Program Overview

Corpus Christi has a subtropical climate, enjoying similar temperatures to those of other Gulf Coast regions, but lower precipitation as it is located in a semiarid region. Although warm in the summer, our average January temperature is just under 50 degrees. An average winter has only 2-3 nights with a low temperature below freezing. Corpus Christi is also known for its warm breezes and is a great place to learn to windsurf or kite board.

The city is home to a number of popular destinations for both tourists and residents. Some of the most visited attractions are on North Beach, where the Texas State Aquarium and the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay are located. Nearby is Corpus Christi's museum district. Located there are the Museum of Asian Cultures, Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, the South Texas Institute for the Arts, and the Harbor Playhouse Theatre, one of the oldest continually operating community theatres in the State. Heritage Park is also in the museum district, where a number of older restored houses can be found. The downtown area, of which the museum district is a part, is home to skyscrapers, companies, various shops, and a very popular center of marinas. Downtown also is home to the Texas Surf Museum, which explores the history of surfing and focuses on surf culture along Texas' 367-mile coast. Also in the city is the Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, which hosts gardening programs from time to time.

Directly east of Corpus Christi are Padre Island and Mustang Island, home to various municipal, state, and national parks, most notably Padre Island National Seashore. The city is also near the King Ranch, one of the world's largest ranches.

South Padre Island Drive (locally abbreviated as "S.P.I.D." with the letters pronounced individually) is the city's main retail corridor, offering a variety of shopping establishments to suit the population, including the largest mall in the region, La Palmera. The area continues to expand retail and dining offerings and several local shops and restaurants display unique offerings throughout Corpus Christi and our surrounding communities.

Corpus Christi is home to several institutions of higher learning, including Del Mar College and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Five school districts provide primary and secondary education for area residents: Corpus Christi Independent School District, Calallen ISD, Flour Bluff ISD, Tuloso-Midway ISD, and West Oso ISD. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi provides primary and secondary education for Catholic schools. Additionally, the region is home to several prominent homeschooling communities and offers many private-school setting educational opportunities.

The Port of Corpus Christi, which is the sixth largest US port and deepest inshore port on the Gulf of Mexico, handles mostly oil and agricultural products. Much of the local economy is driven by tourism and the oil and petrochemicals industry. There is also a strong fishing industry.

Corpus Christi is home to two installations of the United States military, the Corpus Christi Army Depot and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. Combined, these installations provide 6,200 civilian jobs to the local economy, making them the single largest employer in the city. Corpus Christi Army Depot, located on NAS Corpus Christi, is the largest helicopter repair facility in the world.

Large employers include the Corpus Christi Independent School District with 5,355 local employees, CHRISTUS Spohn Health System with 4,500 employees, and the H.E.B. Grocery Company with 2,200 employees.