Education

A full range of educational opportunities abound throughout the Greater Waco area for all ages and grade levels. In McLennan County alone there are 20 school districts, four charter schools and 11 private schools with a collective student population of 47,255. The area also has more than a dozen private and parochial schools.

Primary Education

Waco Independent School District

Waco ISD is the largest district in the county with more than 16,000 students on 26 campuses. 

Greater Waco Advanced Manufacturing Academy

GWAMA is a public, business-and-industry-led magnet high school that serves 11th and 12th-grade students seeking to access rigorous and engaging coursework and high-quality instruction in science, technology, engineering and mathematics as well as employ-ability skills.

Greater Waco Advanced Health Care Academy

GWAHCA is comprised of junior and senior level students from numerous Waco area school districts who take extensive coursework in nursing, medical equipment technology and soft skills needed by local healthcare employers.

ESC Region 12

ESC Region 12 is one of 20 regional education service centers statewide, Education Service Center Region 12 offers training and expert assistance to educators and school personnel to increase student achievement. 

 Higher Education

Baylor University

Baylor University is a private Baptist university with over 18,000 students and a nationally ranked research institution, located on 735 acres along the Brazos River and near downtown Waco. 

Texas State Technical College Waco

TSTC was founded in 1965 with a mission to provide an educated, skilled workforce that can meet today’s – and tomorrow’s – labor market demands. Waco is the headquarters and flagship campus for the TSTC network across Texas.

McLennan Community College

MCC is a public two-year college that offers general two-year associate degrees as well as one-and-two-year specialized training that prepares you to go straight into the workforce. Enrollment is well over 10,000 students.

Texas Tech at Waco

Texas Tech at Waco provides the ability to complete core curriculum requirements with McLennan Community College and upper-level requirements with Texas Tech University, without leaving Waco. 

Tarleton State University

Tarleton State University - Waco serves over 1,000 students in 30 undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs at the McLennan Community College University Center.