Area Schools and Higher Education Opportunities
Abilene is home to two award-winning public-school districts, two charter schools and a wide array of private school options and homeschooling support as well as six institutions of higher education.
Abilene Independent School District
Abilene ISD features two traditional high schools, a STEM academy high school, a medical high school magnet program and an alternative high school for at-risk students. AISD is also home to four middle schools, thirteen elementary schools, one alternative placement campus, and one adult education center. Abilene ISD covers 106 square miles in Taylor and Jones counties. Approximately 15,300 students are enrolled in Abilene ISD for the 2022-23 school year. Abilene ISD employs nearly 2,500 individuals, more than 80% of whom work directly with students on a daily basis.
By the Numbers
Abilene ISD
15,300
Students
2,500
Employees
Wylie Independent School District
Wylie ISD includes an early childhood center, two elementary schools, two intermediate schools, two junior high schools, and a high school. The district spans 21 buildings and more than 136 square miles. Approximately 5,400 students are enrolled in Wylie ISD for the 2022-2023 school year. Wylie ISD has 696 employees, 365 of whom are teachers serving grades Pre-K through 12.
By The Numbers
Wylie ISD
5,400
Students
365
Teachers
Additional Educational Options
Premier High School
Premier High School offers students the unique opportunity to earn a diploma outside of the overcrowded high school setting through a self-directed academic program. The staff at Premier High School help to design a program tailored to each student’s individual and career goals. The academic system is built around the student’s needs and with the correct tools for students to strengthen their academic weaknesses and improve upon their strengths. Premier’s self-directed curriculum, passionate teachers and proven academic programs help students achieve their goals on their own terms. As a charter school, the campus is small by design, which gives it a private school atmosphere where parents, faculty and staff can work together for the benefit of each child, but Premier High School is a tuition-free public school of choice.
Texas Leadership of Abilene (TLCA)
TLCA Abilene is a public charter school that serves students in kindergarten through 12th grade at two different campuses and provides innovative learning in a challenging and enriching environment. All TLCA campuses have a focus on leadership and live by a shared mission, vision and values. Those principles guide faculty and staff to develop leaders with the necessary skills to achieve success in the 21st century. TLCA Abilene is a part of the Texas Leadership Public Schools District. As a public charter school that is open to all students, regardless of attendance zone, academics and rigor are held to the same standards as a traditional ISD. The district focuses on data-driven instruction, one-to-one teacher interaction, innovative learning and high-quality instruction.
Educational Options Abound
In addition to thriving public schools, Abilene families can choose from several private schools, a homeschooling community and a traditional/homeschool hybrid education model.
Higher Education
Higher-education institutions in the area provide Abilene residents with ample opportunity for greater learning from trade-schools to one of the largest four-year universities in Texas.
ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1906, Abilene Christian University is a diverse, welcoming, academically rigorous community redefining what it means to be a Christian university in the 21st century. It has been acknowledged as one of the top institutions in the nation for first-year experiences, service learning and learning communities. In 2022-23, U.S. News & World Report named it among the top 50 universities nationwide for both undergraduate research and undergraduate teaching. A selective four-year private Christian university, ACU includes the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Biblical Studies, Business Administration, Education and Human Services, Graduate and Professional Studies, and Honors; the Graduate School of Theology; and the schools of Information Technology and Computing, Nursing, and Social Work.
CISCO COLLEGE
Since first admitting students in 1940, Cisco College has offered programs and activities intended to encourage lifelong learning and enhance the quality of life in the communities it serves. Cisco College has been offering workforce training and higher education in Abilene since 1973. As a member of the Texas state system of publicly supported institutions of higher education, Cisco College maintains an open-door admissions policy and provides an array of learning, skill development and life experiences to motivate and challenge students. Classes are offered at two primary locations, Cisco and Abilene, in addition to several other off-campus sites. The college strives to maintain a student/faculty ratio which facilitates close interaction between faculty and students. Cisco College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate level degrees.
HARDIN-SIMMONS UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1891, Hardin-Simmons University is a Christian university rated among the top private colleges in Texas. It offers students the chance to discover their God given potential in an atmosphere that feels like home. Hardin-Simmons boasts five schools encompassing liberal arts, science and mathematics, business and professional studies, health professions, and nursing, plus graduate programs. Its core curriculum is based on a liberal arts foundation, providing students with skills that employers desire in their top candidates such as critical thinking, strategic communication and responsible leadership.
MCMURRY UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1923 as a United Methodist institution, McMurry University is a vibrant and comprehensive center of undergraduate education. McMurry has a national reputation for excellence and value through the achievements of its faculty, students and graduates. The university enrolls more than 1,100 students and has an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio. No graduate assistants teach courses and 77% of our professors have achieved the highest degree in their academic discipline. Students can choose from 45 majors in the arts, business, education and the sciences as well as our pre-professional programs in medicine, dentistry, engineering, law, pharmacy, physical therapy and others. The three-week May Term gives students an opportunity to explore a subject outside their major, and the Servant Leadership Program teaches students about ethics and helps develop leadership qualities.
TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Serving Texas with 10 campuses statewide, Texas State Technical College has trained and placed Texans in great paying jobs for more than 55 years. TSTC graduates are highly valued by business and industry for their work ethic, knowledge and workplace skills. The college offers a wide variety of training that is in demand in the West Texas area, and it is conveniently located to serve military personnel and families stationed at Dyess Air Force Base.
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER AT ABILENE
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Abilene offers the latest in educational opportunities that provide the real-world experience necessary to understand and meet the challenges of the healthcare industry. The faculty in the schools of nursing and Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy as well as the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, which are among the top institutions in the nation, provide hands on learning, helping students gain the practical knowledge necessary for their success.