South Texas Independent School District (STISD) serves middle school and high school students who live along the southernmost tip of Texas, the region known as the Rio Grande Valley. The district stretches over three counties, Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy, and overlaps 28 other school districts, an area of 3,643 miles.STISD is comprised of seven magnet schools throughout the Rio Grande Valley: 

Middle Schools (Will serve grades 6-8 beginning with the 2022-2023 school year):- South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy (Preparatory Academy) in Edinburg - South Texas ISD Rising Scholars Academy (Rising Scholars Academy) in San BenitoHigh Schools (Grades 9-12):- South Texas ISD Health Professions (Health Professions) in Mercedes- South Texas ISD Medical Professions (Medical Professions) in Olmito- South Texas ISD Science Academy (Science Academy) in Mercedes- South Texas ISD World Scholars (World Scholars) in EdinburgMiddle & High School (will eventually serve grades 6-12, but will serve grades 6-10 for 22-23):South Texas ISD Virtual Academy (opened in fall 2021) - STISD's newest school, through which students within the tri-county area served by the district can participate in courses 100 percent virtually from home. STISD and its campuses are consistently ranked among the best in the state and nation in various polls. In the Niche 2022 rankings, STISD is ranked #2 in the state and 20th in the nation. The district also earned the top spots in the state in the Best Places to Teach in Texas and the Districts with the Best Teachers in Texas. STISD's two middle schools earned spots in the top three in the Best Public Middle Schools in Texas and Best Public Middle School Teachers in Texas categories, and all four high schools also ranked again within the top in the state and nation.STISD is a public school district, so there is no cost for students to attend.