Texas Border Business
MERCEDES, Texas — South Texas Independent School District (STISD) will open enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
The enrollment form must be completed online at www.stisd.net. STISD is a tuition-free, open-enrollment district, and all students residing in Cameron, Hidalgo or Willacy County are eligible to enroll.
State and nationally-ranked STISD offers students an educational alternative through seven magnet schools throughout the Rio Grande Valley – two middle schools, four high schools, and a virtual school that consists of both middle and high school.
The district’s two middle schools include STISD Preparatory Academy in Edinburg and STISD Rising Scholars Academy in San Benito. These schools serve students in grades 6 through 8. While enrolled in these middle schools, students take above-grade-level courses in various subject areas, with the opportunity to gain high school credits to put them on track for more advanced coursework while attending one of STISD’s magnet high schools.
STISD’s four high schools enable students in grades 9-12 to gain preparation for college, career and life through rigorous courses, career and technical education (CTE) coursework, and opportunities for hands-on learning and earning industry-based certifications. Students can also earn college credit while in high school through partnerships with different institutions of higher education, including The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and South Texas College.
• South Texas ISD Health Professions (Health Professions) in Mercedes: focuses on the various health careers while allowing students to develop clinical skills in area hospitals, nursing homes and pharmacies, as well as doctor, dentist and veterinary offices.
• South Texas ISD Medical Professions (Medical Professions) in Olmito: emphasizes the careers of medicine; students develop medical and clinical skills in area hospitals and doctor offices.
• South Texas ISD Science Academy in Mercedes: specializes in the math and science careers; partners with Project Lead the Way, Inc., a national pre-engineering program in which students can receive college credit beginning their freshman year. The campus also offers a Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) program. P-TECH is an innovative school model that allows students to receive curriculum focused on workforce needs, and develop partnerships while obtaining credentials, certificates and earning college credit hours.
• South Texas ISD World Scholars (World Scholars) in Edinburg: Students can select from seven CTE programs of study within four career clusters, ranging from Law and Public Service to Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications; Business, Marketing and Finance; and Information Technology. World Scholars is one of only a few International Baccalaureate (IB) campuses in the Rio Grande Valley. Students are not only eligible to graduate with an international diploma through IB, but are also eligible for free college/university credit opportunities and an associate degree through established partnerships with UTRGV and South Texas College.
• South Texas ISD Virtual Academy (Virtual Academy) – virtual campus: STISD’s newest school, now in its fourth year, serves students in grades 6-12. Virtual Academy offers true virtual learning, with instruction and support from certified teachers, small groups and individualized student support. Students take core courses and electives 100 percent virtually from home, and can participate in extracurriculars, including sports, in-person. Virtual Academy offers several CTE pathways, and is also partnering with South Texas College to offer a new all-virtual pathway to earn up to an associate degree.
This year, all campuses will begin their enrollment at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18. Although seat reservation requests will not be accepted until that day and time, interested students and parents can start the process ahead of time by creating a Family/Student Profile.
Preparatory Academy and Rising Scholars Academy will accept enrollment forms for students entering the sixth-, seventh-, or eighth-grade in August 2025. Health Professions, Medical Professions, Science Academy and World Scholars will enroll students who will start the ninth-, 10th- or 11th- grade in August 2025. STISD Virtual Academy will enroll students who will be entering grades 6-12 next school year.
As STISD is a public school district, there is no cost to attend any STISD school. Bus transportation is also provided free of charge. STISD and its campuses consistently rank among the best in the state and nation in various polls, including U.S. News & World Report and Niche. STISD was ranked second in the state and 27th in the nation in the 2025 Niche Best K-12 School Rankings.
For more information about STISD, visit https://www.stisd.net or call (956) 565-2454.
