A video coder that performs entropy coding of a syntax element for partitioning a block of pixels is provided. The video coder receives a current block of pixels of an image. The video coder encodes or decodes the current block of pixels by partitioning the current block of pixels according to a partitioning indicator. The partitioning indicator is entropy coded as a syntax element of a bitstream by using a context model that is selected based on a partitioning structure of the current block of pixels or of a neighboring block of pixels of the current block of pixels.