District Type Glossary of Terms, 2015-16
The following paragraphs explain TEA district type classifications.
Major Urban (11 districts). A district is classified as major urban if: (a) it is located in a county with a population of at least 950,000; (b) its enrollment is the largest in the county or at least 70 percent of the largest district enrollment in the county; and (c) at least 35 percent of enrolled students are economically disadvantaged. A student is reported as economically disadvantaged if he or she is eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch and Child Nutrition Program.
Example:
Austin ISD (227901) is in Travis County, which has a population of 1,190,186. Austin ISD's enrollment of 83,270 students is the largest enrollment in the county, and at least 35 percent of the enrolled students are economically disadvantaged.
Major Suburban (79 districts). A district is classified as major suburban if: (a) it does not meet the criteria for classification as major urban; (b) it is contiguous to a major urban district; and (c) its enrollment is at least 3 percent that of the largest contiguous major urban district or at least 4,500 students. A district also is classified as major suburban if: (a) it does not meet the criteria for classification as major urban; (b) it is not contiguous to a major urban district; (c) it is located in the same county as a major urban district; and (d) its enrollment is at least 15 percent that of the largest major urban district in the county or at least 4,500 students.
Examples:
Castleberry ISD (220917) is in Tarrant County, which has a population of 1,971,711 but it does not meet the criteria for classification as major urban. Castleberry ISD is contiguous to Fort Worth ISD, a major urban district, and its enrollment of 4,044 students is greater than 3 percent that of Fort Worth ISD.
Goose Creek CISD (101911) is in Harris County, which has a population of 4,573,568 and contains at least one district classified as major urban. Goose Creek CISD does not meet the criteria for classification as major urban, nor is it contiguous to a major urban district. Although Goose Creek CISD's enrollment of 23,661 students is less than 15 percent that of Houston ISD, the largest major urban district in Harris County, it exceeds 4,500 students.
Other Central City (41 districts). A district is classified as other central city if: (a) it does not meet the criteria for classification in either of the previous subcategories; (b) it is not contiguous to a major urban district; (c) it is located in a county with a population of between 100,000 and 949,999; and (d) its enrollment is the largest in the county or at least 75 percent of the largest district enrollment in the county.
Examples:
Brownsville ISD (031901) is in Cameron County, which has a population of 425,194. Brownsville ISD does not meet the criteria for classification in either of the previous subcategories, and it is not contiguous to a major urban district. Brownsville ISD's enrollment of 47,669 students is the largest in the county.
La Joya ISD (108912) is in Hidalgo County, which has a population of 848,037. La Joya ISD does not meet the criteria for classification in either of the previous subcategories, and it is not contiguous to a major urban district. Although La Joya ISD's enrollment of 29,533 students is not the largest in the county, it is at least 75 percent of the largest district enrollment in the county.
Other Central City Suburban (161 districts). A district is classified as other central city suburban if: (a) it does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories; (b) it is located in a county with a population of between 100,000 and 949,999; and (c) its enrollment is at least 15 percent of the largest district enrollment in the county. A district also is other central city suburban if: (a) it does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories; (b) it is contiguous to an other central city district; (c) its enrollment is at least 3 percent that of the contiguous other central city district; and (d) its enrollment is equal to or greater than the median district enrollment for the state of 879 students.
Examples:
Harlingen CISD (031903) is in Cameron County, which has a population of 425,194. Harlingen CISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Its enrollment of 18,650 students is greater than 15 percent of the largest district enrollment in the county.
Port Arthur ISD (123907) is in Jefferson County, which has a population of 250,798. Port Arthur ISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Port Arthur ISD is contiguous to Beaumont ISD, an other central city district that also is the largest district in the county. Port Arthur ISD's enrollment of 8,826 students is at least 3 percent that of Beaumont ISD and is equal to or greater than the median district enrollment for the state of 879 students.
Independent Town (68 districts). A district is classified as independent town if: (a) it does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories; (b) it is located in a county with a population of 25,000 to 99,999; and (c) its enrollment is the largest in the county or is at least 75 percent of the largest district enrollment in the county.
Examples:
Victoria ISD (235902) is in Victoria County, which has a population of 92,667. Victoria ISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Its enrollment of 14,428 students is the largest in the county.
Winnsboro ISD (250907) is in Wood County, which has a population of 43,865. Winnsboro ISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Its enrollment of 1,485 students is at least 75 percent of the largest district enrollment in the county.
Non-Metropolitan: Fast Growing (31 districts). A district is classified as non-metropolitan: fast growing if: (a) it does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories; (b) it has an enrollment of at least 300 students; and (c) its enrollment has increased by at least 20 percent over the past five years.
Example:
Jarrell ISD (246907) is in Williamson County, which has a population of 505,250. Jarrell ISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Jarrell ISD has an enrollment of 1,424 students, and its enrollment has increased by at least 20 percent over the past five years.
Non-Metropolitan: Stable (174 districts). A district is classified as non-metropolitan: stable if: (a) it does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories; and (b) its enrollment is equal to or greater than the median district enrollment for the state
Example:
Snyder ISD (208902) is in Scurry County, which has a population of 17,592. Snyder ISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Its enrollment of 2,901 students exceeds the median district enrollment for the state of 879 students.
Rural (459 districts). A district is classified as rural if it does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. A rural district has either: (a) an enrollment of between 300 and the median district enrollment for the state and an enrollment growth rate over the past five years of less than 20 percent; or (b) an enrollment of less than 300 students.
Examples:
Mason ISD (157901) is in Mason County, which has a population of 4,080. Mason ISD has an enrollment of 670 students and an enrollment growth rate over the past five years of less than 20 percent.
Matagorda ISD (158904) is in Matagorda County, which has a population of 36,613. Although Matagorda ISD has an enrollment growth rate over the past five years of more than 20 percent, its current enrollment is only 172 students.
Charter School Districts (183 districts). Charter school districts are open-enrollment school districts chartered by the commissioner of education with final approval for operation provided by the State Board of Education. Established by the Texas Legislature in 1995 to promote local initiative, charter school districts are subject to fewer regulations than other public school districts. Generally, charter school districts are subject to laws and rules that ensure fiscal and academic accountability but that do not unduly regulate instructional methods or pedagogical innovation. Like other public school districts, charter school districts are monitored and accredited under the statewide testing and accountability system.
Example:
George I. Sanchez Charter School (101804) is in Harris County, which has a population of 4,573,568 and the charter district has an enrollment of 828 students.
Contact Information
For questions or comments, please e‑mail the Division of Research and Analysis, or contact the division by phone at 512-475-3523.
This page last updated February 2017.