Texas
State Government
Governor
Greg Abbott (R)
State Senate
12
Democrats,
19
Republicans
State House
64
Democrats,
86
Republicans
Economic well-being - Texas
Extreme poverty rate
0.08
Food insecurity
0.176
Minimum wage
7.25
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.313
Poverty rate
13.4%
Unemployment rate
4.1
Number of Black or African American children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment
Number of Hispanic or Latino children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment
Percent of individuals who are uninsured
16.7
Poverty by demographic - Texas
Child poverty rate
0.18
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty
79000
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty
463000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty
1915000
Senior poverty rate
12.3 %
Women in poverty
15,455,699
Austin American-Statesman, July 27, 2015: Demographers baffled as percent of region's low-income students shrinks
"The percentage of students from low-income families in Austin and many of its surrounding school districts has been shrinking since 2011 and took a steeper dive last school year, a change that the experts tracking rapid growth in Central Texas can't quite explain."
CBS Dallas-Fort Worth, April 30, 2015: Texas Notes High-Performing Schools With Low-Income Students
"More than 400 Texas schools were recognized for improvements at campuses where at least 40 percent of the students are considered low income. The Texas Education Agency on Thursday identified this year's high-performing and/or high-progress Title I reward schools."
Waco Tribune, April 21, 2015: Midway ISD board approves letter of concern' about low-income housing
"Midway Independent School District's board of trustees Tuesday unanimously approved a letter stating that it does not support a proposed low-income housing development near Woodgate Intermediate School, claiming the complex, coupled with a new D.R. Horton subdivision in the same attendance zone, could strain the district's resources."
Chron.com, February 11, 2015: HISD gets $8.5 million to help low-income students enter elite colleges
"The Houston Independent School District has received an $8.5 million grant to help more low-income students graduate from college, Superintendent Terry Grier announced Wednesday. The funds from Houston Endowment Inc. will enable the district to hire more college counselors and special advisers, rapidly expanding the small but popular program that largely targets students who will be the first in their families to pursue higher education."
The Dallas Morning News, January 29, 2015: (Op-Ed) Poverty is not destiny
"Poverty clearly presents great challenges to improving our schools. More local and state funding is warranted, and we'll continue to strongly advocate for additional wise investment. But we can't and we won't wait for someone to solve poverty. So much is already within our control, and poverty is not destiny."
The Macon Telegraph, June 29, 2014: Report: Hundreds of students classified as homeless in Houston County
"This past school year, 327 students in the Houston County school system were identified as homeless. There are degrees of homelessness, said Jennifer Birdsong, the system's director of federal programs."