District Type Glossary of Terms, 2019-20

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 1,050,000; (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 1,285,526. Austin ISD's enrollment of 80,718 students is the largest enrollment in the county, and at least 35 percent of the enrolled students are economically disadvantaged. 

Major Suburban (80 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 2,063,496 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 3,641 students is greater than 3 percent that of Fort Worth ISD.

Goose Creek CISD (101911) is in Harris County, which has a population of 4,703,708 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 23,850 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 (39 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 1,049,999; 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 426,144. 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 42,989 students is the largest in the county.

La Joya ISD (108912) is in Hidalgo County, which has a population of 888,958. 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 27,276 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 (166 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 1,049,999; 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 903 students.  

Examples:

Harlingen CISD (031903) is in Cameron County, which has a population of 426,144. Harlingen CISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Its enrollment of 18,346 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 250,803. 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 8,156 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 903 students.

Independent Town (67 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 90,940. Victoria ISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Its enrollment of 13,797 students is the largest in the county.

Winnsboro ISD (250907) is in Wood County, which has a population of 45,528. Winnsboro ISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Its enrollment of 1,488 students is at least 70 percent of the largest district enrollment in the county.

Non-Metropolitan: Fast Growing  (34 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 1,047,901. Celina ISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Celina ISD has an enrollment of 2,821 students, and its enrollment has increased by at least 20 percent over the past five years.

Non-Metropolitan: Stable  (161 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 16,556. Snyder ISD does not meet the criteria for classification in any of the previous subcategories. Its enrollment of 2,662 students exceeds the median district enrollment for the state of 903 students.

Rural (464 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 4,318. Mason ISD has an enrollment of 754 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 15,033. Buena Vista ISD has an enrollment of 253 students and an enrollment growth rate over the past five years of more than 20 percent.

Charter School Districts (180 districts). Charter school districts 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 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 4,703,708 and the charter district has an enrollment of 1,035 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 school districts are assigned one of the twelve categories; there is not a separate category for charter school districts. For additional information about the locale framework, see the NCES Locale Boundaries File Documentation.

City – Large  (143 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 (34 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 (29 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  (6 districts). Territory outside a Principal City and inside an Urbanized Area with population less than 100,000.

Examples:

Belton ISD (014903) in Bell County, Red Lick ISD (019911) in Bowie County, and White Oak ISD (092908) in Gregg County

Town – Fringe  (34 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  (100 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  (127 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  

This page last updated July 2021