Thousands of families in Texas’ largest public school districts are seeking to leave or supplement their local campuses through the state’s new school choice program, according to newly released data from the Texas Education Freedom Accounts rollout.
Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced that more than 42,600 students will receive award notices in the first round of the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program, with priority given to students with disabilities and their siblings.
A closer look at the data shows where demand is most concentrated: the state’s biggest school districts.
Houston ISD leads the state with 1,558 student applications in the program’s top priority tier, followed by Dallas ISD with 1,313 and Northside ISD in San Antonio with 1,139. Other large districts—including Fort Bend ISD (1,048), Cypress-Fairbanks ISD (914), and Fort Worth ISD (808)—also saw hundreds of families apply.
The numbers suggest that even in Texas’ largest public school systems, thousands of families—many with special-needs students—are actively seeking alternatives.
“The Legislature made low- and middle-income students with disabilities the first priority for the first year of school choice here in Texas, and that is exactly where this process starts,” Hancock said in a statement. “These awards put tens of thousands of Texas families one step closer to the educational path that works best for their children.”
Gov. Greg Abbott praised the rollout, saying the program marks a major step forward for education in Texas.
“School choice funds being distributed to Texas families paves the way for Texas to become the No. 1 state for education,” said Abbott. “These accounts will give parents the freedom to choose the best learning environment for their children, regardless of their income or location. I congratulate Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock for his work on kick-starting the program, aiding in the success of so many young Texans and the future of our great state.”
The first round of awards is heavily focused on students with disabilities. According to a fact sheet released by the comptroller’s office, 63 percent of applicants in the initial group are students with qualifying disabilities, while 37 percent are siblings.
Most of those students have documented needs: roughly 63 percent were verified using an active Individualized Education Program (IEP).
While the program has been promoted as a way to expand educational opportunity, especially for underserved families, the data also highlights how families intend to use it.
About 74 percent of participating students are expected to enroll in private schools, while 26 percent selected homeschool or other options.
The income breakdown shows the program reaching both low- and middle-income households. Just over half of participating families—51 percent—fall at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, while 49 percent fall between 200 and 500 percent.
The comptroller’s office noted that approximately half of the students in this first round previously attended public schools, while the remainder came from private or homeschool settings.
Additional award notifications are expected in the coming weeks. Officials will conduct a lottery during the week of April 27 to determine which students in the next priority tier—primarily lower-income applicants—will receive funding for the 2026–27 school year.
Students who receive awards will have until July 15 to accept funding and choose an educational option. Any unused funds will be redistributed to students on the waitlist.
