Located in the middle of the desert in between the Rio Grande and the Franklin Mountains, El Paso City has been able to keep the rustic western town charm whilst maintaining its reputation as a major financial, cultural and economic hub.
In the city of El Paso, there are three major school districts; The Socorro Independent School District, The El Paso Independent School District and the Ysleta Independent School District. El Paso City has in its school districts, 101 public elementary schools, 33 middle/junior high schools, 22 high schools, 3 adult learning centers, 8 specialty schools, and two alternative schools. There is even an international language school, an academy of science and technology, an early childhood center, and an entrepreneur center. There are more than 25 parochial schools and 50 private schools in El Paso City. Some of the private schools within this region are famous for their academic quality and have been recognized as the best within the nation. Two schools that have been given the prestigious Blue Ribbon award are St. Clement's Episcopal Parish School and Loretto Academy. There are a couple of other private schools within the city which give specialized technical, mechanical, or academic education.
In the regions of Juarez and El Paso, there are two major educational centers. These are known for their academic diversity to help ensure that the students become more well-rounded people. The most prominent institutions in the region are the University of Texas at El Paso, New Mexico State University, El Paso Community College and the University of Phoenix. Together with the mentioned schools, there are several other excellent alternatives like Howard Payne University, the University of Phoenix, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso and Webster University.
The economy with the city is mainly based off of international trade because of its proximity to the Mexican border. It is one of the biggest sources of jobs in the area. Approximately half of the top 20 employers are government-related, such as the United States Department of Justice. Manufacturing is another important business for the economy of El Paso. The apparel and textile trade which El Paso City used to be famous for is currently going through a downturn, even though production of computers, electronics and rubber and plastic products continue to increase. Throughout the years, some Fortune 500 companies have worked out of the city of El Paso.