Best School Districts in Texas (2026)
This ranking covers 939 rated public school districts in Texas,
scored using STAAR 2023 state assessment data.
Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.
A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers —
it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes.
Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions.
Learn how ratings are calculated →
Texas School Districts at a Glance
- 1,009 of the 1,022 regular school districts operating in Texas have a published rating on this site.
- 316 districts score 8/10 or higher, the top three rating bands.
- Ratings come from STAAR 2023, and every district is ranked against other districts in Texas only — never against districts in another state, because the tests differ.
- The highest-rated district is Carroll Independent School District in Southlake, rated 10/10.
- Almost every district in Texas is unified, meaning one district runs kindergarten through 12th grade for an address.
How to Use This List
Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office.
Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in Texas? ▼
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (STAAR 2023), the top-rated district is Carroll Independent School District in Southlake, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (STAAR 2023), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale.
Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores? ▼
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.
How many school districts are in Texas? ▼
Texas has 1,022 regular school districts operating in the 2024–25 school year, according to the NCES Common Core of Data. 1,009 of them have enough state assessment data to carry a rating on this site.
What test are Texas school district ratings based on? ▼
STAAR 2023. The rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, converted to a percentile against other districts in Texas and then to a 1–10 scale. Spending, staffing and district size are not part of it.
How many districts in Texas are rated 8 out of 10 or higher? ▼
316 of the 1,009 rated districts in Texas score 8/10 or above. Because the scale is a within-state percentile, a high rating means the district outperforms most other districts in Texas, not the country.
Does one district cover all grades in Texas? ▼
In Texas nearly every district is unified, so the same district runs elementary, middle and high school for an address. A few states split those into separate districts; Texas is not one of them.