Dickinson Independent School District (DISD), proudly known as Gator Nation, serves approximately 12,500 students and employs more than 1,900 staff members across 15 campuses. The district’s official colors are blue and white, and its mascot, Big Al the Alligator, represents all campuses.

Covering about 61 square miles, Dickinson ISD extends well beyond the City of Dickinson. The district spans north to Tuscan Lakes along Highway 96, south past I-45 to include the Tanger Outlets and Lago Mar subdivision, east to Galveston Bay (including Bacliff and San Leon), and west to Cemetery Road and the growing Bay Colony area.

Public education in Dickinson began in 1891 in a small schoolhouse near Dickinson Bayou, close to what is now Highway 3. Dickinson ISD officially became an independent school district in 1941 with an enrollment of 541 students. In 1953, the district consolidated with the Bacliff-San Leon schools, creating the current district boundaries.

Located between Houston and Galveston along the Texas Gulf Coast, Dickinson ISD has a long-standing commitment to academic excellence and community growth.

Student safety and staff security are always top priorities in Dickinson ISD. The district places a strong focus on mental health and social-emotional learning through the Gator Wellness Center, which provides a holistic approach to wellness for students, families, and staff.

Demographic projections show continued enrollment growth, particularly in the fast-growing areas near Texas City and League City. To address this growth, the district has strategically expanded its facilities and programs. Over the last two decades, voters have approved seven bond referendums totaling more than $530 million, funding new schools, facility upgrades, and expanded programs.

The most recent bond, approved in March 2023, includes a new Pre-K through 5th grade elementary school in the southwest portion of the district and a 100,000-square-foot Career and Technical Education (CTE) facility at Dickinson High School. Groundbreaking ceremonies for these projects took place in fall 2025.

Recent growth highlights:

• Elementary serving PK-5 at Lago Mar opening Fall 2026
  
• Career and Technical Building (CTE) opening Fall 2026
  
• Dickinson Junior High, opened in 2023, became the district’s third junior high campus. All three junior highs now serve grades 6–8.
  
• Kranz Junior High, opened in 2018 and named after NASA pioneer Eugene “Gene” Kranz, serves grades 6–8 and is home to the district’s STEM Academy, open to students in grades 5–8 across the district.
  
• Dickinson High School Ninth-Grade Center, opened in 2019, serves up to 900 freshmen and helps manage growing high school enrollment.
  

Current Schools:

• Elementary Schools (Pre-K through 4th Grade):
  
  • Bay Colony, Calder Road, Hughes Road, K.E. Little, San Leon, and Silbernagel Elementary Schools
    
• Lobit Elementary: Serves Pre-K through 5th grade
  
• Middle Schools (Grades 4–5):
  
  • Barber Middle School and Dunbar Middle School
    
• Junior High Schools (Grades 6–8):
  
  • Kranz Junior High, McAdams Junior High, and Dickinson Junior High
    
• High School (Grades 9–12): Dickinson High School
  

Other Campuses and Programs:

• Dickinson Continuation Center (DCC): A non-traditional high school program providing alternative pathways to graduation.
  
• Dickinson Alternative Learning Center (DALC): Serves students assigned for disciplinary reasons.
  
• Gator Academy: An affordable daycare option for children of district employees, serving ages six weeks to five years.
  

For more information about Dickinson ISD, visit the district website at www.dickinsonisd.org, submit questions at www.dickinsonisd.org/justask, or call 281-229-6080. You may also visit the district’s Education Support Center at 2218 FM 517 East in Dickinson.