District Type Glossary of Terms, 2023-24

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 1,214,000; (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 1,366,769. Austin ISD's enrollment of 72,739 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 2,204,054 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 3,737 students is greater than 3 percent that of Fort Worth ISD.

Goose Creek CISD (101911) is in Harris County, which has a population of 4,848,956 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 24,010 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 1,213,999; 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 427,291. 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 37,032 students is the largest in the county.

La Joya ISD (108912) is in Hidalgo County, which has a population of 910,629. 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 23,995 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 (168 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 1,213,999; 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 901 students.  

Examples:

Harlingen CISD (031903) is in Cameron County, which has a population of 427,291. Harlingen CISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Its enrollment of 16,763 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 253,241. 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 8,001 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 901 students.

Independent Town (53 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 92,147. Victoria ISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Its enrollment of 12,961 students is the largest in the county.

Winnsboro ISD (250907) is in Wood County, which has a population of 48,218. Winnsboro ISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Its enrollment of 1,482 students is at least 70 percent of the largest district enrollment in the county.

Non-Metropolitan: Fast Growing  (33 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 1,209,295. Celina ISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Celina ISD has an enrollment of 4,563 students, and its enrollment has increased by at least 20 percent over the past five years.

Non-Metropolitan: Stable  (181 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 16,252. Snyder ISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Its enrollment of 2,384 students exceeds the median district enrollment for the state of 901 students.

Rural (465 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 4,044. Mason ISD has an enrollment of 704 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 14,528. Buena Vista ISD has an enrollment of 255 students and an enrollment growth rate over the past five years of less than 20 percent.

Charter Schools (186 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 4,848,956 and the charter school has an enrollment of 1,125 students.

NCES District Types

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) classifies districts using factors such as population size and proximity to urban 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 Locale Boundaries Technical Documentation.

City – Large  (154 districts)

Territory inside an urban area with population of 50,000 or more 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 (34 districts)

Territory inside an urban area with population of 50,000 or more 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 Rapoport Academy Public School (161802) in McLennan County

City – Small (33 districts)

Territory inside an urban area with population of 50,000 or more and inside a principal city with population less than 100,000.

Examples:

Bryan ISD (021902) in Brazos County, Sherman ISD (091906) in Grayson County, and East Texas Charter Schools (092801) in Gregg County

Suburban – Large (111 districts)

Territory outside a principal city and inside an urban 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 (17 districts)

Territory outside a principal city and inside an urban 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 Santa Fe ISD (084909) in Galveston County

Suburban  –  Small  (2 districts)

Territory outside a principal city and inside an urban area with population less than 100,000 and greater than or equal to 50,000.

Examples:

Brazosport ISD (020905) in Brazoria County and Liberty-Eylau ISD (019908) in Bowie County

Town – Fringe  (40 districts)

Territory inside an urban area with population less than 50,000 that is less than or equal to 10 miles from an urban area with population of 50,000 or more.  

Examples:

Aransas Pass ISD (205901) in San Patricio County, Seguin ISD (094901) in Guadalupe County, and Meadowland Charter District (130801) in Kendall County

Town – Distant  (67 districts)

Territory inside an urban area with population less than 50,000 that is more than 10 miles and less than or equal to 35 miles from an urban area with population of 50,000 or more.  

Examples:

Alice ISD (125901) in Jim Wells County, Rockdale ISD (166904) in Milam County, and Panola Charter School (183801) in Panola County  

Town – Remote  (48 districts)

Territory inside an urban area with population less than 50,000 that is more than 35 miles from an urban area with population of 50,000 or more.  

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  (86 districts)

Territory outside an urban area that is less than or equal to 5 miles from an urban area with population of 50,000 or more, as well as territory outside an urban area that is less than or equal to 2.5 miles from an urban area with population less than 50,000.  

Examples:

Forney ISD (129902) in Kaufman County, City View ISD (243906) in Wichita County, and Orenda Charter School (014804) in Bell County  

Rural – Distant  (328 districts)

Territory outside an urban area that is more than 5 miles but less than or equal to 25 miles from an urban area with population of 50,000 or more, as well as territory outside an urban area that is more than 2.5 miles but less than or equal to 10 miles from an urban area with population less than 50,000.  

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  (296 districts)

Territory outside an urban area that is more than 25 miles from an urban area with population of 50,000 or more and is also more than 10 miles from an urban area with population less than 50,000.  

Examples:

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

This page last updated September 2025