Best School Districts in San Antonio for Apartment Renters

North East ISD, Northside ISD, Alamo Heights ISD, SCUCISD, and Boerne ISD consistently rank among San Antonio’s strongest school districts — and all five have apartment inventory for families renting 2-, 3-, or 4-bedroom units. Expect to pay $1,050–$2,500/month for a 2-3BR depending on area and property class. Many communities are currently offering 6–12 weeks of free rent, which changes the math compared to renting a house.

Search “best school districts in San Antonio” and you’ll find page after page of advice for people buying houses. Average home price: $380,000. Best neighborhoods to invest in. How school quality affects resale value.

That’s great if you’re buying. But if you’re a parent renting a 2 or 3 bedroom apartment — maybe a single parent trying to land your kids in a strong district without overextending your budget — those articles don’t help much.

School district is one of the first things parents ask me about when they’re looking for apartments in San Antonio. Which districts have the best ratings? What does a 3-bedroom actually cost in those areas? Are there even apartments available, or is it all single-family homes? I hear these questions regularly, especially from military families during PCS season and single parents trying to make the numbers work in a specific school zone.

This guide is the renter’s version of the school district question. I’ll walk through the five strongest districts that actually have apartment inventory, what 2-4 bedroom units cost in each one, how to verify your apartment is zoned for the school you want, and why the concession math right now makes apartments a better deal than most people realize. (If you’re also weighing neighborhoods beyond just schools, I put together a separate guide on family-friendly areas to rent in San Antonio.)

How San Antonio School Zoning Actually Works (and Why Renters Need to Pay Attention)

San Antonio isn’t one big school district. Bexar County alone has 15+ independent school districts, and your apartment’s physical street address — not the ZIP code, not the neighborhood name on the property’s website — determines which schools your children attend.

This matters more than most parents realize before signing a lease.

Apartment complexes near ISD boundary lines can have buildings on different sides of the border. Same leasing office, same pool, same parking lot — but one building is zoned for NEISD and the other feeds into Judson ISD or SAISD. I’ve seen parents find this out after they’ve already signed and tried to enroll.

How to verify before you sign:

  1. Get the exact unit number and building address from the leasing office
  2. Enter that specific address into TEA’s school finder at txschools.gov — it shows the assigned campus for any Texas address
  3. Call the district enrollment office and confirm by phone — don’t rely solely on the leasing office’s answer

One more thing worth knowing: TEA changed its rating criteria in 2023, raising the college-readiness threshold from 60% to 88% of graduating seniors. That single change caused most San Antonio districts to drop a letter grade on paper. NEISD went from B to C. NISD went from B to C. Alamo Heights went from A to B. The schools didn’t suddenly get worse — the measuring stick changed. When you see district-level letter grades, keep that context in mind.

What matters more than the district’s overall grade is the specific campus your apartment is zoned for. Individual schools within the same district can range from a TEA rating of A down to D. The district average smooths that out and hides the variation.

San Antonio School Districts: Where to Rent, What It Costs

Here’s a side-by-side look at the five districts with the strongest combination of school ratings and apartment inventory for families. (District grades sourced from Niche’s San Antonio metro rankings and TEA accountability reports.)

DistrictTEA 2025 RatingNiche Grade2BR Range3BR Range4BR Available?Apartment Inventory
NEISDC (was B)A$1,050–$1,900$1,400–$2,500Yes (limited)Large — 40+ communities
NISDC (was B)B+$1,000–$2,000$1,250–$2,500+YesVery Large — 80+ communities
Alamo Heights ISDB (was A)A+$1,000–$1,500Very limitedNoSmall — handful of communities
SCUCISDBA-$1,000–$1,400$1,200–$1,900LimitedModerate — 5+ communities
Boerne ISDB+A$1,200–$1,700$1,500–$2,200NoSmall — 4 communities

Rent ranges based on current listings as of early 2026. Actual pricing varies by property, floor plan, and concessions. Verify current rates directly with each community.

Now let me break each one down.

North East ISD (NEISD) — Stone Oak, Castle Hills, Encino Park

NEISD serves over 57,000 students across 73 schools and seven main high school campuses. It’s the second-largest district in the area, covering a big chunk of north and northeast San Antonio.

