As the 2021-2022 school year approaches, parents throughout Northwest Houston are enjoying their summer with the peace of mind that comes with being a part of one of the top performing school districts in Texas.

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD is the second-largest district in the Houston area and the third largest in the state, statistics that residents often find surprising. In CFISD, families enjoy a unique blend—the resources of Texas’s largest suburban district mixed with the personal attention and commitment of a community rooted in small-town ideals.

Education has been paramount for CFISD citizens since they originally formed the district in an agricultural region on the outskirts of Houston in the early 20th Century. Quality schools continued to be a catalyst for community growth, and student enrollment is expected to surpass 116,000 students in 2021-2022. Despite the immense growth, CFISD has remained a fiscal leader, and is one of only three districts to earn a five-star rating from Texas Smart Schools in every year of the program’s existence. The Board of Trustees announced in June 2021 plans to decrease the property tax rate for the third consecutive school year.

Parents with young children love that CFISD offers an expanded full-day pre-K program, with caring teachers who encourage their young students to explore their imaginations and embrace their curiosity.

CFISD pre-K students even start learning math and reading skills! CFISD elementary parents rave about the individualized instruction their children receive, which help prepare them for the next level. They also trust their schools to keep them safe, and the students are in good hands—the district devoted more than $200 million in its most recent bond package to safety and security upgrades. Elementary students latch on to school pride and traditions in a welcoming environment where a top-notch education is made possible by outstanding teachers who benefit from world-class professional development. Entire departments in CFISD are dedicated to supporting classroom instruction!

Top-quality educators remain consistent on CFISD’s secondary campuses, along with rigorous curriculum and some of the most technologically advanced facilities in Texas. CFISD students are stimulated to take chances, explore new interests, and expand their horizons through a robust range of learning experiences and growth opportunities.

All CFISD students are encouraged to participate in a variety of academic and extracurricular activities. The district emphasizes the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and offers an impressive amount of opportunities, such as Robotics, Engineering Design, Spanish VI, Forensic Science, Architectural Design, Cybersecurity Program of Study, and Advanced Quantitative Reasoning. For those students who thrive on a more accelerated pace, CFISD’s gifted and talented program provides the depth and academic complexity children need to further develop their talents and interests.

Whether it’s band, orchestra, sculpture, or photography, at CFISD, fine arts play a significant role in educational development. Beginning in the elementary years, the importance of artistic appreciation and creativity is stressed throughout CFISD schools. For those who wish to develop their connection to the arts, students in middle and high school have the opportunity to pursue the many options in CFISD.

Where else can students learn how to play a mariachi band instrument during a summer camp, then join a jazz band in the fall? In 2022, CFISD will open a state-of-the-art Visual and Performing Arts Center where students can perform on a stage fit for symphonies or professional theatre troupes or showcase visual art in a gallery hall.

Sports are among the best and most effective ways students can learn character-building life lessons. CFISD offers physical education programs, as well as renowned organized team and individual sports, cheerleading and drill team opportunities. Sports in CFISD schools are second to none. Last spring, the district had a state finalist girls’basketball team (Cypress Creek) and a state semifinalist boys’ soccer team (Jersey Village). The Cypress Woods High School boys’ 400-yard freestyle relay team set a new state record while clinching the title at the state swim meet, and one of the swimmers, Munzer Kabbara, will compete for Lebanon in the 2021 Summer Olympics.

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD is also a destination district for its college/career preparation. The district’s dual-credit partnership with Lone Star College—CyFair enables students to earn college hours while attending high school, and the College Academy partnership allowed 85 Class of 2021 graduates to leave high school with an associate degree at a fraction of the cost. Students in CFISD’s robust Career & Technical Education program can earn nearly 70 industry certifications before graduating. To accommodate for the shifting instructional landscape in 2020, CFISD’s Board of Trustees approved the purchase of Chromebooks for every CFISD student. By the end of the school year, every student was paired with a district-owned laptop.

Even more exciting, the CFISD technology and transportation departments teamed up to ensure students had the internet access they needed by equipping several school buses with Wi Fi access points, providing learners with another option to connect with their teachers and classmates online. More than $238 million from CFISD’s 2019 bond package was devoted to technology.

There is no doubt that this large district with a small-town feel is bringing out the best in each student. Whether parents seek a first-class education, robust extra- and co-curricular programs, or safe and technologically-sound facilities bolstered by community-approved bond funds, choosing Cypress-Fairbanks ISD is one of the most rewarding decisions a parent can make for their child.