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Lake Highlands Elementary

Summary:

Lake Highlands Elementary is a public elementary school in Dallas, Texas, serving 727 students in grades PK-6. The school is part of the Richardson Independent School District, which is ranked 403 out of 968 districts in Texas.

Lake Highlands Elementary consistently ranks among the top 15% of Texas elementary schools, with strong academic performance, particularly in Reading and Mathematics. The school's STAAR test scores significantly exceed the district and state averages across all grade levels. For example, in 2023-2024, 75.82% of 3rd graders, 76.71% of 4th graders, and 80% of 5th graders were proficient or better in STAAR Reading, compared to 52.47%, 52.54%, and 54.15% for the district, respectively. In Mathematics, 64.77% of 3rd graders, 71.79% of 4th graders, and 72.45% of 5th graders were proficient or better, compared to 45.01%, 48.04%, and 52.66% for the district. However, the school's performance for African American, Hispanic, English Language Learner, and Low Socioeconomic Status students lags behind the state and district averages.

While Lake Highlands Elementary outperforms most nearby schools in the Richardson ISD, including Merriman Park Elementary, Thurgood Marshall Elementary, Skyview Elementary, and Wallace Elementary, it lags behind the high-performing White Rock Elementary, which ranks in the top 5% of Texas elementary schools. The school's higher per-student spending and lower student-teacher ratio may contribute to its strong academic performance, but the significant performance gaps between its diverse student subgroups suggest the need for targeted interventions to ensure equitable outcomes for all students.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

 9501 Ferndale Rd
       Dallas, TX  75238-4107

(469) 593-2100

District: Richardson Independent School District (Isd)

SchoolDigger Rank:
311th of 4,675 Texas Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,964 Help


Students who attend Lake Highlands Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Lake Highlands J H
High:    Lake Highlands High School

Student/teacher ratio:  14.4 Help
Number of students:  780

Racial breakdown:

White:
63.2%
Hispanic:
28.2%
African American:
3.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  24.7% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Lake Highlands Elementary ranks better than 93.3% of elementary schools in Texas. It also ranks 10th among 40 ranked elementary schools in the Richardson Independent School District (Isd). (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 91.63. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (63.2%), Hispanic (28.2%), African American (3.8%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 24.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Lake Highlands Elementary is 14.4. 22 elementary schools in the Richardson Independent School District (Isd) have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Lake Highlands Elementary employs 54.1 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Lake Highlands Elementary is $9,964. 30 elementary schools in the Richardson Independent School District (Isd) spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Lake Highlands Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Lake Highlands Elementary 311th of 4675 Texas public elementary schools. (See Lake Highlands Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Richardson Independent School District (Isd):

SchoolDigger ranks Richardson Independent School District (Isd) 403rd of 968 Texas school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Lake Highlands Elementary?

Rank History for Lake Highlands Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Lake Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 33.84 2729th 3465 21.2%
2005 38.13 2556th 3475 26.4%
2006 60.87 1484th 3476 57.3%
2007 79.48 473rd 3724 87.3%
2008 70.84 999th 3768 73.5%
2009 77.99 612th 3884 84.2%
2010 80.88 417th 3937 89.4%
2011 74.07 894th 4095 78.2%
2012 74.03 930th 4206 77.9%
2013 80.70 624th 4221 85.2%
2014 75.38 944th 4260 77.8%
2015 72.94 1104th 4320 74.4%
2016 67.25 1405th 4286 67.2%
2017 70.44 1040th 4329 76.0%
2018 76.46 795th 4359 81.8%
2019 75.19 868th 4479 80.6%
2021 81.08 703rd 4578 84.6%
2022 86.95 471st 4581 89.7%
2023 86.78 499th 4647 89.3%
2024 91.63 311th 4675 93.3%
See the entire list of Texas Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Lake Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 26.02 2764th 3226 14.3%
2019 22.45 2993rd 3333 10.2%
2021 26.97 2850th 3446 17.3%
2022 25.33 2978th 3487 14.6%
2023 33.79 2592nd 3556 27.1%
2024 37.33 2360th 3638 35.1%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Lake Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 66.37 676th 3558 81.0%
2019 64.42 765th 3684 79.2%
2021 81.46 301st 3799 92.1%
2022 74.26 534th 3952 86.5%
2023 69.25 726th 4086 82.2%
2024 69.68 812th 4261 80.9%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Lake Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 32.86 3184th 4264 25.3%
2019 23.55 3822nd 4309 11.3%
2021 32.58 3207th 4451 27.9%
2022 43.92 2555th 4477 42.9%
2023 40.57 2826th 4521 37.5%
2024 44.44 2567th 4560 43.7%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Lake Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 76.81 754th 4306 82.5%
2019 77.57 723rd 4348 83.4%
2021 79.19 714th 4499 84.1%
2022 83.79 523rd 4561 88.5%
2023 83.76 561st 4588 87.8%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Lake Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 66.52 1124th 3106 63.8%
2019 70.63 769th 3184 75.8%
2021 77.15 524th 3006 82.6%
2022 63.37 1220th 2958 58.8%
2023 70.68 768th 2980 74.2%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for At Risk students at Lake Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 41.48 2540th 4240 40.1%
2019 36.67 2927th 4295 31.9%
2021 42.60 2373rd 4331 45.2%
2022 51.50 1988th 4461 55.4%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for At Risk Students!

