Best School Districts in Texas

Lots of people are moving to Texas. In fact, the state’s population grew by almost 563,000 people between July 2023 and July 2024.⁴  But if you’ve got kids, you can’t pack up and take off on a whim. You’ve got to make a plan—starting with figuring out which Texas school district is best for them.

In this article, we’ll cover the 10 best school districts in Texas. Plus, you’ll get the scoop on how the Lone Star State’s top high schools compare at the national level.

10 Best School Districts in Texas

Most public school districts in Texas are independent. These districts operate separately from the city or county where they’re located, so some schools might serve students from several counties. That can feel weird if you’re from a place where schools are tied to the town or county government. But that’s how they do it in Texas.

The Lone Star State has over 1,200 public school districts, and over 120 of them have received an A rating from the Texas Education Agency (TEA).⁵ So, when it comes to naming the best schools in Texas, there are a lot of options to choose from—which also means that a “best schools” list can be pretty subjective. Still, there’s enough data out there to get a feel for which schools are doing a great job helping their students succeed.

We looked at ratings from students, parents and the TEA to decide which schools to include on our list. So, while this is a great jumping-off point, be sure to do your own research on which district is best for your family.

Now, let’s get started on our tour of the 10 best school districts in Texas.

1. BASIS Texas Charter Schools

Location	San Antonio, Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin
Number of Schools	9 (3 more set to open in 2025 and 2026)
TEA Score	936
Graduation Rate	100%7

We’re kicking things off with academically impressive BASIS Texas. It’s part of a national network of charter schools, with campuses serving the Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth and San Antonio areas.

Students at BASIS Texas have the highest SAT and ACT scores on this list (1379 and 30.9, on average). Plus, 98.9% of them pass their college-readiness exams—more than double the state average.⁸ That’s one reason its Shavano Campus in San Antonio ranks in the top 10 Texas high schools—and number 64 in the U.S.⁹

So, this is definitely one of the best school districts in Texas. But what if you live in a different city, or you want to send your kids to public school? Read on! We’ve got something for you too.

2. Highland Park Independent School District

Location	Dallas
Number of Schools	8
TEA Score	9510
Graduation Rate	100%11

Texas has two Highland Park Independent School Districts, but here we’re talking about the one just north of downtown Dallas—serving Highland Park, University Park and a small part of North Dallas.

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 80.9% of students passed college-readiness exams, and it boasts high average SAT and ACT scores.¹² Also, of Highland Park graduates, 95% go to college.¹³ And Highland Park High School ranks among the best high schools in the U.S.—a big deal!¹⁴

3. Carroll Independent School District

Location	Southlake
Number of Schools	11
TEA Score	9515
Graduation Rate	99.6%16

Based in Southlake, the Carroll Independent School District is a top performer in the greater Fort Worth area. The U.S. Department of Education named five of its schools National Blue Ribbon Schools.¹⁷

And nearly 1 in 4 Carroll students take part in gifted and talented programs—triple the state average.¹⁸ So this district could be a good fit if your child is an academic achiever who enjoys these types of opportunities.

4. Eanes Independent School District

Location	Austin
Number of Schools	10
TEA Score	9419
Graduation Rate	97.8%20

Eanes Independent School District in Austin has the highest college-readiness scores of any traditional public school district on our list.²¹ (BASIS has the best overall score, but it’s not a public district.) Add in high SAT and ACT score averages, and Eanes certainly stands out academically.

The district earned a perfect Superior ranking from the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST), recognizing strong financial management and a clear focus on student learning. It also received the cleanest audit possible—an Unmodified Opinion—reassuring families that resources are being used wisely and effectively on students.²²

Eanes ISD has also earned national and state recognition for excellence in music education, inclusion, and financial stewardship, while investing $2.65 million from the Eanes Education Foundation into staff, teachers, and leadership development.²³

5. Lovejoy Independent School District

Location	Allen
Number of Schools	6
TEA Score	9624
Graduation Rate	99.3%25

The smallest public school district on this list is halfway between Plano and McKinney. Lovejoy Independent School District in Allen has just over 4,000 students, but it’s one of the best school districts in Texas.²⁶ 

Lovejoy High School ranks as the 55^th-best high school in Texas and one of the top 500 in the nation.²⁷ In fall 2024, 420 students earned AP Scholar Awards for outstanding performance on AP exams—highlighting the district’s focus on college readiness.²⁸

6. Coppell Independent School District

Location	Coppell
Number of Schools	18
TEA Score	9229
Graduation Rate	99.2%30

Coppell Independent School District is within easy driving distance of Dallas and Fort Worth. It’s a large district—there are 11 elementary schools, three middle schools, one ninth-grade campus, two high schools and one alternative school—but it still has just 15 students per teacher.³¹

By the way, the district pays its teachers almost $4,900 above the state average salary.³² So if you’re looking for a school district that appreciates teachers and offers quality education, Coppell could be it. 