The district has a Niche grade of A. Notable high schools include Reagan, Churchill, and LEE (Legacy of Educational Excellence). NEISD also runs magnet programs in medical sciences, engineering, and cybersecurity.

For renters, the Stone Oak and Castle Hills corridors are where the apartment inventory is. I pulled the numbers: there are 40+ apartment communities in NEISD boundaries offering 2- and 3-bedroom floor plans, with a handful that go up to 4-bedroom.

What 2-4 bedroom apartments cost in NEISD:

BedroomsClass A (Newer/Luxury)Class B (Mid-Range)Class C (Value)
2BR$1,400–$1,900$1,050–$1,400$850–$1,050
3BR$1,700–$2,500$1,400–$1,700$1,050–$1,400
4BR$1,800–$2,150LimitedNot available

The range is wide because Stone Oak has everything from older Class C properties in the $850 range to newer luxury communities pushing $2,500 for a 3-bedroom. That’s actually an advantage — it means families at different budget levels can land in NEISD.

Right now, many Stone Oak properties are offering 1–2 months free rent on new leases. The vacancy rate in this area is still elevated from the construction wave that hit in 2023-2024, so the concession window is open.

Practical note: Stone Oak Parkway at the US-281 interchange is one of San Antonio’s worst traffic bottlenecks. If you’re commuting to the Medical Center or downtown, factor drive time into your apartment choice — not just the school zone. A property on the south end of Stone Oak near Loop 1604 can shave 15-20 minutes off a rush-hour commute compared to one near the northern edge along Evans Road.

Walk Score in Stone Oak averages around 25. This is a car-dependent area — plan accordingly.

Northside ISD (NISD) — Alamo Ranch, Westover Hills, Helotes, La Cantera

NISD is the largest school district in San Antonio. Over 100,000 students. More than 120 campuses. It covers a massive portion of the west and northwest side of the city.

High schools include Brandeis, Clark, Brennan, and Taft. IB and AP programs run across multiple campuses. Niche grade: B+.

For apartment renters, NISD is where the numbers really work. There are 80+ communities with 2-3 bedroom inventory — more than any other district on this list. The sub-areas break down like this:

NISD 2-3BR rent by sub-area:

Sub-Area2BR Range3BR RangeNotes
Alamo Ranch / Westover Hills$893–$1,600$1,100–$2,000Largest selection, strongest concessions
La Cantera / The Rim$1,300–$2,200$1,600–$3,000+Luxury-heavy, near USAA HQ
Great Northwest / Culebra corridor$1,000–$1,500$1,200–$1,800More Class B/C options

If you need 4 bedrooms, NISD is where to look. The options are townhome-style: Cottages at Leon Creek ($1,829–$2,009, up to 2,400 square feet), Farm Haus ($2,105–$2,340), and Villas at College Park (3-4BR around $1,867). You get the space of a house with the concessions and maintenance coverage of an apartment community.

The Alamo Ranch and Westover Hills corridor is where I’d point most parents looking for value in a strong district. Several properties in this area are offering 4+ weeks free rent with waived application and admin fees. A 2-bedroom at a Class B property like Cable Ranch ($893–$1,257) or The Legend ($885–$1,390) puts a family in NISD at a price point that’s hard to beat.

Alamo Ranch is also 12-20 minutes from Lackland AFB, which makes it a popular landing zone for military families who want both Lackland access and NISD schools.

Walk Score: 15-25. You’ll need a car.

Alamo Heights ISD — “The 09”

Alamo Heights is the district that comes up first in almost every “best schools in San Antonio” article. The reputation is earned. Five schools, small class sizes, 97% graduation rate, Niche grade of A+. TEA rating dropped to B under the revised criteria, but again — that’s the measuring stick, not the quality.

Here’s the renter’s reality check: apartment inventory in Alamo Heights ISD is extremely limited.

This is primarily a homeowner neighborhood. The 78209 ZIP code — known locally as “the 09” — is tree-lined streets, century-old oaks, and single-family homes. There are only a handful of apartment communities within AHISD boundaries, and most skew toward Class A and B pricing. Blue Vine Apartments has the widest spread — studios to 3-bedrooms ($629–$1,515). Beyond that, you’re looking at a few smaller properties along the Broadway corridor. 3-bedroom apartment inventory is extremely thin. 4-bedroom apartments? Not available.

