Education

Education is a top priority in the Corpus Christi region, and as a result, the educational systems are strong. Schools are rising to the challenge of educating more students, as new residents are attracted to the area. And they are doing so with great success: at least one school in four out of five area districts is rated ‘Exemplary'. Area educators and community leaders are committed to students, and work tirelessly to ensure that all students, upon graduating, are equipped to begin a career or pursue higher education.

Nineteen independent school districts serve the region, including five within the city of Corpus Christi. Students are offered the opportunity for creative learning through a variety of cooperative programs with institutions such as the South Texas Institute for the Arts, the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, the Asian Cultures Museum and Educational Center, the Corpus Christi Symphony, the Texas State Aquarium, and the Junior League of Corpus Christi.

The largest public school district in the region is the Corpus Christi Independent School District. Other districts in the city include Flour Bluff, Calallen, Tuloso-Midway and West Oso. Together, Corpus Christi's five independent school districts have an enrollment of approximately 53,000 students. There are no schools on base.

Each ISD has its own school board and has certain latitude in policy matters. For example, school districts can each set their own school year calendar if they choose to do so. Although Texas has a grading system, school districts can vary slightly from the norm if the district policy states the guidelines for doing so.

In a recent policy change, children from active duty military families are automatically eligible to enroll in the public school pre-kindergarten programs in their districts. If the servicemember leaves the military, the child will be allowed to remain in the program until it is completed.

State Accreditation

The Texas Education Agency grades Texas public schools in reading, writing and mathematics. Schools are rated Exemplary, Recognized, Academically Acceptable or Academically Unacceptable, based on their overall performance. The five school districts in the Corpus Christi area boast a combined 19 Exemplary campuses.

For information on accreditation go to the individual districts. Accreditation by the Texas Education Agency is an objective means by which excellence in education may be signified to the patrons of a school district.

Grading Scale

The grading scale is as follows but may vary district to district : A - 100-93; B - 92-85; C - 84-75; D - 74-70; F - 69 & below.

Transportation

Transportation is provided for students K-12 as follows:

• Students (K-12) who live further than two miles from their school ride school district buses.
• Schedules are provided at registration. Parents are responsible for providing transportation for pre-kindergarten students. 

Meals Program

Parents/Guardians will receive an application for Free or Reduced Meals as well as a letter with specific information and eligibility income guidance. If the parents/guardians wishes to apply, the application must be completed and returned to the Cafeteria Manager.

Breakfast:

• Elementary and Intermediate Student: $1.25
• High School Student: $1.50
• Reduced Student: $0.30
• Adult/Visitor: $1.50

Lunch:

• Elementary Student: $2.10
• Intermediate Student: $2.35
• High School Student: $3.50
• Reduced Student: $0.40
• Adult/Visitor: $2.90

All meals are served daily and can be pre-paid. Cost may vary.

School cafeterias provide a nutritional breakfast and lunch each day. Information on meal prices may be obtained from the school office. Applications for free or reduced meals are also available at the school office or district offices.

Families residing in base housing should register with Flour Bluff Independent School District.

Before and After School Programs

These types of programs are not mandated by law, some public schools do not offer these programs. However, private schools do offer before and after school programs at different rates.

School Sports Programs

The University Interscholastic League, a voluntary-membership, non-profit organization exists to provide educational extracurricular academic, athletic, and music contests. The initials UIL have come to represent quality educational competition administered by school people on an equitable basis.It organizes and properly supervises contests that assist in preparing students for citizenship. It aims to provide healthy, character building, educational activities carried out under rules providing for good sportsmanship and fair play for all participants.

The UIL does not provide a contest for every student but does fill the need for those with the physical and intellectual capacity to excel in activities beyond the classroom. The UIL has the active support of most of the school executives, teachers, and citizens in Texas.  

Expectional Children Programs

Each district has its own special education programs, its own alternative schools, its own before- and after-school care programs, and its own preschool programs.

There are 5 school districts in the Corpus Christi area:

• Corpus Christi Independent School District - the largest
• Flour Bluff
• Calallen
• Tuloso-Midway 
• West Oso 
• London ISD

Youth Services

The Zone has a very active youth services program. It offers a wide variety of instructional classes, teen programs, youth developmental activities, homework assistance, leisure and recreational events and a variety of school age services. Call 361-961-2355 for more information.

Another choice away from the traditional public school is home schooling. Locally, more than 3,000 families are home schooling, according to the Family Educators Alliance of South Texas. Each ISD has alternative education programs available.

To home school legally in Texas, you must follow three state law requirements:

• The instruction must be bona fide (i.e., not a sham).
• The curriculum must be in visual form (e.g., books, workbooks, video monitor).
• The curriculum must include the five basic subjects of reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and good citizenship.

Each ISD has a community education department. These departments offer classes that include GED classes as well as a variety of enrichment classes. Some districts also offer English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and citizenship classes.

Please refer to the section on Education - Technical (College/ Technical) for information on colleges and tax-supported technical schools.

There are a number of magnet schools in the area. Magnet schools are usually high schools who specialize in certain educational fields, such as health care, technology, business, communications arts, and more. The attendance arrangements are complex. For some, the student must be accepted in the freshman year. Others offer half-day classes, with the student attending a regular school and then traveling to the magnet school for the remainder of the day. Enrollment may be available only to district residents; others have open enrollment. Some offer college credit for class work.

Charter schools are also available. A charter school is a publicly funded school that is managed by a private contractor, with varying levels of success. Charter schools are accountable to the state and must meet the same standards as public schools. That can be a challenge because one of the conditions of the charter is that approximately 65% of the student population in that school must be considered as being at-risk.