Public school districts included within Region 17 are located on the South Plains of West Texas, sometimes referred to as the Llano Estacado (Staked Plains). Lubbock, Texas, is the center of commerce and is the largest city in the area with a population of more than 197,000. Our school districts have diversified agricultural economies based upon agriculture production, manufacturing, distribution of goods, and production of oil and natural gas. The area also has an increasingly expanding medical and allied health based economy. There are four-year universities in the area; these institutions also offer graduate degree programs. In addition, there are several community colleges in our region.