The Texas Tribune has unveiled a significant update to its Public Schools Explorer, designed to provide parents and teachers with more comprehensive and accessible information about Texas’s public school system.

Expanded Data and Features

The redesigned explorer offers more timely data and features to help families and educators navigate the state’s 1,202 school districts and 9,113 public schools, including charter and alternative campuses. Approximately 5.5 million students attend public schools in Texas, and data for all of them is included in the explorer.

Intuitive Organization and Context

Recognizing the overwhelming amount of data available, The Texas Tribune’s journalists focused on organizing the site for improved usability. The site now provides additional context to explain the meaning and significance of the data presented. Each school’s performance is also compared against statewide and regional trends.

Focus on Accessibility and Timeliness

The relaunch comes at a time when parents and families are seeking educational options, particularly as school choice expands in Texas. The explorer allows users to view their local campus and nearby schools, including both traditional districts and charter schools.

The tool also illustrates how school demographics, funding, and other characteristics have changed over time, revealing broader educational trends. It aims to be a valuable resource for teachers, school staff, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding Texas education.

Dedicated School Pages & Data Categories

Each school now has its own dedicated page on the site. Data on these pages is organized into categories such as student demographics, classroom experience, opportunities, and outcomes, each with its own unique URL for easy sharing.

Up-to-Date Information

Previously updated annually, the explorer will now integrate new data as soon as it’s released by the state. Finance numbers are expected in the spring, and state accountability ratings will be available in August. This builds upon the Data Visuals team’s ongoing coverage of public education issues in Texas.

Recent reporting has highlighted challenges faced by low-income students. The Texas Tribune plans to release further updates and new features to the Public Schools Explorer in the near future.