If Alamo Heights ISD is your top priority and you need 3+ bedrooms, you’re most likely looking at renting a house, not an apartment. House rentals in the 78209 area typically run $2,200–$3,500/month for a 3BR — and they come with zero concessions, higher deposits, and you’re responsible for maintenance. (More on that comparison in the cost section below.)

For a 2-bedroom apartment in AHISD, budget $1,000–$1,500/month. Walk Score along the Broadway corridor is 55-65, which makes it the most walkable area on this list.

Credit note: Because AHISD’s apartment inventory is mostly Class A and B, you’ll generally need a credit score of 600 or above to access what’s available. If your credit is below that, the options get very thin — this is a case where the district’s limited supply and property class mix work against renters with credit challenges.

Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD (SCUCISD)

SCUCISD is the district I think more parents should know about.

It serves about 16,000 students across the northeast I-35 corridor — Schertz, Cibolo, and Universal City. TEA rating: B (one of the stronger performers in the metro under the new criteria). Niche grade: A-. Steele High School and Clemens High School are both well-regarded.

For renters, the value here stands out. 2-bedroom apartments start around $1,000. 3-bedrooms run $1,200–$1,900. The Palmera on 3009, Retama Ranch, and Sunrise Canyon all offer 2-3BR floor plans — and pricing runs 15-25% below what you’d pay in Stone Oak or Alamo Ranch for comparable units.

Military families should pay attention to this district. SCUCISD is right next to JBSA-Randolph, and 2025 BAH at E-5 with dependents is $1,935/month (2026 rates decreased roughly 2.9%, so plan accordingly). That covers most 2-bedroom rent in this area with room to spare, and stretches to a 3-bedroom at several communities. The district also has dedicated support programs for military-connected students, which matters when your kids are changing schools mid-year during a PCS.

One thing to watch: Aircraft noise from Randolph AFB affects the western portions of Universal City. If noise sensitivity is a concern, ask the leasing office which buildings face the flight path, or visit the property during a weekday when training flights are active.

Walk Score averages around 22. The commute to downtown or the Medical Center is 30-40 minutes, which is the trade-off for the lower rent and strong schools.

Boerne ISD

Boerne sits 30-45 minutes northwest of San Antonio via I-10, out in Kendall County. It’s affluent — area median income is $135,400, the highest in the metro — and the schools reflect that. Niche grade of A, TEA rating of B+.

The challenge for renters: apartment inventory is very small. I count four communities with 2-3BR availability — Legacy at Cibolo ($1,418–$2,190), Oxbow Hill Country ($1,054–$1,534), Roots at Boerne ($1,187–$1,899), and The Ranch at Cibolo ($1,046–$1,946). No 4-bedroom apartments exist in Boerne.

Rents have softened about 5% year-over-year, so there’s some movement in your favor. But selection is tight. If a particular floor plan at one of these four communities isn’t available when you need it, you’re essentially out of options for Boerne ISD apartment living.

This is a spot where timing matters. The inventory is small enough that a 3-bedroom coming available in July (when you need it for school start) is partly a matter of luck.

The commute to USAA or the Medical Center runs 30-45 minutes on I-10, depending on traffic and which side of Boerne you’re on. Beautiful Hill Country setting, but you’re trading convenience for school district access.

What It Actually Costs (Beyond the Number on the Listing)

The rent on the listing page is not what you’ll pay each month. Two things change the real number: concessions and mandatory fees.

The Net Effective Rent Calculation

About half of San Antonio’s apartment communities are offering concessions right now — typically 1 to 3 months free on a 12-month lease, with some lease-up properties running 8 to 12 weeks free. The reason: San Antonio’s building boom delivered roughly 12,858 new units in 2024. Vacancy is hovering near 10%, and properties need to fill units.

Here’s how to calculate what you’re actually paying. It’s called net effective rent:

(Monthly rent × number of months you pay) ÷ total lease months = net effective rent

Say you’re looking at a 3-bedroom in Stone Oak (NEISD) listed at $1,600/month, and the property offers 2 months free on a 12-month lease.

$1,600 × 10 paid months = $16,000 ÷ 12 total months = $1,333/month net effective rent

That’s a $267/month difference from the listed price. Over the full lease, you’re saving $3,200.

