Katy ISD is the top-ranked large school district in both the Houston area and Texas, according to Niche's 2027 rankings released Monday, Sept. 28.

The district, which serves more than 94,000 students, earned an A+ overall grade and placed No. 2 among all Houston-area school districts regardless of size. It is the only district with more than 40,000 students in that top five, according to a Katy ISD press release.

"To earn this level of recognition while serving more than 94,000 students speaks to the commitment to excellence found throughout our District," Superintendent Ken Gregorski said in the announcement.

Niche also ranked Katy ISD No. 1 in the Houston area for Best Places to Teach and Best School Districts for Athletes, and No. 2 for Districts with the Best Teachers. Nationally, the district placed in the top 1 percent in five categories, including Best School Districts in America. Niche bases its rankings on U.S. Department of Education data, state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, teacher quality and parent and student reviews.

At the campus level, Katy ISD holds four of the top five rated high schools in Fort Bend County, including the No. 1 spot. Six of the top 10 rated middle schools and five of the top 10 rated elementary schools in the Houston area belong to the district.

Budget and tax rate hold steady

The ranking arrives as trustees finalize the district's finances for the 2026-2027 school year. The board approved a $1.17 billion general operating fund budget on Aug. 24, part of a $1.48 billion total budget covering operations, food service and debt service.

Trustees then formally adopted a tax rate of $1.1171 per $100 of assessed valuation at their Monday, Sept. 21 meeting, as Community Impact reported. The rate has held steady for three consecutive years, since fiscal year 2024-25.

Still, the average Katy ISD homeowner will see a tax bill of about $2,900, a 1.93 percent increase over last year because of rising home values. Chief Financial Officer Chris Smith said the rate breaks down to $0.7271 for maintenance and operations and $0.39 for the interest and sinking fund that pays district debts.

Board President Lance Redmon said maintaining the rate for a third straight year reflects the district's effort to balance program quality with the financial impact on families.

Open enrollment expands access

Katy ISD is also opening its doors wider. The district announced June 25 a new High School Limited Open Enrollment program for fall 2026. Eligible students in neighboring counties can apply to transfer to a Katy ISD high school, gaining access to Advanced Placement courses, Career and Technical Education programs, dual-credit courses through Houston City College, fine arts, athletics and flexible scheduling pathways.

Public, private, charter and home-schooled students may apply. Admission depends on available space at participating campuses. Families can find application details at katyisd.org.