Children and poverty--Part 2

271,124.

That's the answer to yesterday's question: How many children who attend one of the 14 public schools districts in Dallas County qualify for free and reduced meals?

271,124.

Let that number settle in for a moment.

271,1124.

In the Dallas ISD, 133,010 qualify--that is right at 85% of the entire student body.

This may come as a surprise to those who know the area, the Richardson ISD serves these meals to right at 50% of their students (49.47% to be exact).

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD has 54% of its student body participating.

DeSoto almost 53%.

Duncanville almost 64%.

Garland 45.5%.

Grand Prairie 64%.

Irving 72.65%.

Mesquite 49.47%.

Not surprisingly, the Highland Park ISD has no one enrolled in the program.

These numbers tell us several things.

We have lots of low-income families in Dallas.

Lots of students have exited the public schools.

Poverty is almost everywhere in the area.

Poverty and public education go hand-in-hand in Dallas.

.