagorda County?
Matagorda County has a school score of 52/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Matagorda County?
The high school graduation rate in Matagorda County is 91.5%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Matagorda County spend per student?
Matagorda County spends $7,121 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Matagorda County, Texas — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Matagorda County, Texas?

Matagorda County features a diverse landscape of 18 public schools organized into five different districts. This infrastructure supports 7,084 students with a wide range of elementary, middle, and high school options.

What are the major school districts in Matagorda County, Texas?

Bay City ISD is the largest provider, serving 3,579 students across five schools. Other major districts include Palacios ISD with 1,300 students and Tidehaven ISD with 1,045 students, providing ample choice for residents.

What is the school experience like in Matagorda County?

The area offers a mix of 10 town schools and 8 rural campuses, catering to different lifestyle preferences. Bay City High School is the largest facility with 1,031 students, while the average school size across the county is 394 students.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.