“The state of the district is strong and we have lots of things to celebrate,” Livington ISD Superintendent Dr. Jeff Pack reported during a recent program he provided for the Rotary Club of Livingston.
A review of the district’s demographics based on the fall 2025 PEIMS data reveals there are 3,994 students and 570 employees in the Livingston Independent School District. Ethnic distribution of the student population is 53.43% white, 32.65% Hispanic, 8.11% African American, 4.86% two or more races, 0.53% Asian and 0.38% American Indian.
Of the student population, 63.97% are economically disadvantaged, 22.3% are students with disabilities, 11.79% are emergent bilingual, 48.20% are at-risk and 1.78% are homeless.
In keeping with the mission of supporting the whole child, Pack reported that the district has 2,555 learners who are economically disadvantaged, 182 learners who are gifted and talented, 892 learners who receive special education supports and services and 471 learners who are emergent bilingual, meaning that English is not their first language.
He said enrollment remains steady with a student population of 4,022. There are eight schools in the district – a primary school, three elementary schools, a junior high school, a high school and two types of alternative education programs.
“One of the things we’re celebrating is our accountability ratings from TEA (Texas Education Agency), though we know our kids are much better than one test on one day,” Pack said.
The districtwide accountability rating is a 78, up six points from the previous year. Accountability ratings for the individual campuses were either in the 70s or 80s, with four campus’ ratings improving anywhere from five to nine points.
Pack reported that the first graduating class from Livingston was three graduates in 1908 and that the 2026 graduating class had 230 graduates.
He touched on the athletic department’s “Operation Restore the Roar” from last year adding that the mission was accomplished, and that in keeping with the RTR acronym, this year’s is “Operation Raise the Roar.”
“We have lots to celebrate,” he said, as he reviewed the district’s future-ready vision via its career and technical education program. The program offers a range of work-based learning opportunities designed to equip students with the skills and experience needed for high-wage, high-demand careers in the nation.
There are 11 career clusters: health science; human services; education and training; information technology; business, marketing and finance; agriculture, food and natural resources; manufacturing; law and public service; hospitality and tourism; architecture and construction; and arts, audio visual technology and communications.
Through these 11 career clusters are 18 programs of study, 86 course offerings and 22 industry-based certifications.
Pack also reviewed how the district is addressing comprehensive needs for success in evolving times. These include: reimagining the classroom; academic achievement and instructional support; technology and innovation; gifted and talented enrichment; college and career readiness; comprehensive school safety; student and employee wellness; Lion wellness; recruitment and retention; leadership development; teacher support; financial stability; facilities and growth management; bond management; community and business partnerships; family engagement; and the LISD Education Foundation.
Pack reported that the district has an approximately $45 million fund balance in its general maintenance and operations fund and that the district has received the highest rating a district may receive through FIRST, the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas, for the past 24 years that the system has been in place.
“Our tax rate has been steadily decreasing over the years,” he said, adding, “We set the tax rate, not the value of your property.”
Pack reported on the ongoing work of the strategic planning committee, an ad hoc advisory committee formed last spring to make recommendations for the district. “We started with about 90 and now we’re in the 70 range. We’re looking at everything – beliefs, values, surveys, focus groups – to work on these challenges moving forward.
In closing, Pack mentioned the newly formed Livingston ISD Education Foundation, an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit whose sole purpose is to support the district through green and white scholarships and innovative teaching grants among other things. Janan Moore serves as the foundation’s executive director and he said the foundation will be starting a new capital campaign in the near future.
