DFW School Districts Guide 2026: Plano, Frisco, Prosper, Carroll & Celina Compared

The Dallas-Fort Worth metro area is one of the faster-growing large metros in the United States, adding many new residents each year. For households researching a move to North Dallas, school districts are one of several factors people often look at, alongside commute, cost, and amenities.

This guide compares five North Texas school districts using public data pulled from LBYM's own research pipeline: current TEA enrollment, 2024-25 STAAR math and reading proficiency reported by the Texas Education Agency, U.S. Census (ACS 2024) median household income and median home value inside the ZIP codes each district serves, and LBYM's own composite neighborhood score for those ZIPs. Third-party ratings from Niche and GreatSchools are included for context.

A note on ratings and fair housing: All numbers below come from public sources and are estimates based on imperfect data. They are not a ranking of where anyone should live, not a guarantee about any specific campus, and not a measure of neighborhood quality. School quality is one factor you may choose to weigh for yourself; it should not be used as a proxy for a "better" or "worse" place to live. We present this information so you can research it directly and decide what matters to your household.

The 2026 data, side by side

The table below aggregates public data across every ZIP code each district serves. STAAR is the average proficiency across each district's schools. Income and home value are the average across each district's ZIPs. LBYM Score is our composite 0-100 neighborhood score. Districts are listed in the order named in the guide title; the order is not a ranking.

Sources: TEA (STAAR proficiency, 2024-25 school year), U.S. Census ACS 2024 (median household income + median home value), LBYM composite score. Each district serves one to twelve ZIP codes; the figures above are averages across those ZIPs. Carroll ISD's single ZIP code (76092) reports median household income at the ACS privacy cap of $250,001, so the actual figure is higher.

Five North Dallas Districts, District by District

Plano ISD

Coverage: Plano, parts of Dallas, Richardson, and Carrollton (12 ZIP codes) Current Enrollment: 53,459 students (2024-25 school year, per TEA) STAAR proficiency (2024-25): 55% math, 63% reading (averaged across 67 reporting schools) ACS 2024 median household income: $114,000 ACS 2024 median home value: $478,000 LBYM composite score: 86 / 100 Third-party ratings: A+ on Niche, 8/10 on GreatSchools

Plano ISD operates three comprehensive high schools (Plano Senior, Plano East, Plano West) plus several specialty and academy campuses.

Notable Programs: International Baccalaureate, dual language immersion, extensive Advanced Placement offerings

Frisco ISD

Coverage: Frisco, parts of Plano, McKinney, and Little Elm (7 ZIP codes) Current Enrollment: 67,156 students (2024-25 school year, per TEA) STAAR proficiency (2024-25): 70% math, 79% reading (averaged across 74 reporting schools) ACS 2024 median household income: $132,000 ACS 2024 median home value: $528,000 LBYM composite score: 81 / 100 Third-party ratings: A+ on Niche, 9/10 on GreatSchools

One of the fastest-growing school districts in Texas, Frisco ISD continues opening new campuses to accommodate enrollment growth. The district is known for STEM programs and specialized high schools.

Notable Programs: Career and Technical Education Centers, early college high schools, comprehensive fine arts programs

Carroll ISD (Southlake-Carroll)

Coverage: Southlake, parts of Grapevine, Colleyville, and Westlake (1 ZIP code, 76092) Current Enrollment: 8,094 students (2024-25 school year, per TEA) STAAR proficiency (2024-25): 87% math, 89% reading (averaged across 11 reporting schools) ACS 2024 median household income: over $250,000 (top-coded at the ACS privacy cap) ACS 2024 median home value: $956,000 LBYM composite score: 84 / 100 Third-party ratings: A+ on Niche, 10/10 on GreatSchools

Carroll ISD serves a single ZIP code centered on Southlake. Its single high school, Carroll Senior High, feeds a small number of students each year and reports the highest STAAR proficiency figures of the five districts in this guide.

