Every way to pay for school in El Paso
Here are the 10 sources a El Paso-area family can combine for private, church, Catholic, homeschool and pre-K education, with who qualifies for each and when to apply.
Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA)
Texas's education savings account pays $10,474 in 2026-27 toward an El Paso student's tuition at a participating private school, deposited through the state's platform in three installments.
Who qualifies →IEP · Up to $30,000TEFA with an IEP (up to $30,000)
If a TEFA student has a current IEP on file with the Texas Education Agency, the account adds what the home district would have drawn for that IEP setting, up to $30,000 in total.
Who qualifies →Ages 3-5 · $10,474TEFA Pre-K & Kindergarten
A 3- or 4-year-old who meets one of Texas's free pre-K criteria can be funded at the full $10,474 at an approved provider. In El Paso, limited English and active-duty military service are two of the most common ways in.
Who qualifies →Homeschool · $2,000TEFA Homeschool / Other ($2,000)
A TEFA student who isn't enrolled at a participating private school, usually a homeschooler, gets $2,000 a year, deposited in full on July 1.
Who qualifies →Catholic schoolsCatholic School Aid in El Paso (FACTS, Burkitt & Catholic Foundation)
El Paso's Catholic schools layer their own aid on top of TEFA: diocesan need-based awards through the FACTS form, Burkitt Foundation assistance at seven schools, and scholarship funds held by the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso.
Who qualifies →Income-based · Ages 0-12Child Care Services (Workforce Solutions Borderplex)
Texas's child care subsidy pays part of the cost of licensed care for working, job-seeking and student parents. Locally it is run by Workforce Solutions Borderplex, whose area covers El Paso and Hudspeth counties and four Trans-Pecos counties.
Who qualifies →College credit · Low or no costEPCC Dual Credit & Early College
El Paso Community College offers dual-credit courses that earn high school and college credit at the same time, and its parent handbook covers private, parochial and home-schooled students.
Who qualifies →New · Jan 2027Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (2027)
Beginning in 2027, federal taxpayers in participating states can give up to $1,700 to a scholarship granting organization and take a dollar-for-dollar credit. Texas announced on December 10, 2025 that it would participate.
Who qualifies →At the schoolSchool-Based Tuition Assistance
Most El Paso private schools have their own aid: sibling and parish rates, need-based grants through FACTS or a similar form, and sometimes work-study. All of it can sit alongside TEFA.
Who qualifies →Partner fund · No income capEdu Fund Partner Scholarship
A private partner that backs church-run and community schools funds families who enroll at partner schools. It is aimed at two gaps: tuition above the TEFA award, and families still waiting for one.
Who qualifies →Dates to know
- NowSign up for the state's 2027-28 interest list at educationfreedom.texas.gov. The Comptroller hasn't announced the second-year window yet.
- After acceptanceEl Paso's Catholic schools route need-based aid through the online FACTS Grant & Aid form once a child is accepted. The diocesan schools office says earlier applications stand a better chance.
- Jan 1, 2027The federal tax credit for gifts to scholarship granting organizations takes effect. Texas told the Treasury it would participate on December 10, 2025.
- Jan 12, 2027Lawmakers return for the 90th Legislature, which decides how much money TEFA gets after its first year.
- Feb 1, 2027Half of each 2026-27 private-school award lands in the account. The July 1 and October 1 deposits were 25% each.
- Feb-MarLast cycle's family application ran February 4 to March 17, 2026, with award decisions the week of April 6. Expect a similar late-winter window, but wait for the official dates.
- RollingPrivate schools, pre-K centers, tutors and therapists can ask the Comptroller for approval at any point in the year.
IEP amounts by district TEFA calculator What's left after TEFA
See which funding your El Paso family can stack
Answer a few quick questions, and a School Funding Advisor will phone you with the sources that fit, in English or Spanish. There's no cost and nothing to sign.