Now run the same math on a 2-bedroom in Westover Hills (NISD) at $1,200/month with 8 weeks free:

$1,200 × 10 paid months = $12,000 ÷ 12 total months = $1,000/month

Those are real savings. But you have to ask about concessions — they’re not always listed on the website.

Mandatory Add-On Fees

Here’s the part that catches people. Many apartment communities — especially those managed by large national companies — tack on mandatory monthly charges that aren’t included in the advertised rent.

Valet trash pickup: $25–$30/month. Pest control: $2–$5. Package locker service: $15–$18. Technology/internet fee: $0–$60. Amenity fee: $5. Utility admin fee: $3.

Add those up and you’re looking at $50–$125/month in fees on top of your rent. A 2-bedroom listed at $1,200 might actually cost $1,275–$1,325 once mandatory fees are included.

I always tell parents to ask for the “all-in monthly cost” before comparing properties. The advertised rent is the starting point, not the final number.

Apartments vs. Renting a House — The Concession Gap

I get this question a lot from parents: should I rent a 3-bedroom apartment or a 3-bedroom house? Here’s how the math shakes out, using NEISD (Stone Oak area) as the example. A 3-bedroom house rental in Stone Oak typically lists around $1,800–$2,200/month depending on size and condition:

3BR Apartment (with concessions)3BR House Rental (no concessions)
Advertised monthly rent$1,600$2,000 (midpoint of $1,800–$2,200 range)
Concession2 months freeNone
Net effective rent$1,333/mo$2,000/mo
Annual housing cost$16,000$24,000
Annual difference+$8,000
Security deposit$300–$800Full month ($2,000)
Application fee$50–75 (often rebatable through a locator)$50–75 (non-refundable)
MaintenanceIncludedYour responsibility

The house rental advertises at $2,000/month with no concessions — because individual landlords renting one property don’t have the same vacancy pressure as a 300-unit apartment community trying to fill 30 empty units. They’ll wait for full price.

That gap — $8,000 in this example — is real money. For a single parent, that’s the difference between being comfortable and being stretched.

And it gets wider with bigger concessions. Some San Antonio lease-up communities are offering 10-12 weeks free right now. Run that math on a 3-bedroom at $1,700:

$1,700 × 9.2 paid months = $15,640 ÷ 12 = $1,303/month net effective

Compared to a house at $2,000/month with nothing off, that’s $697/month less — or $8,364 over the lease.

There are trade-offs. Houses often have yards, garages, more privacy, and more square footage. Those things matter, especially with kids. But if the budget is the deciding factor — and for many parents it is — the concession gap right now is hard to ignore.

One more thing: this concession window won’t last indefinitely. Construction starts in San Antonio dropped 80% in 2024 to just 1,874 units — the lowest since 2009. When the current surplus gets absorbed and new supply dries up (likely late 2026 into 2027), concessions will shrink. I’m not saying rush into anything. But the math is worth running now while the numbers are in your favor.

True Monthly Cost by District

Here’s what a mid-range 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom actually costs in each district once you factor in a typical concession and add-on fees:

District2BR ListedWith 6-Week Concession+ Add-On FeesTrue Monthly3BR ListedWith 6-Week Concession+ Add-On FeesTrue Monthly
NEISD$1,250$1,144+$75$1,219$1,600$1,464+$75$1,539
NISD$1,150$1,053+$75$1,128$1,450$1,327+$75$1,402
AHISD$1,200Concessions rare here+$50~$1,250N/AHouse rental: $2,200+
SCUCISD$1,100$1,007+$50$1,057$1,400$1,282+$50$1,332
Boerne$1,300Concessions vary*+$50$1,200–$1,350$1,600Concessions vary*+$50$1,450–$1,650

Concession column assumes 6 weeks free on a 12-month lease, which is the current metro average per ALN Apartment Data. AHISD and Boerne have limited inventory where concessions are less reliable — check with each property directly. Add-on fees estimated based on typical management company charges. Actual costs vary by property — always ask for all-in pricing.

SCUCISD and NISD consistently come in lowest on true monthly cost. AHISD is a different story — concessions are rare there because the limited inventory means properties don’t need to compete as hard for tenants. And since 3BR apartment options barely exist in AHISD, you’re likely comparing to a house rental with no concessions at all.