7. South Texas Independent School District

Location	Mercedes
Number of Schools	7
TEA Score	9433
Graduation Rate	99.7%34

South Texas Independent School District serves students from three Rio Grande Valley counties: Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy. Students in this district can concentrate in science, health and medical professions, or college prep. And they can take virtual courses from sixth through 12th grade.

The district has the most experienced teachers on our list and offers above-average pay.³⁵ And its District of Innovation plan provides extra flexibility, making it more like a charter school network.

But if you’re looking for a school district that’s focused on standardized test scores, South Texas might not be it. Its students’ SAT and ACT scores are only slightly higher than the state average.³⁶

8. Frisco Independent School District

Location	Frisco
Number of Schools	77
TEA Score	9037
Graduation Rate	98.8%38

Frisco Independent School District is the largest on the list, with over 66,000 students.³⁹ The district serves Collin and Denton counties, including most of the city of Frisco and parts of Plano, McKinney and Little Elm.

Frisco ISD also boasts award-winning athletic and academic programs, with students and staff consistently earning top honors and recognitions locally and nationwide. On average, teachers have 10 years of experience—compared to 11 years across the state—so students can enjoy working with new, innovative educators.⁴⁰

9. Allen Independent School District

Location	Allen
Number of Schools	23
TEA Score	8941
Graduation Rate	98%42

Like Lovejoy, Allen Independent School District is northeast of Dallas. But this district is way bigger, serving over 21,300 students.⁴³ It has 23 schools, including a STEAM campus (that’s science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics).

Recently, Allen ISD was named a finalist in the School District of the Year H-E-B Excellence in Education awards program. This district also has an extensive athletic program to explore.

10. Aledo Independent School District

Location	Aledo
Number of Schools	13
TEA Score	9044
Graduation Rate	98.1%45

Aledo Independent School District serves students in Parker and Tarrant counties. The district offers a standout mix of career-focused training, advanced academics, arts and championship athletics—giving it’s students a well-rounded path to success.

Aledo High School earned two honors for the second year in a row: a Silver designation on the 2024 AP School Honor Roll and recognition as an AP Access award winner from the College Board.⁴⁶

And even though Aledo scores on the lower end for college readiness on our list, it’s still over 12% above the state average!⁴⁷

Best High Schools in Texas

Texas has more than 2,000 high schools. Here are the top 15 and how they compare at the national level:

School	Texas Rank	U.S. Rank	Location
School for the Talented and Gifted	1	6	Dallas
Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School	2	23	Dallas
Science and Engineering Magnet School	3	29	Dallas
Grand Prairie Collegiate Institute	4	30	Grand Prairie
Carnegie Vanguard High School	5	31	Houston
Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA)	6	38	Austin
BASIS San Antonio, Shavano Campus	7	64	San Antonio
DeBakey High School for Health Professions	8	70	Houston
Brownsville Early College High School	9	71	Brownsville
Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet	10	85	Dallas
Talkington School for Young Women Leaders	11	105	Lubbock
IDEA McAllen College Preparatory	12	107	McAllen
IDEA Quest College Preparatory	13	108	Edinburg
Young Women’s Leadership Academy	14	109	Austin
Richards School for Young Women Leaders	15	121	Austin48

It’s pretty cool that all 15 of the top high schools in Texas are also in the top 125 high schools in the U.S. . . . out of nearly 25,000.⁴⁹ 

You may have noticed that many of these top high schools let students choose a focus—like health care, women’s leadership, fine arts or college prep. So, if your teen knows what they want to do, you may be able to help them find a school that matches their interests.  

How Does Texas Education Compare to the Rest of the U.S.?

Texas ranks 25th in the nation for education.⁵⁰ That’s based on factors like school performance, preschool enrollment, high school graduation and the number of adults with college degrees.

If you break it down further, Texas ranks 29th for preschool through high school education and 21st for higher education.⁵¹ So when you’re choosing where to live in Texas, check out the local schools to make sure your kids will get the education they (and you) want.

Settling Down in Texas

Texas is a huge state with tons of cities and schools to choose from. Whether you’re already living in the Lone Star State or looking to move there, you want to find the best place for you and your family. You’re off to a great start!

Next Steps:

• Ready to dive deeper? Learn about the cost of living in Texas and the state’s safest cities.
• Narrow down a list of the top places you’d like to live in Texas. A good real estate agent can help you find a home you love in a great neighborhood.
• Work with a RamseyTrusted^® real estate agent. They’re top-notch local agents with years of experience, so you can rest easy with them as your guide.

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