Lancaster
Lancaster is the 2nd largest African American-majority city in Texas. The total population of the city has increased a staggering 40% to 38,379. The city has a good mix of middle-class and working class families. With an average home price of $115,950 and average rent at around $618, Lancaster is one of the most affordable places to life in the Dallas area.
Lancaster originally developed as a small working class town but enjoyed the presence of a growing Black middle and working-class during the last 20 years. Single-family homes make up 72% of all dwellings here. Lancaster outpaced most of the DFW region in housing growth during the late nineties and especially from 2000 to 2007.
The community also plays host to the multi-city Nineteenth Celebration and boasts more than 50 churches, a new state of the art library and several parks including Bear Creek Nature Park with 189 acres of wooded terrain, fishing, hiking, horse trails, nature trails, and a picnic pavilion.
The city started development of a public/private partnership award winning planned community that includes networks of homes, parks, and schools. Growth slowed due to the recent economic times but the population is expected to double in the next 20 years. The school district recently opened a brand new high school because of increased enrollment.
The University of North Texas at Dallas’ new campus is adjacent to the boundaries of Lancaster and is in walking distance to another planned mixed use village, retail shopping, a research park, high rise residential homes, and a resort hotel. Located east of all of the city’s’ current growth, Lancaster’s original town square retains the old town look and feel of a 19th century North Texas town
Lancaster will be part of the largest new logistics park in North America called the Dallas Logistics Hub. With 60 million square feet of distribution, manufacturing, office and retail developments. Obviously, the recession has halted its progress for the time being, but with some land already developed on 6,000 acres adjacent to the city, the hub when complete will create 32,000 direct jobs and 33,000 indirect jobs in the Southern Dallas County. Plans are on the table to expand and convert the Lancaster Municipal Airport to include commercial cargo to help support this logistics hub
Total population—–38,426
Black population—–27,379 / 71%
Black median household income—–$51,819
Black married households—–37%
Percent of Blacks with a bachelor’s degree or higher—–20%
Percent of Black households that are homeowners—–55%
Percent of Black Families in poverty—–15%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.
Lancaster Independent School District (ISD) 2010
6,170 students
9 schools
Black 79%
Hispanic 17%
White 3%
Lancaster ISD Texas State Accountability Rating: Academically Acceptable
Lancaster High School rated Academically Acceptable
Lancaster Middle School rated Academically Acceptable
Two Elementary schools rated Exemplary
Five Elementary schools rated Academically Acceptable,
One Elementary school rated Academically Acceptable
None of the districts school where rated Unacceptable
Economically disadvantaged 76%
Special education 9%
Gifted/talented students 7%
Limited English proficient 6%
TEACHER EXPERIENCE
Beginning teachers 14%
1 to 5 years 41%
6 to 10 years 21%
11 to 20 years 17%
21 or more years 7%
Total per pupil expenditures$7,574