Iola Independent School District

The Iola Independent School District is a public school district based in Iola, Texas, United States. The district serves Iola and unincorporated areas in northwestern Grimes County.

Schools

The Iola Independent School District operates two schools: Iola Elementary School (grades PK-6) and Iola High School (grades 7-12). Both schools as well as the district's administrative offices are housed on a single campus at the corner of FM 39 and Fort Worth Street.

In September 2009, Iola Elementary School was declared a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the United States Department of Education.^[1]

Student demographics

As of the 2008-2009 school year, Iola ISD enrolled a total of 497 students.^[2] The gender distribution was 230 males (46.3%) and 267 females (53.7%).^[3] The ethnic composition of the district was 85.71% White, 10.87% Hispanic, and 3.42% African American.^[2] 45.1% of the district's students were considered economically disadvantaged^[4] with 26.0% classified as "At-Risk."

Historic district enrollment

1988-89 - 364 students[5] 1989-90 - 378 students[5] 1990-91 - 373 students[6] 1991-92 - 388 students[6] 1992-93 - 406 students[6]

1993-94 - 422 students[7] 1994-95 - 433 students[7] 1995-96 - 450 students[7] 1996-97 - 491 students[7] 1997-98 - 452 students[7]

1998-99 - 441 students[7] 1999-00 - 473 students[7] 2000-01 - 447 students[7] 2001-02 - 453 students[7] 2002-03 - 451 students[7]

2003-04 - 472 students[7] 2004-05 - 497 students[7] 2005-06 - 508 students[7] 2006-07 - 488 students[7] 2007-08 - 506 students[7]

In 1965 the school had 235 students in all 12 grades in one building. Of the students, 85 were high school students.^[8]

Controversy

In July 2024, the ACLU of Texas sent the Iola Independent School District a letter, alleging that the district's 2023-2024 dress and grooming code appeared to violate the Texas CROWN Act, a state law which prohibits racial discrimination based on hair texture or styles, and asking the district to revise its policies for the 2024-2025 school year.^[9][10]

See also

• Texas portal
• Schools portal

• List of school districts in Texas

References

1. "Mumford & Iola Elementary Schools Receive Blue Ribbon Status". KBTX.com. 2009-09-15. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
2. "Ethnicity Totals by District for District: 093903 (IOLA ISD)". 2008-2009 Student Enrollment Reports. Texas Education Agency, Information Analysis Division. 2009-02-06. Retrieved 2010-02-16.^{[permanent dead link]}
3. "Gender Totals by District for District: 093903 (IOLA ISD)". 2008-2009 Student Enrollment Reports. Texas Education Agency, Information Analysis Division. 2009-02-06. Retrieved 2010-02-16.^{[permanent dead link]}
4. "Totals by District for District: 093903 (IOLA ISD)". 2008-2009 Students Economically Disadvantaged. Texas Education Agency, Information Analysis Division. 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2010-02-16.^{[permanent dead link]}
5. "Annual Performance Report Archives: 1988-89 and 1989-90". Texas Education Agency. 2006-03-01. Archived from the original on 2011-02-19. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
6. "AEIS Archives: 1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93". Texas Education Agency. 2004-10-24. Archived from the original on 2011-02-19. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
7. "Academic Excellence Indicator System". Texas Education Agency. Archived from the original on 2010-01-25. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
8. Justice, Blair. (column "The Human Side of Science") Houston Post. Sunday May 2, 1965. Perspective Page 5. Available via microfilm from the Houston Public Library Central Library Jesse H. Jones Building.
9. Gross, Kristi (2024-07-24). "ACLU of Texas Finds 51 School Districts Likely Remain in Violation of the CROWN Act". ACLU of Texas. Archived from the original on 2024-08-08. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
10. Leffingwell, Kelsey (2024-07-24). "51 Texas school districts violating CROWN Act, ACLU says". Spectrum News. Archived from the original on 2024-07-25. Retrieved 2024-08-23.

External links

• Iola Independent School District – Official site.