Rank History for Male students at Lake Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 73.24 885th 4319 79.5%
2019 70.00 1015th 4357 76.7%
2021 79.21 717th 4498 84.1%
2022 85.63 481st 4563 89.5%
2023 86.12 474th 4585 89.7%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Lake Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 24.46 2117th 2483 14.7%
2019 31.29 1903rd 2515 24.3%
2023 34.42 1676th 2443 31.4%
2024 42.92 1367th 2421 43.5%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Lake Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 50.84 1891st 4168 54.6%
2019 42.49 2475th 4188 40.9%
2021 52.60 1776th 4329 59.0%
2022 54.53 1785th 4376 59.2%
2023 54.91 1771st 4401 59.8%
2024 60.03 1446th 4431 67.4%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Lake Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 78.70 479th 3127 84.7%
2019 76.24 534th 3142 83.0%
2021 77.09 468th 3082 84.8%
2022 84.75 250th 3082 91.9%
2023 88.28 160th 3106 94.8%
2024 86.64 190th 3078 93.8%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Texas Education Agency, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Lake Highlands Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
Help







Data source: Texas Education Agency

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a student
Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Open Quote I went there and transferred from a private school. I cannot give this school a good enough rating. There is a great level of diversity and acceptance of all, unlike at White Rock Elementary. I experienced no bullying at LHE and neither did anyone I knew. I was a peer mediator from 4th to 6th grade and we never came across a case of bullying and all conflicts were resolved. This school really changed my life and shaped me into the person I am today. All of my teachers will forever have an impact on my life and I will never forget their impact on my upbringing. What a wonderful school. What a wonderful community. What a wonderful support system. Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Open Quote We love LHE! It is an excellent elementary school where teachers work with students to excel academically and socially. The neighborhood is wonderful, with the majority of students walking to school, and parents are very active in the PTA and volunteer projects. Close Quote


by a parent
Monday, September 4, 2017

Open Quote The new principle Becky Stevens is amazing at maintaining a positive culture at the school. Great school with a healthy mix of kids. My kids go biking around the neighborhood with friends from the school-- great vibe Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Open Quote The principal, Ms. Sullivan, is amazing. All the teachers are extremely caring and I have found there is really good camaraderie with the parents. The dad's club is active, as is the PTA. My son loves LHE and is excelling. Both my wife & I work full time downtown and send our son to PACE the after-school program at LHE.

LHE has a great offering of after-school programming to extend enrichment, such as theater classes run by the Dallas Children's Theater at LHE after school, Karate classes also at the school run by a nearby studio, Chess club, etc... My son loves his REACH class. REACH is a pullout g/t program that further challenges identified g/t kids.

I recently volunteered as a WatchDOG at the school (google it). I got to see firsthand all the teacher-student interactions across various classrooms. The school is extremely well-run and the kids respond. The 2015 theme was 'Choose Kind' -- putting children in positions to show compassion towards others.

