Karnack Isd, TX - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Karnack Isd

Karnack ISD is a small PreK-8 district in Harrison County, Texas, serving an enrollment of about 125 students across a single campus. The district educates only through eighth grade and does not operate a high school; instead, a formal agreement with Jefferson ISD, renewed in 2024, continues to place Karnack's high-school-age students at Jefferson for grades 9-12. This arrangement is a structural reality families with older children should understand before settling in the district.

The student body is evenly divided between White and Black students, with a smaller Hispanic enrollment and a small number of students identifying as two or more races. Enrollment by grade is modest and uneven, with a notably larger PreK cohort and smaller middle grades, particularly in grades 5 and 7.

State testing data from the most recent year shows a district struggling with academic proficiency. In mathematics, results are weak across the lower grades, dropping to single-digit or low double-digit proficiency rates in grades 3, 5, and 7. Grade 4 performs somewhat better, and grade 8 stands out with substantially higher proficiency. English language arts shows a similar pattern: grades 3 and 5 underperform, while grades 4, 7, and especially 8 show stronger results. In eighth grade, ELA proficiency reaches a notably higher level. Science proficiency is quite low in grade 5 but improves in grade 8. A small tested cohort in grade 6 means data for that grade across subjects is withheld from public reporting. Taken together, the district's overall proficiency index falls below the midpoint when compared with other Harrison County districts.

Chronic absenteeism is a significant concern. The district's rate places it in the bottom quartile among its county peers, suggesting attendance challenges that may be contributing to or reflecting broader academic struggles. A parent may want to look into this further with the district to understand the underlying causes and what supports exist for families and students.

On the property-tax front, the district has cut its overall tax rate substantially over recent years and maintains one of the lowest rates in the immediate East Texas area. However, voters approved a transportation bond in November 2023 that added debt-service obligations, raising the I&S tax rate to fund three new buses and two transportation vehicles. This is a lasting cost for homeowners, though the district has positioned it to balance the prior rate cuts.

The district operates as a single-campus system, which shapes the peer environment and daily experience. There are no program data provided, so course breadth, electives, or specialized offerings cannot be characterized from available sources. The district's small size and unified facility mean all students share one building and community, a characteristic that can foster close relationships but also limits the range of program choices typical of larger systems.

Karnack ISD is a place for families prioritizing a tight-knit, rural school community and manageable property-tax obligations. It is not a choice for families seeking either robust academic proficiency or the full span of K-12 education in one district. The academic results, particularly the low proficiency in elementary and middle grades alongside high absenteeism, suggest that students arriving with academic gaps or attendance challenges may face headwinds here. The agreement with Jefferson for high school is stable and formally renewed, but it does place teenagers outside the home district, a logistics and community matter parents should weigh directly with the school.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

125

Grades

PK–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 11%

Black 38%

White 44%

Two+ 6%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

27%

—

Gr 4

31%

—

Gr 5

20%

—

Gr 7

50%

20%

Gr 8

67%

—

Math

Gr 3

18%

—

Gr 4

38%

—

Gr 5

20%

—

Gr 7

25%

Gr 8

50%

—

Science

Gr 5

10%

—

Gr 8

33%

—

Social studies

Gr 8

17%

—

all_subjects_approaches

Gr ALL

39%

—

all_subjects_masters

Gr ALL

—

all_subjects_meets

Gr ALL

28%

—

ela_approaches

Gr ALL

44%

—

ela_masters

Gr ALL

—

ela_meets

Gr ALL

25%

—

math_approaches

Gr ALL

31%

—

math_masters

Gr ALL

—

math_meets

Gr ALL

31%

—

Schools in this District

1 schools are officially reported under this district.

GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER EL

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

5 grades reported

23%

Grade 3

33%

Grade 4

18%

Grade 5

18%

Grade 7

63%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

5 grades reported

31%

Grade 3

40%

Grade 4

18%

Grade 5

41%

Grade 7

75%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

Grade 5

50%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

38%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$181,369

Year-over-year change-7.1%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$159K to $212K

vs. state typical0.60x

vs. national typical0.49x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
75661		$182K	-7.5%	86.8%
75657	Jefferson	$159K	-6.2%	9.3%
75672	Marshall	$212K	-0.4%	3.9%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$915/mo

Home price / national median income2.2x

Comparison

State typical home value$302,187 (-2.0% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.