The School Boundary Trap (and How to Avoid It)

This is the mistake I see parents make most often — and it’s completely avoidable.

ISD boundaries don’t follow neat lines along major roads. They zigzag through neighborhoods, and an apartment complex sitting near a boundary line can have different buildings in different districts. A parent signs a lease thinking the whole complex is in NEISD, tries to enroll in August, and the enrollment office says their address is zoned for Judson ISD.

Three steps to prevent this:

Step 1: Get the exact unit number and building address from the leasing office before you apply — not just the property’s main address. Some complexes have multiple street addresses for different buildings.

Step 2: Enter that address into TEA’s school finder at txschools.gov. It returns the assigned elementary, middle, and high school for any Texas address.

Step 3: Call the district enrollment office and say: “I’m planning to move to [full address including unit number]. Can you confirm this address is within your district boundaries?” Get a name and date for your records.

Do all three before you sign the lease. Not after.

If your child has an IEP or receives special education services, confirm that the specific campus — not just the district — has the programs and staffing your child needs. “We offer special education district-wide” doesn’t guarantee the assigned campus has the right resources in place.

Timing Your Lease Around the School Year

Most San Antonio school districts start mid-August. That means parents looking to be settled before the first day are apartment hunting in June and July — which happens to be peak leasing season. Highest rents. Most competition. PCS families flooding the market.

If your timeline has any flexibility, here’s what I’d suggest.

Option 1: Sign in September or October. Post-PCS season, rents drop, and concessions get more aggressive as properties push to fill before the holiday slowdown. Most districts allow mid-year enrollment with no issues. Your child misses the first week or two of school, but you save potentially hundreds per month on rent for the entire lease term.

Option 2: If you must sign during peak (June–August), negotiate the lease length. A standard 12-month lease signed in July renews the following July — right back at peak season, when the property has maximum leverage to raise your rent. Instead, ask for a 7-month lease that pushes renewal to February, or a 17-18 month lease that lands renewal in November or December. Winter renewals give you more negotiating power.

Option 3: Start searching 60 days out during peak, 30-45 days during off-peak. San Antonio properties typically hold a unit 2-4 weeks from application approval to move-in. New construction communities with higher vacancy may hold longer. Don’t start looking six months early — pricing and availability change too fast. But don’t wait until three weeks before school starts, either.

For military families on PCS orders: if your report date gives you any flexibility, September is the sweet spot. Schools are in session (mid-year enrollment is standard), the PCS crowd has cleared, and apartment pricing is heading into its seasonal low. May through August is the tightest window — if you’re locked into that timeline, having someone who already knows which properties have inventory and which will approve your profile saves real time.

[INTAKE FORM EMBEDDED HERE WITH HEADER: “Need Help Finding a 2-, 3-, or 4-Bedroom in the Right School District?”]

San Antonio School Districts for Renters: Your Questions Answered

What’s the most affordable school district with strong ratings in San Antonio?

SCUCISD gives you the most school quality per dollar in the metro right now. TEA rating of B, Niche grade of A-, and 2-bedroom apartments starting around $1,000/month. After concessions, true monthly cost for a 2BR can dip below $1,060. For military families near Randolph, 2025 BAH at E-5 with dependents ($1,935) covers a 2BR or even a 3BR here.

Can I rent an apartment in Alamo Heights ISD?

You can, but options are limited — especially if you need 3 or more bedrooms. AHISD is primarily a homeowner neighborhood with only a handful of apartment communities. 2-bedroom apartments run $1,000–$1,500. For 3+ bedrooms, you’re most likely looking at renting a house in the $2,200–$3,500 range with no concessions. If AHISD is a must-have, I’d suggest starting your search early and being flexible on move-in date.

How do I find out which school my apartment is zoned for?

Use TEA’s school finder at txschools.gov with your exact apartment address including unit number, then confirm with the district enrollment office by phone. I walk through the full verification process in the school zoning section above — the short version is: don’t rely on what the leasing office tells you alone.

Do apartment complexes ever straddle two different school districts?

Yes. ISD boundaries in Bexar County don’t follow neat lines along roads or ZIP codes. A complex near a boundary can have one building zoned for NEISD and another zoned for Judson ISD. This is why verifying by your specific unit address — not just the property’s main address — matters.

