An independent school district is a type of school district in the United States for primary and secondary education, which operates as an entity that is independent and separate from any municipality, county, or state.
As such, the administrative leadership of such districts is chosen from within the district itself and has no direct responsibility to any other governmental authority. This independence normally also suggests that the district has its own taxing authority that is outside of the direct control of other governmental entities.
The state of Texas has by far the largest number of independent school districts with almost all of its districts falling into this category. Stafford Municipal School District is the notable exception. The term independent may be used to describe other types of school districts though this is less common.
The use of the term independent can differ in actual application across the country. In Kentucky, for example, all school districts there are independent of the state, county, and municipal governments. However, a district is normally only referred to as independent if its jurisdiction does not cover an entire county, instead covering a city or cluster of cities.
History
Historically, as school districts were formed in the United States, they have generally been attached to municipal or county governments who have funded and administered them.
In Texas, during the early 1900s, school districts were generally divisions of county or municipal governments as in most of the country. The onset of the Texas Oil Boom dramatically changed many aspects of the state and many communities within it. Sudden discoveries of large petroleum reserves created numerous boomtowns whose populations often multiplied extremely in short periods. The growth was often a mixed blessing for these communities. The rapid demographic change in the once small towns often initially caused serious strain on the local school systems unprepared for the rapid influx of students. Even as money was rapidly flowing in the communities, obtaining tax revenue efficiently where it was needed was often complex. Communities dealt with these problems by founding independent school districts which could establish their own taxing authority and more quickly adjust to changing financial demands. This type of school district is still the standard in Texas today.