What's left after TEFA? Six McAllen examples
A Valley parent's first question after the award is usually whether anything will be left over. In McAllen, where many school tuitions sit near or below the state amount, the answer is often yes. These six cases show the 2026-27 award against sample tuition.
| Scenario | 2026-27 TEFA | Tuition + fees (illustrative) | Result | Then what |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic parish school in McAllen, grades K-8 | $10,474 | $6,500 | $3,974 left | The award covers tuition with room to spare. The balance can pay registration, books, uniforms and school lunch, or roll into next year. |
| Christian PK-12 campus in Edinburg, elementary grades | $10,474 | $8,200 | $2,274 left | About $2,274 left. Sibling discounts that several Valley Christian schools report to the state keep applying. |
| Christian college-prep high school in McAllen with STC dual credit | $10,474 | $11,800 | $1,326 to pay | A gap of about $1,326. School scholarships, sibling pricing and any balance carried from earlier years usually close it. |
| Catholic high school in Mission, Edinburg CISD resident | $10,474 | $9,800 | $674 left | The account covers tuition, with a few hundred dollars left for fees and books. |
| Private school with speech support, McAllen ISD resident with a mainstream IEP | $16,889 | $12,500 | $4,389 left | The IEP add-on raises the account to $16,889, which leaves money for outside therapy from an approved provider. |
| Homeschool teen taking South Texas College courses | $2,000 | $2,400 | $400 to pay | An illustrative budget of college courses plus curriculum: the $2,000 account covers most of it, leaving about $400. Check STC's current tuition and fee schedule. |
Tuition amounts here are examples, not quotes. Texas doesn't collect private school tuition data, so ask each school for its current rates.
If there's a gap
Start with the school's own scholarships and sibling rate, then the partner scholarship at partner church schools, then the federal scholarship tax credit beginning January 2027.
Funding sources →If there's money left
A leftover balance stays in the account into the next year while your child remains in TEFA, ready for fees, tutoring, therapy, curriculum, college courses, testing or transportation.
What TEFA pays for →Find out which Valley funding fits your child
Answer five quick questions and a School Funding Advisor will call with a plan built on your district, your schools and the 2026-27 amounts. Free, in English or Spanish, with no obligation.