Which San Antonio school districts are closest to military bases?

SCUCISD is adjacent to JBSA-Randolph. NISD (Alamo Ranch/Westover Hills area) is 12-20 minutes from Lackland AFB. NEISD covers areas near Fort Sam Houston, though Alamo Heights ISD is even closer to that base. Each has apartment inventory at different price points — the question is which combination of school quality, commute, and budget works for your family.

What credit score do I need to rent in a strong school district?

It depends on the property class, not the district. Class A (newer/luxury) communities generally want 650+ credit. Class B (mid-range) works with 600+. Class C (value) can go as low as 550-570. NEISD and NISD have the widest range of property classes, which means renters across different credit situations can find options. AHISD skews toward Class A/B, so 600+ is typically the floor there. If your credit is a concern, I wrote a more detailed breakdown of how credit affects your apartment options in San Antonio.

Screening criteria vary by property and are determined by each community’s management. This information is based on general market patterns and should be verified directly with any property before applying.

Are there 4-bedroom apartments available in San Antonio’s strong school districts?

Yes, but the inventory is limited and concentrated in NISD. Townhome-style communities like Cottages at Leon Creek ($1,829–$2,009, up to 2,400 sq ft), Farm Haus ($2,105–$2,340), and Villas at College Park (~$1,867) offer 4BR floor plans in NISD boundaries. Elm Creek in Castle Hills has 4BR options from $1,060–$1,515 in the NEISD area. AHISD and Boerne ISD have no 4-bedroom apartment inventory — for 4BR in those districts, you’d need to rent a house.

How much does a 3-bedroom apartment cost near strong schools in San Antonio?

Ranges vary by district and property class. NISD (Alamo Ranch/Westover Hills): $1,100–$2,000. NEISD (Stone Oak): $1,400–$2,500. SCUCISD: $1,200–$1,900. Boerne: $1,500–$2,200. After concessions (many properties are currently offering 6-12 weeks free), net effective rent is typically 10-15% lower than listed prices. A 3BR listed at $1,600 with 2 months free works out to $1,333/month actual cost.

Should I time my apartment lease around the school year?

If you have flexibility, yes. Signing in September or October — after PCS season clears and rents dip — saves potentially hundreds per month compared to a June or July lease. Most San Antonio districts allow mid-year enrollment without issues. If you’re locked into a summer move, negotiate the lease length so your renewal falls in winter (February or November/December) rather than the following summer. That gives you more leverage when it’s time to renew.

Do I need an apartment locator to find a place in a specific school district?

Not always. If you already know which area you want, your credit is strong, and you have time to research school boundaries and compare properties, you can search on your own — Apartments.com lets you filter by school district, and TEA’s school finder confirms zoning.

Where I tend to help most is when parents are juggling multiple variables at once. A specific school zone requirement, plus a credit challenge, plus a PCS timeline, plus a budget that needs concession math to work. That’s when having someone who already knows which properties are zoned for which schools — and which ones will actually approve your profile — saves time and money. You don’t pay me anything for this. The apartment community pays a referral fee from their marketing budget when you sign a lease. Your rent is the same whether you use my help or not. If you want to talk through your situation, call me at 210-468-7667 or start here.


The Renter’s Bottom Line on School Districts

School districts in San Antonio are a renter’s decision, not just a homebuyer’s. The right district for your family comes down to four things: school quality, whether apartments in your bedroom count actually exist there, what you can afford after concessions and fees, and how far you’re willing to commute.

NEISD and NISD offer the most apartment inventory and the widest price ranges — if you need options, start there. AHISD has the strongest reputation but almost no rental stock for families needing 3+ bedrooms. SCUCISD is the value play that more parents should consider. Boerne is premium with minimal apartment options.

And run the concession math before deciding between an apartment and a rental house. Right now, the gap is significant — and it won’t stay this wide once the current supply surplus gets absorbed.

If you want help matching a specific school district to your budget, bedroom count, and timeline, I’m happy to walk through your options. That’s what I do.

Looking for a 2-, 3-, or 4-bedroom apartment in a strong San Antonio school district? I can help you find communities that match your school zone, budget, and approval profile — at no cost to you. Call me at 210-468-7667 or fill out the form above to get started.

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