District Type Glossary of Terms, 2021-22

TEA District Types

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 1,125,000; (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 1,327,925. Austin ISD's enrollment of 71,883 students is the largest enrollment in the county, and at least 35 percent of the enrolled students are economically disadvantaged. 

Major Suburban (75 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 2,122,081 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 3,636 students is greater than 3 percent that of Fort Worth ISD.

Goose Creek CISD (101911) is in Harris County, which has a population of 4,759,954 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 23,833 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 (35 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 1,124,999; and (d) its enrollment is the largest in the county or at least 70 percent of the largest district enrollment in the county.

Examples:

Brownsville ISD (031901) is in Cameron County, which has a population of 421,254. 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 38,412 students is the largest in the county.

La Joya ISD (108912) is in Hidalgo County, which has a population of 884,299. 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 24,024 students is not the largest in the county, it is at least 70 percent of the largest district enrollment in the county.  

Other Central City Suburban (165 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 1,124,999; 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 largest contiguous other central city district; and (d) its enrollment is equal to or greater than the median district enrollment for the state of 884 students.  

Examples:

Harlingen CISD (031903) is in Cameron County, which has a population of 421,254. Harlingen CISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Its enrollment of 17,022 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 251,890. 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 7,840 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 884 students.

Independent Town (51 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 70 percent of the largest district enrollment in the county.  

Examples:

Victoria ISD (235902) is in Victoria County, which has a population of 90,875. Victoria ISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Its enrollment of 13,253 students is the largest in the county.

Winnsboro ISD (250907) is in Wood County, which has a population of 45,156. Winnsboro ISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Its enrollment of 1,532 students is at least 70 percent of the largest district enrollment in the county.

Non-Metropolitan: Fast Growing  (27 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:

Celina ISD (043903) is in Collin County, which has a population of 1,121,133. Celina ISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Celina ISD has an enrollment of 3,351 students, and its enrollment has increased by at least 20 percent over the past five years.

Non-Metropolitan: Stable  (185 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 16,526. Snyder ISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Its enrollment of 2,551 students exceeds the median district enrollment for the state of 884 students.

Rural (473 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 3,881. Mason ISD has an enrollment of 755 students and an enrollment growth rate over the past five years of less than 20 percent.  

Buena Vista ISD (186901) is in Pecos County, which has a population of 15,115. Buena Vista ISD has an enrollment of 240 students and an enrollment growth rate over the past five years of less than 20 percent.

Charter Schools (185 districts)

Charter schools are open-enrollment school districts authorized 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 schools are subject to fewer regulations than other public school districts. Generally, charter schools 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 schools 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 4,759,954 and the charter school has an enrollment of 947 students.

NCES District Types

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) classifies districts using factors such as population size and proximity to urbanized areas. The NCES places districts into 12 categories, also known as locale classifications or locale codes. The NCES locale framework is composed of four basic types (City, Suburban, Town, and Rural). Each type comprises three subtypes. The subtypes are differentiated by size (in the case of City and Suburban assignments) and proximity (in the case of Town and Rural assignments). Within the NCES system, charter schools are assigned one of the twelve categories; there is not a separate category for charter schools. For additional information about the locale framework, see the NCES Locale Boundaries File Documentation.

City – Large  (146 districts)

Territory inside an Urbanized Area and inside a Principal City with population of 250,000 or more. 

Examples:

Austin ISD (227901) in Travis County, Laredo ISD (240901) in Webb County, and George I Sanchez Charter School (101804) in Harris County  

City – Midsize (31 districts)

Territory inside an Urbanized Area and inside a Principal City with population less than 250,000 and greater than or equal to 100,000.

Examples:

Beaumont ISD (123910) in Jefferson County, McAllen ISD (108906) in Hidalgo County, and Waco Charter School (161801) in McLennan County

City – Small (31 districts)

Territory inside an Urbanized Area and inside a Principal City with population less than 100,000.

Examples:

New Braunfels ISD (046901) in Comal County, Sherman ISD (091906) in Grayson County, and East Texas Charter Schools (092801) in Gregg County

Suburban – Large (108 districts)

Territory outside a Principal City and inside an Urbanized Area with population of 250,000 or more.  

Examples:

Desoto ISD (057906) in Dallas County, Waxahachie ISD (070912) in Ellis County, and Calvin Nelms Charter Schools (101837) in Harris County

Suburban – Midsize (28 districts)

Territory outside a Principal City and inside an Urbanized Area with population less than 250,000 and greater than or equal to 100,000.  

Examples:

Lumberton ISD (100907) in Hardin County, San Benito CISD (031912) in Cameron County, and Imagine International Academy of North Texas (043801) in Collin County

Suburban  –  Small  (5 districts)

Territory outside a Principal City and inside an Urbanized Area with population less than 100,000.

Examples:

Brazosport ISD (020905) in Brazoria County, Red Lick ISD (019911) in Bowie County, and White Oak ISD (092908) in Gregg County

Town – Fringe  (35 districts)

Territory inside an Urban Cluster that is less than or equal to 10 miles from an Urbanized Area. 

Examples:

Aransas Pass ISD (205901) in San Patricio County, Seguin ISD (094901) in Guadalupe County, and Odyssey Academy Inc (084802) in Galveston County

Town – Distant  (99 districts)

Territory inside an Urban Cluster that is more than 10 miles and less than or equal to 35 miles from an Urbanized Area.  

Examples:

Alice ISD (125901) in Jim Wells County, Marble Falls ISD (027904) in Burnet County, and St. Mary's Academy Charter School (013801) in Bee County  

Town – Remote  (77 districts)

Territory inside an Urban Cluster that is more than 35 miles from an Urbanized Area.  

Examples:

Childress ISD (038901) in Childress County, Jasper ISD (121904) in Jasper County, and Stephen F Austin State University Charter School (174801) in Nacogdoches County  

Rural – Fringe  (132 districts)

Census-defined rural territory that is less than or equal to 5 miles from an Urbanized Area, as well as rural territory that is less than or equal to 2.5 miles from an Urban Cluster.  

Examples:

Boerne ISD (130901) in Kendall County, Wimberley ISD (105905) in Hays County, and Orenda Charter School (014804) in Bell County  

Rural – Distant  (306 districts)

Census-defined rural territory that is more than 5 miles but less than or equal to 25 miles from an Urbanized Area, as well as rural territory that is more than 2.5 miles but less than or equal to 10 miles from an Urban Cluster.  

Examples:

Agua Dulce ISD (178901) in Nueces County, Wink-Loving ISD (248902) in Winkler County, and Brazos River Charter School (213801) in Somervell County  

Rural – Remote  (220 districts)

Census-defined rural territory that is more than 25 miles from an Urbanized Area and also more than 10 miles from an Urban Cluster.  

Examples:

Centerville ISD (145902) in Leon County, Zavalla ISD (003906) in Angelina County, and Big Springs Charter School (193801) in Real County  

 

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This page last updated October 2023