About Dickinson ISD
The Dickinson Independent School District offers families a diverse, fast-growing community with a small-town atmosphere that is within easy access of big-town amenities with its location halfway between Houston and Galveston. Students and staff experience a district rooted in tradition, but at the same time, excelling in 21st century learning opportunities covering academics, career and technical education, athletics, fine arts, and much more. Public education in Dickinson began in 1891 in a single schoolhouse near Dickinson Bayou and what is now Highway 3. The school district was organized into an independent school district in 1941, when it had an enrollment of 541 students. In 1953, the Dickinson public schools consolidated with the Bacliff-San Leon schools to create the district as it is configured today.
Dickinson ISD, which is currently home to 12,550 students and 2,000 employees, is known as "Gator Nation." Big Al is the mascot at all district campuses, which proudly wear the colors of blue and white. The district includes 15 campuses, including seven elementary campuses (grades pre-kindergarten through third grade), three middle schools (grades 4-5), three junior highs (grades 6-8), one high school (grades 9-12), and one non-traditional high school campus.
Dickinson ISD's 61 square miles cover much more than the City of Dickinson, which amounts to about 20 percent of the district's total area. In fact, the majority of the district's boundaries, approximately one-third, are in the City of Texas City. The remaining boundaries extend into portions of League City, the communities of Bacliff and San Leon and other unincorporated parts of Galveston County. The district's boundaries on the north take in portions of the Tuscan Lakes communities on both side of Highway 96. To the south, the district goes all the way to the former Gulf Greyhound Park on both sides of I-45 and includes the Tanger Outlet Mall and the new Lago Mar subdivision. Galveston Bay is the district's eastern boundary, while to the west the boundaries extend just past Cemetery Road and include the new Pedregal community.
New students move into Dickinson ISD each year with enrollment increasing by approximately 3,000 students over the past 10 years. As of January 2024, enrollment increased by 315 students over the past year. Demographic reports project the district will continue to experience fast growth in the coming year, especially near the most southern and western boundaries of the district in Texas City and League City.
More than $580 million has been invested in district facilities over the past 24 years through seven voter-approved bond issues. As part of the November 2020 bond referendum, the district opened Dickinson Junior High in August 2023. The district’s 15th campus and third junior high is located off FM 2004 in Texas City on the southern end of the Dickinson ISD district boundaries. The 2020 bond also included additions and renovations to the Transportation Center, the Agricultural Center, and the Technology Center; parking lot replacement and drainage work at Hughes Road Elementary; security and safety improvements; and replacement of the running track at McAdams Junior High.
Planning and design for the most recently approved May 2023 bond referendum projects is underway. Projects include a pre-kindergarten through fifth grade education facility in the City of Texas City Lago Mar subdivision, additional safety and security measures throughout the district, and a Career and Technical Education building on the Dickinson High School campus.
Dickinson ISD offers students in grades 5-8 interested in the areas of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics the opportunity to attend the district’s STEAM Academy, which serves several hundred students who applied for the program from throughout the school district. Dickinson ISD also has a robust Career and Technical Education program for students to master the skills needed for a successful transition from high school into post-secondary education and/or into industry. The district offers 10 of the 14 TEA career clusters with 28 pathways leading to Industry Based Certifications. Dickinson ISD students are among the first high school students in Texas to receive training in the occupation of Radiologic Technologist and Technician with the implementation of an Imaging project in 2023-2024. In the future, Dickinson ISD is looking toward expanding CTE offerings in the future to include Culinary Arts, Maritime, Firefighting, Construction Science, and IT/Cyber Security.
Safety and security of students and staff is always a top priority in Dickinson ISD. There is an increased focus on mental health and social emotional learning throughout Dickinson ISD at the Gator Wellness Center. This center provides a holistic approach dedicated to the mental and emotional wellness of students, families, and staff.
Dickinson ISD is strategically planning for the future with the intention of growing confident learners today, change makers tomorrow and Gators forever. 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.