Finding a School

Finding a school among Texas' 1,207 districts and charters, which contain nearly 9,000 campuses, can be daunting. To you help locate and select the correct district and campus, the Texas Education Agency provides several resources to help you find information on district boundaries, school type and location, accountability ratings, enrollment data, and contact information.

Find a Public School District or Charter

TXschools.gov School Finder
Search for schools around your address or filter for specific school characteristics and features.

Texas School District Locator (SDL)
The SDL provides basic information for Texas schools, districts, and education service centers (ESCs) in map format.

District Directory (AskTED)
AskTED is an online directory of Texas schools, including charters. The directory primary is primarily used by people seeking contact information for schools, districts, and education service centers.

Charter Schools
In 1995, the 74th Texas Legislature passed legislation giving the state the authority to create open-enrollment charter schools. These schools are subject to fewer state laws than other public schools with the idea of ensuring fiscal and academic accountability without undue regulation of instructional methods or pedagogical innovation. Like school districts, charter schools are monitored and accredited under the statewide testing and accountability system.

Alternative Schooling

Students seeking an alternative to traditional K-12 schooling can take online courses, attend a high school equivalency program, or test for a GED certificate:

Texas Virtual Schools Network
Texas Virtual Schools Network (TxVSN), which launched in 2009, provides Texas students and schools access to interactive, collaborative, instructor-led online courses taught by state-certified and appropriately credentialed teachers. The TxVSN is made up of two components: the TxVSN statewide course catalog, which provides supplemental online courses to students in grades 8-12; and the TxVSN online schools program, which offers full-time virtual instruction through eligible public schools to Texas public school students in grades 3-12.

High School Equivalency Program (HSEP)
The High School Equivalency Program, or In-School GED Option Program, is designed to provide an alternative for high school students age 16 and over who are at risk of not graduating from high school and earning a high school diploma.

Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency
Anyone aged 18 and older who has not earned a high school diploma and is not currently enrolled in an accredited high school is eligible to earn a Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency. Any exceptions must meet eligibility requirements to test for the high school equivalency.

Other Schooling Options

Texas parents also have the option to enroll their children in a private school or teach their children at home. TEA has no oversight of private schools or home school programs.

Texas Private School Accreditation Commission (outside source)
TEA does not have oversight of private schools or vocational schools in Texas. The Texas Private School Accreditation Commission and International Association for Learner Driven Schools provide information for private schools. For information related to alternative schooling options, visit the Alternative Schooling page.

Home Schooling
This page provides information on the legal requirements of operating a home school and resources for parents who want to pursue this schooling option. TEA has no regulatory authority over home schools, and the state of Texas does not award diplomas to students who are home schooled.