Carroll ISD: Complete Family Guide

District Overview

Carroll Independent School District is one of the most recognized and consistently high-performing school districts in Texas, a distinction it has maintained across multiple academic generations without the scale advantages of a mega-district. Serving approximately 8,400 students across 11 campuses, Carroll ISD is compact by DFW standards but routinely competes with and outpaces districts many times its size on every measurable academic and operational metric.

The district is headquartered at 2400 N. Carroll Ave., Southlake, TX 76092, and its primary service area is the city of Southlake, with portions of Grapevine and Colleyville also falling within district boundaries. Carroll ISD is governed by an elected board of trustees and earns a Texas FIRST Superior rating from the Texas Comptroller for financial management, a distinction that reflects both its low tax rate and its disciplined use of funds.

What makes Carroll ISD's reputation particularly durable is its near-perfect record at the campus level. In the 2024–25 TEA accountability cycle, all 11 campuses earned a TEA A rating, an outcome that is extraordinarily rare for an entire district. For relocating families accustomed to the wide campus-to-campus variance common in large suburban ISDs, Carroll's consistency is a meaningful differentiator.

TEA Accountability Rating

The Texas Education Agency assigns every school district and campus an annual A–F accountability rating based on three performance domains. Carroll ISD earned a TEA A rating with a score of 95 out of 100 for the 2024–25 school year, a score that places it among the highest-rated districts in the entire state of Texas at any enrollment level.

What the three domains measure:

• Student Achievement, STAAR test scores, graduation rates, and college/career/military readiness indicators
• School Progress, year-over-year academic growth compared to similar campuses statewide
• Closing the Gaps, performance equity across all student demographic groups

A score of 95 is exceptional on its own. What elevates Carroll ISD's 2024–25 result further is the campus-level consistency beneath that district number: all 11 campuses independently earned a TEA A rating. Achieving this outcome across every single campus in a district, including elementary schools, is extremely rare in Texas and reflects a culture of accountability that extends from administration to classroom.

Official ratings for all 11 campuses are published and searchable at txschools.gov. Carroll ISD has also earned TEA Distinction Designations in Academic Achievement categories across multiple consecutive cycles, placing it in the top 25% of comparable districts statewide.

Academic Performance

Graduation Rate

Carroll ISD's four-year graduation rate is approximately 99%, consistently among the highest of any district in Texas. Nearly every student who enters Carroll High School as a freshman completes their diploma on time. A substantial portion of graduates complete college credit before receiving their diploma, through AP exam scores, IB coursework, or dual credit enrollment via Tarrant County College.

Advanced Placement

Carroll ISD offers an extensive AP course catalog spanning core academic subjects, electives, and capstone courses. AP participation rates and pass rates (scores of 3 or higher) are among the highest in Tarrant County. For families whose students plan to pursue selective college admissions, the AP program's depth at the Carroll high school campuses provides a rigorous preparation pathway accessible to any student in the zone.

International Baccalaureate

Carroll ISD holds IB World School status, offering the IB Diploma Programme at the high school level. The IB program is a competitive, internationally recognized curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, extended essays, and theory of knowledge. Access is through the Carroll high school campuses for students who choose to pursue the full diploma or individual IB courses.

College & Career Readiness

TEA's College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) indicator tracks the percentage of graduates completing at least one college/career readiness measure. Carroll ISD's CCMR rate is among the highest for districts of any size in the Dallas–Fort Worth region. Indicators include IB/AP scores, dual credit completions, industry certifications, and military enlistment with a qualifying ASVAB score.

STAAR Proficiency

District-wide STAAR proficiency rates, the percentage of students performing at "Approaches Grade Level" or above, are available by campus at txschools.gov. Carroll ISD consistently scores well above state averages in every tested subject at every grade level. The uniformity of that performance across all 11 campuses is what drives the district's 95-point TEA score.

Campus Highlights

Carroll ISD operates 11 campuses across its service area, all of which earned a TEA A rating in 2024–25. The district uses a split high school model, freshmen and sophomores attend one campus, while juniors and seniors attend a separate senior high school. This structure keeps each campus manageable in size while allowing for specialized facilities and deeper program investment at the upperclassman level.

Campus assignments are determined by home address. Carroll ISD maintains an address lookup and boundary map at southlakecarroll.edu. For the most current information on enrollment caps and program details, contact the Carroll ISD enrollment office directly.

Special Programs

Special Education & Support Services

Carroll ISD provides special education and related services to eligible students ages 3–21 under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Services are delivered across the full continuum of least restrictive environment placements, from full inclusion in general education classrooms to co-taught settings, resource room support, self-contained classrooms, and Life Skills programs for students with more intensive needs.

