Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD: Complete Family Guide
Everything relocating families need to know about Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD - TEA ratings, campus highlights, dual language programs, Early College pathways, enrollment steps, and boundary verification before you buy.
District Overview
Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD serves approximately 25,000 students across 38 campuses in one of DFW's most geographically complex, and linguistically rich, school districts. The district covers most of Carrollton and Farmers Branch, plus portions of Addison, Coppell, Dallas, and Irving's Valley Ranch neighborhood, spanning 53 square miles across Dallas and Denton counties. That multi-city footprint means boundary verification is especially important here, a Carrollton mailing address does not guarantee CFBISD enrollment, and some pockets of the district are served by Lewisville or Dallas ISD instead.
The honest tradeoff at the heart of this district: CFBISD is not a top-quartile academic performer by TEA metrics, but it offers a genuinely broad range of programs that top-performers sometimes don't, dual language immersion at nearly 16 elementary campuses, an Early College High School where students can earn a free associate degree alongside a high school diploma, and IB programming at Las Colinas Elementary. Families relocating from diverse metro areas often find the community mix here more familiar and welcoming than in smaller, more homogeneous North Texas districts. Families who specifically want a TEA A-rating and are flexible on location may find Coppell ISD or Lewisville ISD a stronger fit.
With a 93% graduation rate exceeding state and regional averages and a Niche B+ grade (third-party), this is a district that performs solidly, with particular strengths in program variety, career readiness, and multilingual education, rather than one that dominates statewide rankings. The right question for a relocating family isn't "Is CFBISD good?", it's "Is CFBISD the right fit for what our family specifically needs?"
Best Fit For Families Who…
- Are buying in Carrollton or Farmers Branch and want a local district without commuting to a different city's school zone
- Want dual language immersion at the elementary level, few DFW districts match CFBISD's breadth of Spanish/English programs
- Have a student interested in earning college credit or an associate degree through the Early College High School pathway at no cost
- Prioritize CTE / career and technical programs alongside traditional academics
- Value a diverse, internationally-minded school community, the district is among the most linguistically diverse in the metroplex
May Not Be the Best Fit If…
- Your top priority is a TEA "A" rating, neighboring Coppell ISD and Lewisville ISD have achieved higher overall scores in recent cycles
- You want a small, tight-knit district where the same 200 kids move through elementary, middle, and high school together
- You're buying near the edge of Carrollton, where your address might zone to Lewisville ISD or Dallas ISD rather than CFBISD
- You need an IB Diploma Programme (MYP/DP) at the secondary level, CFBISD's IB is PYP only (elementary)
CFBISD covers parts of six different municipalities, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Addison, Coppell, Dallas, and Irving, which makes address verification more important here than in most DFW districts. A Carrollton zip code does not guarantee CFBISD enrollment: parts of north Carrollton (particularly near Josey Lane and the 75007 zip area) feed into Lewisville ISD, and some Dallas addresses in the southern portion of the district's footprint serve DISD campuses instead.
Always verify your specific address at cfbisd.edu or call 972-968-6100 before making an offer. Irving's Valley Ranch neighborhood is served by CFBISD's Ranchview High School — not Irving ISD — which surprises many buyers in that area.
TEA Accountability Rating
Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD received a B rating from the Texas Education Agency in the most recent 2025 accountability release. This follows some variability in prior years, the 2023-24 school year accountability cycle produced a C (78) for the district per TEA data released in August 2025, while the 2024-25 cycle returned the district to a B. TEA ratings in Texas have been subject to legal challenges, recalculations, and timing delays in recent years, so always verify the most current rating at txschools.gov and confirm which school year the published rating reflects.
TEA's A-F system grades districts across three domains:
- Student Achievement, measures how students perform on STAAR assessments and other academic benchmarks in the current year. This is the most heavily weighted domain.
- School Progress, measures academic growth over time, including how much individual students improved year-over-year, as well as the district's performance relative to similar-income-level districts.
- Closing the Gaps, measures performance equity across student subgroups, including economically disadvantaged students, English learners, and students with disabilities.