Notable Programs: Athletics programs, college-preparatory curriculum

Prosper ISD

Coverage: Prosper, parts of Celina and Frisco (6 ZIP codes) Current Enrollment: 30,498 students (2024-25 school year, per TEA) STAAR proficiency (2024-25): 65% math, 76% reading (averaged across 25 reporting schools) ACS 2024 median household income: $152,000 ACS 2024 median home value: $497,000 LBYM composite score: 85 / 100 Third-party ratings: A+ on Niche, 9/10 on GreatSchools

Prosper ISD has experienced rapid enrollment growth as northern Collin County expands, opening multiple new campuses in recent years to serve growing communities.

Notable Programs: Project-based learning initiatives, athletics, growing fine arts programs

Celina ISD

Coverage: Celina, small parts of Frisco and Prosper (2 ZIP codes) Current Enrollment: 9,247 students (2024-25 school year, per TEA) STAAR proficiency (2024-25): 51% math, 66% reading (averaged across 5 reporting schools) ACS 2024 median household income: $124,000 ACS 2024 median home value: $443,000 LBYM composite score: 83 / 100 Third-party ratings: A+ on Niche, 8/10 on GreatSchools

Celina ISD is a smaller, community-focused district that is expanding facilities to accommodate growth in northern Collin County.

Notable Programs: Agriculture and FFA programs, personalized learning approaches, community involvement

Housing Market Context

The median home values above come from U.S. Census ACS 2024 data averaged across the ZIP codes each district serves. Home prices within any district vary widely by neighborhood, home age, lot size, and specific location. District boundaries and home prices are not the same thing, and a district's ratings say nothing about the value or character of any individual neighborhood.

Commute Considerations

Drive times vary significantly based on departure time, destination, and route:

Sample Off-Peak Drive Times (approximate):

• Frisco to Downtown Dallas: 35-50 minutes via Dallas North Tollway
• Plano to Legacy West: 15-25 minutes
• Celina to Plano corporate corridor: 25-35 minutes
• Southlake to DFW Airport: 20-30 minutes

The US-380 corridor draws interest from some relocating households because it combines newer housing with reasonable access to major employment centers.

What LBYM Shows You

LBYM helps you compare commute patterns, nearby amenities, costs, and neighborhood characteristics across DFW at the ZIP code level. The composite LBYM Score shown for each district above is the average of the individual ZIP-level scores that make up that district. You can research any specific ZIP code, analyze commute times to your workplace, and match neighborhoods to the priorities you choose, including, if you want, school information presented as one factor among many. LBYM Scores and data are estimates from public sources, not guarantees, so always do your own due diligence.

Compare zip codes, nearby amenities, and lifestyle factors at lookbeforeyoumove.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should you think about comparing districts?

Enrollment figures, STAAR results, and third-party ratings can be a useful starting point, but they are estimates, not recommendations about where to live. Many people weigh them alongside commute, cost, specific academic or extracurricular programs, and how a community fits their day-to-day routine. What counts as the "right" fit depends entirely on your own priorities.

Are smaller, newer districts like Celina worth researching?

Smaller districts such as Celina ISD may offer newer facilities, different program options, and a range of nearby home prices. As with any district, it's worth researching current programs and extracurricular offerings directly rather than relying on a single rating.

Where does the STAAR data in this guide come from?

STAAR results are reported each year by the Texas Education Agency at the campus level. The proficiency percentages shown above are averaged across each district's reporting schools for the 2024-25 school year. STAAR data is one input among many; performance varies by campus, grade level, and subject, and TEA's public campus reports have the underlying detail.

Are there districts with median home values under $500K?

The 2024 ACS median home value for the ZIP codes served by Plano ISD (about $478k), Prosper ISD (about $497k), and Celina ISD (about $443k) all sit below $500k on average, though individual neighborhoods and current listings can differ significantly. Frisco ISD (about $528k) and Carroll ISD (about $956k) trend higher on average. Check current listings for the specific ZIP you are considering.

Making Your Decision

The right district, and the right neighborhood, depends on your household's own needs: academic programs, extracurricular priorities, commute requirements, and budget. Ratings and test scores are one input, not the whole picture.

Visiting schools, talking with current residents, and understanding daily logistics tend to matter as much as any published rating. Treat the data here as a research starting point, not a recommendation about where you should live.

Ready to research your next neighborhood? Create a free LBYM account and get access to commute analysis, school boundary maps, and neighborhood lifestyle matching for any zip code in Texas, Idaho, or Florida.