Related services include speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and behavioral support. Each eligible student's program is determined through the ARD (Admissions, Review, and Dismissal) process, which is Texas's required IEP team meeting format. Carroll ISD's ARD teams include the campus special education coordinator, general education teachers, related service providers, parents or guardians, and, when appropriate, the student.

Out-of-state IEP transfers: Texas law requires Carroll ISD to either adopt a student's existing IEP from another state or convene an ARD meeting within 30 days of enrollment. Bring all prior IEP documents, evaluation reports, eligibility determinations, and any related service logs to the enrollment appointment. The Special Education department will contact your family after enrollment to initiate the transition planning process. Do not assume the prior IEP automatically continues without an ARD meeting, proactive communication with the campus special education coordinator is strongly recommended.

For students who require formal accommodations but do not qualify for special education under IDEA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act applies. Each campus has a designated 504 Coordinator who manages the accommodation plan process. Carroll ISD also offers dyslexia assessment and intervention services district-wide, as required by Texas Education Code.

Athletics & Extracurriculars

Carroll ISD's Dragon athletics program competes in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) at the 6A level, the highest classification in Texas high school athletics. For a district of Carroll's size (~8,400 students), competing at 6A is a function of Southlake's geographic location and demographic profile, not enrollment volume. That combination of smaller-district culture with 6A-level competition creates a distinctive athletic environment.

Dragon football holds a place among the most celebrated programs in Texas high school history. The program has won multiple UIL State Championships and has produced numerous college and professional players. Home games at Dragon Stadium, a facility that rivals many college programs in quality and capacity, draw the community together in a way that defines Southlake's identity as much as its school ratings do.

Beyond football, Carroll ISD has earned state championships across multiple sports, including basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, swimming, tennis, golf, and cross country. The depth of competitive success across programs reflects a district-wide athletic culture, not a single-sport focus.

Extracurricular and fine arts participation is equally strong. UIL fine arts competition teams in band, orchestra, choir, and theatre regularly advance to state. UIL academic teams compete in categories ranging from debate to mathematics. Students at Carroll campuses have access to National Honor Society, student government, and a broad range of campus clubs. The combination of academic rigor and extracurricular depth is a primary reason families specifically target Carroll ISD addresses when relocating to the Southlake area.

School Choice & Transfer Policy

Attendance Zone Only: No Open Enrollment

Carroll ISD does not operate an open enrollment or charter-style program that accepts students from outside the district. Enrollment in Carroll ISD is restricted to students whose primary residence falls within the district's established attendance boundaries. There is no application process to gain Carroll ISD access for families living outside those boundaries, the address is the eligibility requirement, period.

Boundary Verification Is Non-Negotiable

This cannot be overstated for families relocating to the Southlake area: a Southlake postal address does not guarantee Carroll ISD enrollment. The district's boundary is drawn by the TEA and does not perfectly align with Southlake city limits. Portions of Southlake are zoned to Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. Portions of other Southlake-area addresses fall within Keller ISD. Conversely, some homes with Grapevine or Colleyville mailing addresses are within Carroll ISD boundaries.

Before making an offer on any property in the Southlake area, verify the specific address at the TEA School District Locator or through Carroll ISD's enrollment office at southlakecarroll.edu. A competent buyer's agent familiar with the area will verify this for you before any offer is written.

Intra-District Campus Assignments

Within Carroll ISD, campus assignment (which elementary school, which middle school) is determined by home address. The district does not operate specialty magnet schools that draw from across the district, all campuses serve their designated attendance zones. Intra-district transfer requests may be considered based on available capacity but are not guaranteed and must be renewed annually.

Charter School Context

State-authorized charter schools operating in the broader Southlake/Grapevine/Colleyville area are separate from Carroll ISD and have their own enrollment processes. They do not affect Carroll ISD attendance zone boundaries or enrollment eligibility.

District Finances & Tax Rate

Tax Rate

Carroll ISD's total tax rate is $0.96 per $100 of assessed value, one of the lowest rates among top-performing districts in the DFW area. For context, many A-rated suburban ISDs carry rates ranging from $1.03 to $1.30 or higher. Carroll's lower rate reflects the district's strong property value base in Southlake, which generates substantial tax revenue per student even at a lower rate, and its disciplined financial management.