A B from TEA means the district is performing above average across multiple measures of student achievement and growth, but has not yet reached the 90+ score threshold for an A. For families relocating from states with different accountability systems, think of it this way: a B district is consistently producing adequate academic outcomes by state standards, often with individual A-rated campuses mixed in. Within CFBISD, campus scores vary, meaning your child's experience will depend significantly on their individual school rather than the district average alone. The district's 93% graduation rate (exceeding state and regional averages in 2024) is a stronger long-term outcome signal than the letter grade alone.
It is also worth noting that CFBISD's student population includes approximately 62.6% economically disadvantaged students, a figure that shapes how TEA evaluates the district's performance relative to its peers. The "School Progress" domain partially accounts for this by comparing CFBISD's growth to similar-demographic districts, but families should understand the broader context when interpreting any single letter grade.
Academic Performance
CFBISD's academic profile is best understood through multiple lenses rather than a single rating. The district's 2024 graduation rate of 93% exceeded both state and regional averages, a meaningful outcome signal. The Niche.com overall grade of B+ (third-party) reflects positive community feedback alongside test performance data.
Key Academic Signals
- Graduation rate: 93% (2024), above state average
- STAAR proficiency: Available by campus and subject at txschools.gov; results vary significantly by campus
- AP / Dual Credit: All four comprehensive high schools offer Advanced Placement courses; dual credit through Dallas College partnerships is available districtwide
- Early College High School: Students can earn a full associate degree (60 credit hours) from Dallas College at no cost alongside their high school diploma, one of the strongest college-readiness pathways available in North Texas
- CTE / CCMR: CFBISD's Career and Technical Education programs across all four high schools contribute to College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) outcomes; specific pathway completion rates are published annually by TEA
Campus-level performance varies considerably within CFBISD, some elementary campuses perform at or above the level of neighboring A-rated districts, while others serve higher-need populations with commensurately different test outcomes. Families with strong academic priorities should research their specific zoned campus at txschools.gov and GreatSchools.org, rather than relying solely on the district-level grade. The ECHS pathway is genuinely exceptional for students who want a structured head start on college credentials at zero cost.
Campuses
CFBISD operates 38 campuses: approximately 25 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, 4 comprehensive high schools, and an Early College High School (ECHS) at Dallas College's Brookhaven Campus. Five of the six high schools and centers maintained or improved their TEA letter grade in the most recent 2025 accountability cycle.
High Schools
Creekview High School
Located at 3201 Old Denton Rd. in Carrollton, Creekview serves northern portions of the district near the Denton County boundary. It offers Advanced Placement courses and CTE academy pathways. Verify zoning at cfbisd.edu, homes in north Carrollton near the 75007 boundary may feed to Lewisville ISD instead.
Newman Smith High School
Located at 2335 N. Josey Ln. in Carrollton, Newman Smith serves central Carrollton and portions of Farmers Branch. AP course offerings and CTE pathways available. Feeds from several middle school attendance zones in the district's core.
R.L. Turner High School
Serves south Carrollton and Farmers Branch. R.L. Turner is one of the district's larger comprehensive campuses and offers AP and dual credit options alongside CTE programs. Students in this zone benefit from Farmers Branch's strong community youth programs.
Ranchview High School
Located at 8401 Valley Ranch Pkwy E. in Irving, this is a CFBISD campus, not Irving ISD. Families buying in Valley Ranch or Las Colinas who assume they are in Irving ISD should verify their address carefully. Ranchview serves the western portion of the district's footprint and offers AP and CTE programming.
Early College High School (ECHS)
ECHS gives students the opportunity to earn an associate degree (up to 60 college credit hours) from Dallas College at no cost by the time they graduate high school. This is an application-required program open to eligible CFBISD students, one of the most distinctive offerings in the district and unusual even among large DFW districts.
Notable Elementary Campus
Las Colinas Elementary
Las Colinas Elementary is an IB World School offering the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) to all enrolled students. Located in the Irving/Valley Ranch area, it is the only IB-designated elementary in CFBISD and serves a diverse, internationally-minded student population. Enrollment is based on attendance zone, not application.
