Eligibility
Accreditation from a TEPSAC-recognized organization or TEA, at least two school years of operation, and a nationally norm-referenced test every year for participating students in grades 3-12. A virtual school needs a Texas office.
Pricing rules
Charge TEFA families your standard tuition, keep sibling, staff and church-member discounts in place, and describe in writing how need-based aid relates to tuition.
How payments arrive
Odyssey releases each private-school account in three pieces (a quarter in July, a quarter in October, half in February) and routes tuition to you. Parents can pay ahead from the account, and any refund you issue returns to it.
Child care centers and pre-K
Licensed centers in good standing need one quality marker on top: a Texas Rising Star rating of 3 stars or more, Texas School Ready, an ISD pre-K partnership, or recognized accreditation. Dozens of Valley centers are already approved.
Small schools not yet in
A few established Valley schools appear in the federal private school survey but weren't in the TEFA finder on our check date. A qualifying school can apply at any time, and joining lets its families put $10,474, or more with an IEP, toward tuition.
Your listing here
Every school in the state finder or the federal survey for Hidalgo and Starr counties already has a listing. Claim yours to add tuition, eligible fees, aid and an admissions contact.