60 Years of STISD

This year, STISD celebrates 60 years of existence. 

What started in 1964 as only one campus serving students with special needs, has now grown into a district that stretches over three counties: Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy, and overlaps 28 other school districts, an area of 3,643 miles.  

Legislators established the district in 1964, known as Rio Grande Rehabilitation District, for students with disabilities.  

The district was a residential school located in Edinburg that served students with disabilities, who at a time were excluded from public education. The district was known as Rio Grande Rehabilitation District for nearly 10 years and in 1974, it was changed to South Texas Independent School District. Throughout the 1970’s STISD’s sole mission was to serve the needs of special education students in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties.  

In 1982, at the request of business and community leader Ruben Hinojosa, the State Board of Education studied the possibility of opening a magnet school in the RGV, and two years later the first magnet school in South Texas became a reality and Career and Technical Education got its start. 

60 years later, STISD is stronger than ever and grown to seven campuses collaborating to provide Valley students with a rigorous academic experience and hands-on training in various career fields, while continuing to offer support to local school districts in educating students with special needs through its half-day career and technology program.  

Make History with us. STISD is enrolling for the 2024-2025 school year! 
Enroll