Specialty Programs
CFBISD offers one of the broadest program menus of any mid-size North Texas district. Families with specific program priorities should verify access early, some require application and have limited seats.
Dual Language: Discover Dual Language
Districtwide, ~16 elementary campuses. CFBISD's Spanish/English dual language program is among the widest-reach in North Texas. One-way immersion (English-speaking students learning in both languages) is available at multiple campuses; two-way immersion (half native English, half native Spanish speakers) is offered at select schools including McKamy Elementary. Application required; seats limited. Transportation is parent-provided to non-zoned campuses. Families targeting this program should confirm which campuses have open enrollment before narrowing their home search.
IB Primary Years Programme (PYP)
Campus-specific, Las Colinas Elementary only. The IB PYP is available to all students enrolled at Las Colinas Elementary (not application-based). Families specifically seeking IB education should verify their address zones to Las Colinas before buying. Note: CFBISD does not currently offer IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) or IB Diploma Programme (DP) at the secondary level, families who want a full IB continuum through high school should investigate other district options.
STEAM Gifted Academy
Application required; campus-specific. A dedicated STEAM Gifted Academy program serves identified gifted-and-talented students in a specialized setting. Access requires a formal GT identification process. Families with students who may qualify should begin the identification process as early as possible after enrollment, Texas law requires districts to begin GT screening, but program placement timelines vary.
Early College High School (ECHS)
Application required; district-wide eligibility. ECHS is housed at Dallas College's Brookhaven Campus and allows qualifying CFBISD students to complete up to 60 college credit hours, a full associate degree, at no cost by high school graduation. Application and eligibility criteria apply. This pathway is particularly compelling for students interested in STEM, business, or liberal arts who want a structured college-credit head start without the financial burden of dual credit tuition.
Career & Technical Education (CTE) Academies
Districtwide, all four comprehensive high schools. CTE programs expose students to industry-aligned pathways in fields including health science, information technology, business, and skilled trades. All four high schools offer CTE coursework; pathway depth varies by campus. CTE is open to all enrolled high school students, no application required. Students who complete a CTE sequence and earn an industry certification contribute to the district's CCMR metrics, which TEA uses in accountability calculations.
Gifted & Talented (GT)
Districtwide. GT services are provided at all campuses through identification and placement. Identification testing typically happens in the fall; families who believe their child may qualify should contact their campus counselor immediately upon enrollment. For transferring students with an existing GT designation from another Texas district, CFBISD is required to honor prior GT identification while completing its own review process.
Enrollment & Transfer Guide
The following is a general guide based on CFBISD's enrollment process for the 2025–26 school year. Timelines and requirements can change, always verify current details at cfbisd.edu or call 972-968-6100.
Standard Enrollment Steps
- Verify your address is zoned to CFBISD using the district's school finder at cfbisd.edu, do this before making an offer on a home.
- Gather required documents: proof of residency (lease or deed), immunization records, birth certificate, prior school records, and parent/guardian photo ID.
- Register online through the district's registration portal (linked from cfbisd.edu). New-to-district families complete online pre-registration, then visit their assigned campus to finalize.
- Enrollment window: Open enrollment for incoming students typically begins in spring for the following school year. New arrivals may enroll mid-year at any time.
- Campus placement: You will be assigned to the campus serving your residential address. Specialty programs (Dual Language, ECHS, STEAM) require a separate application process.
Transfer Policy
Intra-district transfers (requesting a campus other than your zoned campus within CFBISD) are considered on a space-available basis. Requests are typically submitted in the spring for the following school year. Approval is not guaranteed, and transportation to non-zoned campuses is generally parent-provided.
Inter-district transfers (families who reside outside CFBISD boundaries but wish to enroll) are considered annually and depend on available capacity. Families should contact the CFBISD student services office directly to inquire about current availability and requirements.
