The Catholic Diocese of Brownsville runs a small school system by Texas standards, spread across four Valley counties. In Hidalgo and Starr counties, every one of its campuses was listed in the state's TEFA participating-school finder when we checked on October 12. For parish families who have wondered whether Catholic school is within reach, that's the place to start.
The schools in our two counties
The diocese's schools page lists these campuses in Hidalgo and Starr counties:
- Our Lady of Sorrows School, McAllen: PreK 3 through grade 8
- St. Joseph School, Edinburg: early childhood through grade 8
- Oratory Academy, Pharr: PreK 3 through grade 8 (listed in the state finder under the Pharr Oratory of St. Philip Neri)
- Immaculate Conception School, Rio Grande City: PreK 3 through grade 8
- Juan Diego Academy, Mission: grades 9-12 (listed in the state finder as San Juan Diego Catholic Regional High School)
San Martin de Porres Catholic School in Weslaco also appears in the state finder and the federal private school survey. The diocese's other schools are in Brownsville and Harlingen, outside our coverage area.
These are small schools. In the federal Private School Survey, the Mission high school reported 68 students, Oratory Academy 124, St. Joseph 86 and Immaculate Conception 37. Small enrollment can mean small classes, but it also means seats in a given grade fill quickly, so apply early. You can see every Catholic school's details on our Catholic schools page.
What the diocese tells families about TEFA
The diocese posts a family guide to TEFA in English and Spanish on its Catholic schools page, along with video explainers. Its summary covers the points that trip parents up most often:
- A child must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or lawfully present and eligible to attend a Texas public school.
- Children can apply while enrolled in a public or charter school. Once funded, they can't be enrolled full time in a public or charter school during the year they use the account.
- When applications exceed funding, a lottery runs in priority order: children with disabilities from families at or under 500% of the poverty guidelines, then families at or under 200%, then 200% to 500%, then everyone else.
- Siblings who apply together are approved together.
That sibling rule is especially useful for Catholic families with several children. In year two, siblings of current participants also move to the front of the line for new applicants.
How the account fits with parish tuition
For 2026-27, a funded student brings $10,474 to a participating school, paid through Odyssey in three installments: a quarter on July 1, a quarter on October 1 and half on February 1. At an elementary parish school where tuition sits below that amount, the remainder can pay eligible fees such as registration, books, required uniforms and school lunch. Anything still unspent at the end of the year stays in the account for the following year, as long as the child remains in the program.
State rules require participating schools to charge TEFA families the same tuition as everyone else and to keep general discounts, such as sibling and parishioner rates, in place. So a family that already gets a parish rate keeps it.
We did not find a diocese-wide tuition assistance fund for these schools, so help beyond TEFA comes from each school. In the state finder, Oratory Academy reported that scholarships are available and St. Joseph in Edinburg reported sibling discounts. Ask the school office what applies to your family. Our Catholic school tuition guide covers the questions to bring.
PreK 3 at the parish school
Three of the elementary schools begin at PreK 3. TEFA can fund a 3- or 4-year-old there only if the child meets a free pre-K criterion. For many Valley families that's limited English or eligibility for free or reduced-price meals; a child whose parent teaches in a Texas public school also qualifies. Kindergarten is open to any eligible child, so a family can stay at the same school without re-qualifying. The TEFA pre-K page lists every criterion.
Moving up to high school
The award doesn't increase in ninth grade. For families who want Catholic high school in Mission, two things help: a balance carried over from the elementary years, and college courses. TEFA can pay tuition and fees at an eligible college, and South Texas College, whose service area is Hidalgo and Starr counties, runs dual-credit partnerships with Valley high schools. Ask the high school which college courses it offers and how fees are billed.
If your child has an IEP
A child with a current public-school IEP on file with TEA brings a larger account. A mainstream IEP is funded at $16,889 for a McAllen ISD resident and $16,673 for an Edinburg CISD resident in 2026-27. Ask the Catholic school which IEP settings it can actually support before you count on the higher amount.
A checklist for parish families
- Apply to the Catholic school on its own calendar. A TEFA award doesn't enroll your child anywhere.
- Watch for the Comptroller's 2027-28 dates and apply for every child at the same time.
- Ask the school office about parishioner pricing, sibling rates and scholarships.
- For a 3- or 4-year-old, confirm which pre-K criterion your child meets.
- For after-care, look into a child care scholarship through Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley.
An advisor can put the whole picture together for your family through our funding check.