Texas Survey

Texas Parents Searching for K–12 Schools for Kids in Record Numbers

Survey of 513 Texas Parents

As Texas’s education landscape is set to change in 2026 with the launch of the state’s education savings account program, 59% of parents say they are likely to consider a new school for at least one of their children in 2026. This follows a year in which nearly three quarters of Texas parents considered a new school for at least one of their children, but just one in four ultimately enrolled a child somewhere new. According to the National School Choice Awareness Foundation’s January 2026 survey of 513 Texas parents:

• Twenty-six percent of all Texas parents enrolled at least one child in a new school or switched to homeschooling. Searches were concentrated in the early grades, with activity highest in pre-K (22%), kindergarten (19%), and first grade (13%).

• Texas parents’ searches were driven largely by practical life and school-stage transitions. Entering school for the first time (20%), school-level transitions (19%), and moving to a new community or state (15%) accounted for many searches. Dissatisfaction with a child’s current school or a desire for better fit was cited by 35%.

• Texas parents prioritized school quality and environment when evaluating options. A safe, supportive environment was cited by 53% of parents, followed by a particular educational theme or approach (36%) and strong academics and high-quality teaching (30%).

• Texas parents who enrolled children selected a diverse mix of public, private, and home-based options. The most common choices were homeschooling (27%), private non-religious schools (23%), public charter schools (21%), and full-time online schools (20%).

• Texas parents who searched but did not enroll most often cited time, availability, and decision-related barriers. Nearly one-quarter said they ran out of time (23%), while others cited concerns about disrupting a child’s academic or social life (30%) and a lack of good options nearby (28%).

• Texas parents said they want more information to help them navigate school choice. The most frequently cited needs were how to determine whether a school is a good fit (35%), how to find and compare schools (30%), and deadlines and requirements for enrolling in new schools (14%).