IEP / 504 / Special Education Transfers
Texas law requires CFBISD to convene an ARD (Admission, Review, and Dismissal) committee meeting within 30 days of a student with an active IEP enrolling in the district. Bring all existing IEP and evaluation documentation when you enroll. Services must continue while the ARD process is completed. For 504 plans, contact the campus 504 coordinator immediately upon enrollment. Families with students who receive specialized services should contact CFBISD's Special Services office early in the home-search process, not after closing, to understand current program capacity and how services will transfer.
Boundary Verification: Read This Before You Buy
CFBISD's boundaries are more complex than most DFW districts because the district spans six municipalities. Understanding who is, and is not, served by CFBISD is one of the most important steps a relocating family can take before making an offer.
Cities and Areas Served (and Where to Be Careful)
- Carrollton: Most of Carrollton is served by CFBISD, but north Carrollton, particularly near the Denton County line and the 75007 zip code, feeds into Lewisville ISD instead. Do not assume a Carrollton address means CFBISD.
- Farmers Branch: The bulk of Farmers Branch is CFBISD territory. A small southern sliver may interact with Dallas ISD boundaries, verify your specific address.
- Addison: Portions of Addison are served by CFBISD; other parts feed into Richardson ISD. Addison has no public schools of its own.
- Coppell: A small portion of what carries a Coppell mailing address may fall within CFBISD territory. Many buyers assume a Coppell address means Coppell ISD, confirm before buying.
- Irving (Valley Ranch / Las Colinas area): Valley Ranch and the western Las Colinas area are served by CFBISD, specifically zoning to Ranchview High School. Buyers in these Irving neighborhoods should not assume they are in Irving ISD. This is one of the most common boundary surprises in the district's footprint.
- Dallas: Small portions of south Dallas adjacent to Farmers Branch may be CFBISD territory; others feed DISD. Verify carefully if buying near the Dallas border.
New Construction Considerations
New construction developments near Carrollton's north edge and in the Valley Ranch area of Irving carry the same boundary complexity. Builder sales teams are not always reliable sources for school zoning information, always verify directly with CFBISD using the actual address, not just the subdivision name.
How to Verify Your Address
- CFBISD School Finder: cfbisd.edu — use the school locator tool with the property's street address
- TEA School Locator: tea.texas.gov/apps/school-directory
- Call the district directly: 972-968-6100
Making an offer without verifying your specific address can mean your child attends a different school, or a different district entirely, than you planned. Boundary maps don't always match common-sense geography in the CFBISD area, and the six-municipality overlap makes this district more prone to surprises than single-city districts. Verify the address before going under contract, not after.
Finances & Tax Rate
Property Tax Rate
The certified total tax rate for Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD is approximately $1.17 per $100 of assessed property value (most recent confirmed rate, verify current year at comptroller.texas.gov or the CFBISD Tax Office at 972-968-6172). This total includes the Maintenance & Operations (M&O) and Interest & Sinking (I&S) components.
What This Means for Your Monthly Payment
At $1.17 per $100, a home assessed at $450,000 carries an annual school district tax obligation of approximately $5,265, or roughly $439/month added to a mortgage payment (before the Texas $100,000 homestead exemption). After applying the homestead exemption, the taxable value drops to $350,000, reducing the annual school tax to approximately $4,095, or about $341/month. This calculation assumes a stable assessed value; always confirm current rates and your specific assessed value with the Dallas County or Denton County appraisal district.
Comparison to Neighboring Districts
At $1.17, CFBISD's rate is mid-range among north Dallas suburban districts. Coppell ISD's rate is approximately $1.13, making it modestly lower despite serving a higher-assessed-value housing stock. Lewisville ISD is approximately $1.19. Irving ISD runs approximately $1.23. None of these differences are dramatic on a monthly basis, but they compound over time, and housing prices in Coppell and Carrollton differ enough that the net monthly cost difference between districts can be meaningful.
Per-Pupil Expenditure
Per-pupil expenditure data is published annually by TEA through the PEIMS financial reports and is available at txschools.gov. CFBISD collected approximately $243.8 million in local taxes in a recent fiscal year, with a modest redistribution back to the state under Texas's recapture ("Robin Hood") system.