LHE is the center of the community. Weekends and days with great weather you will see numerous kids playing on the playground. Altogether a really great school. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Lake Highlands Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 392 118 37 71 2 n/a n/a 0 620
1989 377 131 35 96 3 n/a n/a 0 642
1990 381 136 32 105 3 n/a n/a 0 657
1991 361 110 26 129 5 n/a n/a 0 631
1992 360 107 28 153 3 n/a n/a 0 651
1993 334 101 23 165 4 n/a n/a 0 627
1994 341 120 28 161 2 n/a n/a 0 652
1995 314 165 24 163 3 n/a n/a 0 669
1996 314 165 24 163 3 n/a n/a 0 669
1997 288 190 20 174 2 n/a n/a 0 674
1998 278 215 22 203 4 n/a n/a 0 722
1999 264 219 18 176 0 n/a n/a 0 677
2000 251 173 12 189 1 n/a n/a 0 626
2001 239 205 11 214 3 n/a n/a 0 672
2002 210 247 13 252 4 n/a n/a 0 726
2003 210 247 13 252 4 n/a n/a 0 726
2004 202 195 9 261 4 n/a n/a 0 671
2005 185 220 3 224 2 n/a n/a 0 634
2006 178 211 4 229 2 n/a n/a 0 624
2007 196 114 5 237 1 n/a n/a 0 553
2008 215 127 5 252 1 n/a n/a 0 600
2009 233 131 9 258 2 n/a n/a 0 633
2010 232 99 11 243 5 n/a n/a 0 590
2011 247 87 13 285 6 0 8 0 646
2012 295 104 16 291 6 0 4 0 716
2013 305 106 23 289 5 0 6 0 734
2014 326 93 27 274 3 0 18 0 741
2015 340 78 14 241 3 0 16 0 692
2016 360 55 11 254 2 0 10 0 692
2017 377 59 17 257 1 0 13 0 724
2018 433 53 16 236 1 0 17 0 756
2019 419 51 11 215 0 1 28 0 725
2020 416 41 8 222 0 0 13 0 700
2021 443 29 10 240 0 0 16 0 738
2022 452 27 10 211 1 1 23 0 725
2023 444 28 10 219 2 1 23 0 727
2024 493 30 11 220 1 1 24 0 780

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Lake Highlands Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 620 41.0 15.1 n/a
1989 642 n/a n/a n/a
1990 657 47.0 13.9 n/a
1991 631 46.6 13.5 n/a
1992 651 47.4 13.7 32.6
1993 627 43.0 14.6 45
1994 652 42.0 15.5 35.3
1995 669 44.5 15.0 42.6
1996 669 44.5 15.0 42.6
1997 674 42.6 15.8 43.9
1998 722 46.8 15.4 44.6
1999 677 46.1 14.7 52.1
2000 626 41.0 15.3 51.9
2001 672 46.9 14.3 49.7
2002 726 45.6 15.9 59.5
2003 726 45.6 15.9 59.5
2004 671 50.7 13.2 62
2005 634 46.5 13.6 63.4
2006 624 45.0 13.9 66.3
2007 553 39.2 14.1 51.4
2008 600 41.6 14.4 53.5
2009 633 42.6 14.8 54.5
2010 590 42.6 13.8 50
2011 646 40.3 15.9 50.6
2012 716 43.7 16.3 49.2
2013 734 41.4 17.7 50.8
2014 741 42.1 17.5 48.2
2015 692 43.0 16.0 38.9
2016 692 43.0 16.0 37.7
2017 724 45.1 16.0 35.6
2018 756 50.3 15.0 32.3
2019 725 48.6 14.9 30.2
2020 700 50.3 13.9 28.7
2021 738 54.5 13.5 30.9
2022 725 56.6 12.7 29.2
2023 727 54.2 13.3 27
2024 780 54.1 14.4 24.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Lake Highlands Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 620 41.0 15.1 n/a
1989 642 n/a n/a n/a
1990 657 47.0 13.9 n/a
1991 631 46.6 13.5 n/a
1992 651 47.4 13.7 32.6
1993 627 43.0 14.6 45
1994 652 42.0 15.5 35.3
1995 669 44.5 15.0 42.6
1996 669 44.5 15.0 42.6
1997 674 42.6 15.8 43.9
1998 722 46.8 15.4 44.6
1999 677 46.1 14.7 52.1
2000 626 41.0 15.3 51.9
2001 672 46.9 14.3 49.7
2002 726 45.6 15.9 59.5
2003 726 45.6 15.9 59.5
2004 671 50.7 13.2 62
2005 634 46.5 13.6 63.4
2006 624 45.0 13.9 66.3
2007 553 39.2 14.1 51.4
2008 600 41.6 14.4 53.5
2009 633 42.6 14.8 54.5
2010 590 42.6 13.8 50
2011 646 40.3 15.9 50.6
2012 716 43.7 16.3 49.2
2013 734 41.4 17.7 50.8
2014 741 42.1 17.5 48.2
2015 692 43.0 16.0 38.9
2016 692 43.0 16.0 37.7
2017 724 45.1 16.0 35.6
2018 756 50.3 15.0 32.3
2019 725 48.6 14.9 30.2
2020 700 50.3 13.9 28.7
2021 738 54.5 13.5 30.9
2022 725 56.6 12.7 29.2
2023 727 54.2 13.3 27
2024 780 54.1 14.4 24.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Lake Highlands Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $560 (6.2%) $8,413 (93.8%) $8,973
2020 $629 (6.6%) $8,869 (93.4%) $9,499
2021 $707 (7.1%) $9,257 (92.9%) $9,964

