Home buyers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area probably already know that this area is teeming with excellent schools within excellent school districts. In fact, you may find that one is better than the next. Further, many of these award-winning school districts serve some of the most highly desirable communities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

For example, during the 2010-2011 academic year, nearly 64 percent of all schools in northwest Dallas were performing at an exemplary level (the highest level), according to the Texas Education Agency (TEA), a statewide rating agency.

With that said, we’ve compiled a list of the top ISDs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, according to their state accountability ranking through the TEA.

Argyle ISD

The Argyle ISD serves Denton, the majority of northern section of Bartonville, and an area in Flower Mound.  The Argyle ISD consists of an elementary school, an intermediate school, a middle school, and a high school. There are currently about 1,500 students enrolled in the Argyle ISD. The school district itself was rated exemplary by the TEA during the 2010-2011 school year, including the middle school, the high school, and the intermediate school. The elementary school received an acceptable rating during this time.

Carroll ISD

The Carroll ISD is quite expansive, as it serves all of Southlake, the vast majority of the communities in Grapevine, and Glenwyck Farms in East Westlake. The Carroll ISD consists of five elementary schools, three intermediate schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. There are currently more than 8,000 enrolled in the Carroll ISD. The Carroll ISD received exemplary ratings from the TEA during the 2010-2011 school year, and the percentage of students who passed the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) during this time was one of the highest in Texas. All of the schools in the Carroll ISD also received exemplary ratings from the TEA.

Coppell ISD

The Coppell ISD, which serves about 10,000 students in Irving, Lewisville, and Coppell, includes nine elementary schools, three middle schools, two high schools, and one special programs center. Nine out of the 15 schools in the Coppell ISD received exemplary ratings, five received recognized ratings, and one was not rated.

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD

The Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, which serves communities through in Eastern Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Addison, Dallas, Irving, and Coppell, received a recognized rating from the TEA during the 2010-2011 school year, and 12 of its 41 schools receiving exemplary ratings, and 19 received recognized ratings.

Denton ISD

The Denton ISD , which serves the large community of Lantana in Bartonville, as well as areas of Copper Canyon, Flower Mound, and Double Oak, consists of more than 18,000 students among 34 schools. The Denton ISD received an exemplary rating from the TEA during the 2010-2011 school year, and eight of its schools received  exemplary ratings during that time. Further, 13 school received recognized ratings and another nine received academically acceptable ratings.

Dallas-Fort Worth is, of course, known for its year-round mild weather, its abundant professional and career opportunities and its quality, affordable housing. But the benefits of living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area doesn’t end there. In fact, it’s school districts are some of the best in the state. Here is our list of the top Dallas-Fort Worth school districts (in no particular order):

1. Argyle ISD – The Argyle ISD serves parts of northwest Flower Mound, as well as the Estates at Tour 18 and includes one elementary school, one intermediate school, a middle school and a high school. About 1,500 students in the Argyle, Bartonville, Denton and Flower Mound areas attend the Argyle ISD. The Argyle ISD received exemplary ratings from the Texas Education Center in the 2010-2011 school year.
2. Carroll ISD – The Carroll ISD primarily serves Southlake, as well as most of the 16 subdivisions in northwest Grapevine, including Glenwyck Farms and Cannon Homsestead. Within the Carroll ISD are five elementary schools, three intermediate schools, two middle schools and two high schools. More than 8,000 students attend the schools of the Carroll ISD.
3. Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD – The Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD is a large school system that operates 26 elementary schools, six middle schools, five high schools and four special programs centers. More than 26,000 students are served by the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD.
4. Coppell ISD – The Coppell ISD operates nine elementary schools, three middle schools, two high schools and one special programs center. About 10,000 students attend schools in the Coppell ISD. Most of the students who attend Coppell ISD live in Coppell, Irving and Lewisville. Nine of the Coppell ISD schools were recognized by the Texas Education Agency in the 2010-2011 school year as being exemplary.
5. Denton ISD – The Denton ISD serves the community of Lantana, as well as part of Bartonville, part of Copper Canyon and the western part of Double Oak. In addition, five communities in northwest Flower Mound are served by the Denton ISD. The Denton ISD operates 21 elementary schools, six middle schools, three high school and four special programs centers. More than 18,000 students attend the Denton ISD in the communities of Denton, Argyle, Bartonville, Copper Canyon, Corinth, Double Oak, Flower Mound, Lantana, Little Elm and Shady Shores. Eight of the schools within the Denton ISD received exemplary ratings in the 2010-2011 school year.
6. Frisco ISD – The Frisco ISD operates 30 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, six high schools and one special programs center. More than 24,000 students attend the schools of Frisco ISD. During the 2010-2011 school year, the Texas Education Agency ranked the schools of the Frisco ISD as being exemplary.
7. Grapevine-Colleyville ISD – The Grapevine-Colleyville ISD operates 11 elementary schools, four middle schools, and two high schools. More than 13,800 students attend the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD in the communities of Colleyville, Grapevine, Euless and Hurst. Ten of the schools within the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD received exemplary ratings from the Texas Education Agency in the 2010-2011 school year.
8. Keller ISD – The Keller ISD serves most of Keller, including the subdivisions of  Clairemont, Remington Park and Westmont, as well as 20 subdivisions in Southlake. The Keller ISD operates 21 elementary schools, five intermediate schools, six middle schools and four high schools. More than 28,000 students attend the Keller ISD. Eleven schools in the Keller ISD received exemplary ratings during the 2010-2011 school year by the Texas Education Agency.
9. Lewisville ISD – Highland Village and the majority of Flower Mound, Copper Canyon and Double Oak are served by the Lewisville ISD. Other smaller areas that are served by the Lewisville ISD include: Lakes on Legacy Drive, Stonebriar, Kings Gate, Kings Ridge, Prestonwood and Shoal Creek.
10. Northwest ISD – The Northwest ISD serves Trophy Club, two subdivisions located in the west part of Flower Mound, three subdivisions of Keller and six subdivisions in the northwest section of Southlake. The Northwest ISD operates 14 elementary schools, four middle schools, two high schools and two special programs centers. More than 12,000 students attend the Northwest ISD. Six of the schools of Northwest ISD were ranked exemplary by the Texas Education Agency in the 2010-2011 school year.