Texas Homestead Exemption
Texas homeowners who occupy their home as a primary residence qualify for a $100,000 homestead exemption on school district taxes. This reduces the taxable assessed value used to calculate your CFBISD school tax bill, file with your county appraisal district after closing.
How CFBISD Compares
Families buying in Carrollton, Farmers Branch, or the Valley Ranch area of Irving most commonly cross-shop CFBISD against Lewisville ISD, Coppell ISD, and Irving ISD. Here's how they stack up on the metrics families typically use to compare:
| District | Size | TEA Grade | Tax Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD | ~25,000 | B | $1.17 | Dual language, ECHS, CTE, diverse community |
| Lewisville ISD | ~50,000+ | B | ~$1.19 | Large suburban district, Flower Mound / Highland Village access |
| Coppell ISD | ~12,500 | A | ~$1.13 | Higher TEA rating, smaller district, single-city focus |
| Irving ISD | ~30,000 | B | ~$1.23 | Most of Irving city proper; urban diverse district |
Families who make Coppell ISD a top priority often do so because of its A-rated TEA designation and smaller, more cohesive district feel, but Coppell homes come at a price premium, and the district's housing stock is more limited. Lewisville ISD is the closest size comparison to CFBISD, but serves a geographically different area that would require most Carrollton buyers to move considerably northward. Families in Irving's Valley Ranch who assumed they were in Irving ISD and instead find themselves in CFBISD should know that Ranchview HS is a solid campus, the "surprise" district boundary doesn't mean a lower-quality school.
Community Feel
Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD sits in one of the more culturally diverse corners of North Texas, and that shapes the school experience in ways that families, particularly those relocating from large coastal metros, often describe positively. Approximately 61% of the student population is Hispanic, and the district's dual language commitment reflects decades of institutional investment in serving multilingual families. Parent engagement in CFBISD varies significantly by campus: some elementaries have highly active booster organizations and strong parent volunteer cultures; others serve higher-need populations where parent engagement looks different. Both realities exist within the same district.
Youth sports and extracurriculars are well-established across the four comprehensive high schools. Carrollton and Farmers Branch both have solid parks and recreation programs that complement in-school athletics. Families who have relocated to Carrollton from the Bay Area, Chicago, or other large diverse metros frequently note that the demographic mix in CFBISD felt familiar and comfortable, a consideration that matters as much to some families as any academic metric.
Parent feedback collected from community forums reflects a few consistent themes: appreciation for the dual language programs and the diversity of the student body; some frustration with campus-to-campus variability in instructional quality; and strong enthusiasm for the ECHS pathway among families whose students have taken it. Families who expect a uniform, district-wide experience tend to be more disappointed than those who proactively research their specific zoned campus and engage with their local school community from the start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find a Home in CFBISD Territory?
I help relocating families verify school boundaries, find the right suburb, and navigate the DFW buying process, start to finish. Boundary verification in the CFBISD area is especially important, and I can walk you through it before you make an offer.
Or email Kristen@whymovetodallas.com · (602) 405-4115 · TREC #760457
Related Places to Explore
Sources
- Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD official website (cfbisd.edu), enrollment figures, campus list, programs, transfer policy, dual language program details
- Texas Education Agency, txschools.gov, 2025 A-F Accountability ratings; 2024 graduation rate
- Texas Comptroller, comptroller.texas.gov, certified tax rates
- Dallas County Tax Office, 2025 tax worksheet for CFBISD
- Niche.com, district and campus grades (third-party); B+ overall rating
- GreatSchools.org, campus ratings (third-party)
- Texas Tribune Schools Explorer, enrollment and funding data
- U.S. Census Bureau / NCES, community and district demographic data
- Wikipedia, Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District (geographic and campus reference)
Kristen Carpentier · Licensed Texas Realtor® · TREC License #760457 ·
Brokered by eXp Realty · 15950 Dallas Pkwy #400, Dallas TX 75248
School data is provided for informational purposes only and is subject to
change. School attendance boundaries change regularly, always verify your
specific address with the district before making a purchase decision.
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