Schools & Education | Fort Bend Economic Development Council

Boasting exceptional primary and secondary education systems, Fort Bend is home to six school districts and four institutions of higher learning.  Our community values education and continues to lead the region in educational attainment, with more bachelor and post bachelor degrees than any county in Greater Houston.

150K
ISD Students
95
Different Languages
6
ISD Districts

The county’s award-winning schools and universities continue to attract those looking to raise a family or move their business, and with great access to top-ranked colleges and universities, achievement is never too far away.

Students watching a teacher show them a project outside
Skyview of neighboorhood
Graduates throwing their caps in the air
School Districts
Brazos ISD

When you think of Brazos ISD, the first things that may come to mind are small rural school, family atmosphere, caring community, and no boundaries on student participation in any activity they choose. When people hear about Brazos ISD they most ask, where is Brazos ISD? You would think that we are in the middle of nowhere when actually we are quite close to Fulshear, Rosenberg, and Katy.

Every kid matters to the administration and the staff. The only limits that kids have is what they put on themselves. This is what makes Brazos so great! Many staff members are former graduates of Brazos ISD and they take great pride in what they do for their alma mater. The kids may not have all the amenities that big cities offer, but they will probably find later in life how lucky they were to attend such a fine school where people truly cared about them and they were not just another small fish in a large pond.

Teachers and staff have a positive impact on students’ lives every day. Connections with students are made that could last a lifetime because you get to know the kids on a different level than if you were at a bigger school. Staff asks so little, but sacrifice so much of their own time and resources to bless kids with their knowledge and caring nature. The light shines bright on Brazos ISD every day.

Fort Bend ISD

Fort Bend ISD is the largest school district and employer in Fort Bend County and is an outstanding K-12 public education system. With more than 77,000 students, the District is Texas’ eighth largest and one of the most diverse in the nation. Working and learning cohesively alongside families who speak more than 90 languages and dialects, the District works together with students, their families and the community to address each student’s unique needs.

 Fort Bend ISD is committed to its mission to inspire and equip all students to pursue futures beyond what they can imagine. In 2018, the District was named the H-E-B Excellence in Education Award Winner in the Large School District category, receiving a $100,000 grand prize with the honor.

Katy ISD

Founded in 1919, the Katy Independent School District is a flourishing suburban school district that encompasses 181 square miles west of Houston. As the fifth largest district in the state of Texas, Katy ISD has over 70 campuses and facilities, and serves more than 84,000 students.  Recently, Katy ISD earned an “A” overall district rating from the Texas Education Agency, an “A+” from Niche “Best School Districts,” and an “A” from the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST). KatyISD.org

Lamar CISD

Community involvement is one of the keys to the success of Lamar CISD. Whether it's supporting students at athletic and cultural events, approving the construction of new schools, the many volunteers who help our teachers and students on a daily basis, the men and women serving on advisory committees or those supporting the Lamar Educational Awards Foundation with financial contributions, our community is what makes Lamar CISD a great place to raise a family.

Lamar CISD will always focus on putting students first. Our campuses are designed with smaller enrollments (high schools are designed for no more than 2,000 students) to provide more opportunities for students to assume leadership roles and participate in campus activities. Lamar CISD also has sixth-grade-only campuses (middle schools) which focus on the needs of pre-adolescents, providing a smooth transition to secondary schools.

Lamar CISD is proud to be an HEB Excellence in Education Large District winner. We're home to National Principals of the Year, Gates Millennium Scholars, National Blue Ribbon Schools, Rodeo Art Grand Champions, State Athletic Champions and we're a recent member of the comptroller's Honors Circle for financial and academic excellence.

Lamar CISD has also passed four bond referendums over the past 15 years, while maintaining one of the lowest tax rates in the Houston area.

Needville ISD

Needville Independent School District is continuously moving forward to challenge and prepare students to live a successful life in their future. All Needville ISD students develop the essential academic skills and acquire the knowledge base necessary to build lifelong learning skills and a strong foundation to compete in a global market.  We have consistently been rated as an "Exemplary" district with an "A" rating since the state has been rating school districts.  In addition to the core curriculum, students learn the duties of citizenship, economic responsibilities, and an appreciation of their common American heritage. Students have the opportunity to develop the ability to think logically, independently, and creatively to communicate effectively. The district encourages the students to be involved in co-curricular programs/clubs besides challenging themselves through their academic studies. Many opportunities are available throughout the school district for participation and volunteerism.  Our student programs from elementary through high school are very competitive at the district, regional, and state level.  Be your Best every day!  #BeUncommon

Needville I.S.D. encompasses 200+ square miles and the district is 100% located in Fort Bend County. We currently have approximately 3,400 students in 2020-21and compete in UIL as a large 4A district with 1,050 in high school.  The prediction of the demographers is such that the future growth is coming and it will continue as our district has much undeveloped property.  