Data source: Texas Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Lake Highlands Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Ranks 868th of 4479 Elementary schoolsRanks 499th of 4647 Elementary schools
 8.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade Reading (Lake Highlands Elementary)5376
 23%
   3rd Grade Reading (Richardson Independent School District (Isd))4755
 8%
   3rd Grade Reading (Texas)4450
 6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Lake Highlands Elementary)5666
 10%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Richardson Independent School District (Isd))5448
 6%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Texas)4843
 5%
3rd Grade Reading (Lake Highlands Elementary)2945
 16%
   3rd Grade Reading (Richardson Independent School District (Isd))3023
 7%
   3rd Grade Reading (Texas)3926
 13%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Lake Highlands Elementary)1433
 19%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Richardson Independent School District (Isd))3216
 16%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Texas)3123
 8%
4th Grade Reading (Lake Highlands Elementary)6374
 11%
   4th Grade Reading (Richardson Independent School District (Isd))4551
 6%
   4th Grade Reading (Texas)4347
 4%
4th Grade Mathematics (Lake Highlands Elementary)6063
 3%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Richardson Independent School District (Isd))4951
 2%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Texas)4647
 1%
5th Grade Reading (Lake Highlands Elementary)5371
 18%
   5th Grade Reading (Richardson Independent School District (Isd))5357
 4%
   5th Grade Reading (Texas)5156
 5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Lake Highlands Elementary)5471
 17%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Richardson Independent School District (Isd))5957
 2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Texas)5650
 6%
5th Grade Science (Lake Highlands Elementary)5961
 2%
   5th Grade Science (Richardson Independent School District (Isd))5239
 13%
   5th Grade Science (Texas)4834
 14%
6th Grade Reading (Lake Highlands Elementary)5655
 1%
   6th Grade Reading (Richardson Independent School District (Isd))4355
 12%
   6th Grade Reading (Texas)3550
 15%
6th Grade Mathematics (Lake Highlands Elementary)5959
   6th Grade Mathematics (Richardson Independent School District (Isd))5950
 9%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Texas)4537
 8%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students725727
 0.3%
African American5128
 45.1%
American Indian02
Asian1110
 9.1%
Hispanic215219
 1.9%
Pacific Islander11
White419444
 6%
Two or More Races2823
 17.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients30.2%27%
 3.2%

Schools Near Lake Highlands Elementary








Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Highlands Elementary

Yes. Lake Highlands Elementary ranks in the top 6.7% of Texas elementary schools.

Students who attend Lake Highlands Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Lake Highlands J H
High : Lake Highlands High School

In the 2023-24 school year, 780 students attended Lake Highlands Elementary.

Students at Lake Highlands Elementary are 63% White, 28% Hispanic, 4% African American, 3% Two or more races, 1% Asian.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Texas Education Agency.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.




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