For a home assessed at $1,000,000, typical in Southlake, the Carroll ISD school district tax levy is approximately $9,600 per year at $0.96 per $100, before any exemptions. Texas homeowners with a primary homestead exemption receive a $100,000 reduction in assessed value for school district taxes (per HB 3, effective 2023), which reduces the effective taxable value and annual levy accordingly. County and city taxes are assessed separately through the Tarrant County Appraisal District (TCAD).

Texas FIRST Superior Rating

Carroll ISD holds a Texas FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) rating of Superior, the highest designation available from the Texas Comptroller. This rating reflects sound financial management practices, balanced budgets, adequate fund reserves, and compliance with all financial reporting requirements. For families who understand that a financially stable school district is less likely to face program cuts or deferred maintenance, the Superior FIRST rating is a meaningful indicator.

Bond History & Debt

Carroll ISD has passed targeted bond packages to fund facility improvements and technology infrastructure over the years. Unlike rapidly growing districts that need bonds to build new campuses every few years, Carroll's relatively stable enrollment means its bond exposure is more measured. The I&S (Interest & Sinking) portion of the tax rate reflects current debt service, this information is published annually by the Texas Comptroller. For the most current breakdown of M&O and I&S rates, consult the Texas Comptroller's property tax rate database.

Homestead Exemption

Texas homeowners who occupy their home as a primary residence are entitled to a homestead exemption that reduces the assessed value used to calculate school district taxes by $100,000. Filing a homestead exemption with the Tarrant County Appraisal District is a one-time process done after purchase. Additionally, homeowners age 65 or older or with a qualifying disability receive an additional exemption and a tax freeze on their school district levy. Contact TCAD at tad.org for current exemption information and filing deadlines.

Enrollment: New Families

How to Enroll

New student enrollment for Carroll ISD is initiated online through the district's enrollment portal at southlakecarroll.edu. Families should begin the process as soon as they have a confirmed address within the district boundaries. The standard required documents include:

• Proof of residency, lease agreement, deed, or closing disclosure for the Southlake-area address
• Birth certificate, required for all students enrolling in Texas public schools for the first time
• Current immunization records, must meet Texas-required vaccination schedule (Tdap, meningococcal, etc.)
• Previous school records, transcript, most recent report card, standardized test results
• IEP / 504 / evaluation documents, if applicable; bring complete documentation to the enrollment appointment
• Proof of custody or guardianship, if the enrolling adult is not the student's biological parent

Timeline and Mid-Year Transfers

Carroll ISD accepts new student enrollments year-round. Families relocating mid-year should initiate enrollment as early as possible after establishing a Southlake-area address within the district's boundaries. Families with a signed lease or purchase contract but not yet occupying the home may contact the Carroll ISD enrollment office to discuss timing options and document requirements. It is advisable to complete enrollment within the first week of establishing residency to avoid delays in campus placement.

New Family Tours

Carroll ISD offers new family campus tours by appointment. These are an excellent opportunity to meet campus administrators, see facilities, and ask questions about specific programs, particularly valuable for families evaluating whether the IB program or specific fine arts pathways align with their student's interests. Contact the individual campus or the district's main office at southlakecarroll.edu to schedule.

Pre-K Options

Carroll ISD offers Pre-K programs for income-eligible and at-risk students at designated campuses, per state requirements. For families whose students do not meet the income-eligibility criteria for public Pre-K, private Pre-K options exist in the Southlake area independently of Carroll ISD. Contact the district's Early Childhood department for current eligibility criteria, campus availability, and application timelines.

How This District Compares

Relocating families rarely evaluate a single district in isolation. Here's how this district stacks up against the two to three alternatives families most commonly cross-shop, framed around the factors that actually drive the decision.

Tax rates are 2025 certified totals per $100 assessed value. Enrollment figures are approximate. TEA grades reflect the most recent published accountability cycle. Always verify current data at txschools.gov and the Texas Comptroller's website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

• Texas Education Agency, 2024–25 A–F Accountability Ratings: txschools.gov (accessed May 2026)
• Carroll ISD, District Overview & Enrollment Information: southlakecarroll.edu (accessed May 2026)
• Niche.com, Carroll ISD District Profile: niche.com (captured May 2026)
• Texas Education Agency, TEA School District Locator: tea.texas.gov
• Texas Comptroller, 2024 School District Tax Rates: comptroller.texas.gov
• Texas Comptroller, Texas FIRST Financial Integrity Ratings: comptroller.texas.gov/programs/sao/first
• Tarrant County Appraisal District, Exemptions & Property Tax Information: tad.org (accessed May 2026)
• International Baccalaureate Organization, Authorized IB World Schools: ibo.org (accessed May 2026)