We welcome visitors and look forward to meeting one day. Go Blue Jays! For more information, call 979-793-4308 or visit www.needvilleisd.com

Stafford MSD

Stafford Municipal School District is the best little school district in Texas. A step ahead of the rest. We shine bright in the middle of Harris and Fort Bend counties ready to serve 3,600 students in our ultra-modern facilities. We maintain a small-school environment, while also meeting the educational needs of the 21st century. Whether you excel in academics, arts, robotics or athletics, we have an experience for you that will enhance your future!

Training Tomorrow's Workforce

In Fort Bend, workforce development is training-centric. Our education community effectively provides the training to meet our ever changing industry needs.

48.1
of 25 and Older Population Have A Bachelor's Degree or Higher, 90.8% Have at Least A Highschool Degree (Census, 2023)
Higher Education
Houston Community College

Houston Community College (HCC) is an open-admission, public institution of higher learning offering a high-quality, affordable education for academic advancement, workforce training, career development and lifelong learning. HCC is a system of six regional colleges offering more than 250 associate degree and certificate programs for a diverse student population including international students. One of the largest of the six colleges, HCC Southwest comprises the West Loop, Stafford, Missouri City and Brays Oaks campuses serving a vast swath of Harris and Fort Bend counties encompassing numerous municipalities and school districts. 

HCC Southwest offers a broad array of programs in IT, digital communication, advanced manufacturing, business, health careers, visual and performing arts, and myriad science and humanities courses. There are also Continuing Education and Adult Education courses, and a Dual Credit program for high schools. The Stafford campus is home to the Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence, which is a U.S. Department of Labor-designated Apprenticeship Center. The Digital and Information Technology Center of Excellence at West Loop features a state-of-the-art Virtual Reality Lab and offers many IT programs such as artificial intelligence, coding, and digital gaming and simulation. The cybersecurity program is nationally recognized by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Two-Year Education (CAE2Y). HCC Southwest also has an Honors College for academically gifted students and a Vocational Advancement and Skills Training Academy for “differently abled” persons.

Texas State Technical College

Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County is the College’s newest and fastest-growing campus.

The campus’ Industrial Technology Center, a 126,000-square-foot facility, opened for classes in fall 2016. The Brazos Center, the campus’ second building, opened only a year later. The campus is the result of a $40 million community investment by Fort Bend County supporters, including the city of Rosenberg, the city of Richmond, the city of Sugar Land, and Fort Bend County.

The Fort Bend County campus is situated on 81 acres of prime real estate.

Its master plan calls for the construction of as many as eight buildings that could ultimately support an enrollment of 5,000 students. The campus has already received strong support and partnerships from the community. One such partnership is with CenterPoint Energy, which has expanded the Electrical Lineworker Technology program’s practice pole yard on the Fort Bend County campus multiple times.

University of Houston

An instructional site of the University of Houston, UH at Sugar Land currently has more than 3,000 students pursuing studies from six UH colleges: the College of Technology, the College of Nursing, the College of Education, the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, the Graduate College of Social Work and the C.T. Bauer College of Business. Through innovative teaching, state-of-the-art classrooms and technology, and experiential learning opportunities, students position themselves to become the next generation of professionals, leaders and educators—benefiting Fort Bend County, the greater Houston area workforce and beyond.

 UH at Sugar Land spans more than 270 acres near the Brazos River, and features three academic buildings and a library shared by faculty, staff, students and the community.  The instructional site shares the space with Wharton County Junior College, which offers its own unique curriculum.  

 The park-like campus features many pieces from the Public Art of the University of Houston System, the largest public art collection in the country. 

 In 2019, the University opened the doors to the UH College of Technology, a 100,000-sq.-ft. building with state-of-the-art research labs and classrooms.

 Moving forward, UH at Sugar Land aims to explore partnerships for innovation opportunities, cooperative agreements, workforce development programs/internships and scholarship/funding opportunities.

Wharton County Junior College

WCJC is a multi-campus, comprehensive community college created in 1946 to serve the educational needs of Wharton County and adjacent counties in the Gulf Coast Region of Texas. Whether your goal is to transfer to a university and pursue a bachelor's degree or to secure employment immediately upon completion of your studies at WCJC, we're here to help you achieve that goal.

In addition, the college offers a wide range of customized training for business and industry, from entry-level job training to advanced programs for career enhancement. These programs are offered at our campuses, at one of several off-campus locations, or on-site at the client's place of business. A wide variety of personal enrichment courses is also available, from aerobics to tax preparation, computer literacy to foreign languages, personal financial planning to marketing for small businesses.

WCJC also serves as a cultural center for the region, offering jazz, choir, and band concerts, three or four plays a year, art exhibits, and guest lectures that are open to the community.

University of Houston College of Nursing

100%
Pass Rate On Family Nurse Practitioner Certification
100%
National Council Licensure Exam First Time Pass Rate
100%
Employment Rate Since 2020
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Nurse students practicing on each other for reflexes
Nurse student checking the ear of a patient