Founded in 1932 Randolph Field Independent School District holds a unique place in Texas history. It was the first school district in the state to serve a military installation. Randolph Field ISD sits on Randolph Air Force Base. Its boundaries are coterminous with the base. This means the school district and the air base share the same borders. Because of this unique arrangement the school district faces a unique challenge. The facilities of the air base are exempt from property taxes. Therefore the district has no taxable base. Funding comes from the United States Department of Education Impact Aid and state public school foundation funding.
Despite this challenge Randolph Field ISD has thrived. In 2014 it was ranked number one in the Greater San Antonio Area. This was among over 35 school districts. Currently the district is ranked highly in the State of Texas. It consistently performs well in state rankings. Randolph Field ISD serves the children of military and Department of Defense personnel. Parents or guardians do not need to live on base for their children to attend school here. Students must be accepted through a transfer program. Pre-kindergarten children are an exception. They must live on Randolph Air Force Base to be eligible to enroll.
Randolph Field ISD is not part of the Department of Defense Education Activity. It operates independently under the Texas Education Agency. This makes it one of only three school districts in Texas whose boundaries match a military installation. The others are Lackland ISD and Fort Sam Houston ISD. All three are located in the San Antonio area. The three schools within Randolph Field ISD are Randolph High School Randolph Middle School and Randolph Elementary School. Randolph Middle School and Randolph Elementary School have each received the prestigious National Blue Ribbon School award. Randolph High School boasts impressive statistics. Its four-year graduation rate is exceptionally high. Its average teacher experience surpasses the state average. The school also achieves high average SAT and ACT scores for graduates.
The success of Randolph Field ISD is a testament to its dedication to its students and its commitment to overcoming unique challenges. It stands as a model for other school districts in Texas. Its unique position is a fascinating part of its story. It shows how a school district can thrive even without a traditional tax base. The district’s dedication to excellence shines through. This exceptional school district serves a vital role for the children of military families at Joint Base San Antonio. It stands as a symbol of the partnership between the military and the civilian community.