Three Houston high schools are continuing their streak of top appearances on a prestigious annual list of the country's best public high schools.
The 2023 rankings from U.S. News & World Report, released August 29, put Houston ISD’s Carnegie Vanguard High School at No. 35 nationally (up from No. 40 last year) among the country’s best high schools. The school also ranks No. 248 nationally among the best STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) high schools and No. 12 among the best magnet high schools.
Also in the top 100 are two other Houston ISD high schools.
DeBakey High School for Health Professions ranks No. 66 nationally among the best high schools (down from No. 50 last year) and No. 18 among best magnet high schools for the second consecutive year.
Young Women's College Prep Academy comes in No. 94 nationally among the best high schools (up from No. 148 last year), and No. 26 among best magnet high schools.
Topping the national list for 2023 is the Early College at Guilford in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Each year, U.S. News evaluates about 18,000 high schools on six factors: college readiness, reading and proficiency, reading and math performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth, and graduation rates.
"Having access to a strong high school program is paramount for students as they face an ever-changing world," said U.S. News' managing editor of education Liana Loewus in a release. "Making data on our high schools available helps parents ensure their child is in the educational environment that best sets them up to thrive."
Elsewhere in Texas
Around the state, these Texas high schools also made it into the top 100 nationally:
- Dallas ISD's The School for the Talented and Gifted, No. 6 (up from No. 8 last year and No. 13 in 2021). No. 8 nationally among the best STEM high schools for the second consecutive year and No. 2 among the best magnet high schools (up from No. 4 last year).
- Dallas ISD's Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School, No. 18 (up from No. 20 last year) and No. 8 nationally among the best magnet high schools for the second consecutive year.
- Dallas ISD's Science and Engineering Magnet School, No. 23 nationally among the best high schools (down from No. 22 last year), No. 24 nationally among the best STEM high schools (down from No. 7 last year), and No. 2 nationally among the best magnet high schools (up from No. 10 in 2022).
- Austin ISD’s Liberal Arts and Science Academy, No. 32 (up from No. 34 last year and No. 41 in 2021). No. 34 nationally among the best STEM high schools (up from No. 70 in 2022).
- BASIS San Antonio - Shavano Campus, No. 81 (down from No. 77 last year and No. 102 in 2021). No. 41 nationally among the best STEM high schools (down from No. 25 in 2022) and No. 17 nationally among the best charter high schools.
- Dallas ISD's Trinidad Garza Early College at Mt. View, No. 91 (up from No. 118 last year).
- Dallas ISD’s Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet, No. 93 (down from No. 48 last year and No. 59 in 2021) . No. 25 nationally among the best magnet high schools (down from No. 17 in 2022).
- Austin ISD's Richards School for Young Women Leaders, No. 95 (up from No. 128 last year).
When broken down just to Texas schools, Houston's Carnegie Vanguard High School (No. 5), DeBakey High School for Health Professions (No. 6), and Young Women's College Prep Academy (No. 10) are all in the top 10 best-rated public high schools in Texas this year, U.S. News says.
Other Houston-area schools that rank among Texas' 100 best are:
- No. 12 – Kinder High School for Performing and Visual Arts, Houston ISD
- No. 21 – Challenge Early College High School, Houston ISD
- No. 24 – Kerr High School, Alief ISD, Houston
- No. 29 – Eastwood Academy, Houston ISD
- No. 37 – YES Prep - Southwest, Houston
- No. 39 – Harmony School of Innovation - Katy, Katy
- No. 40 – North Houston Early College High School, Houston ISD
- No. 42 – Clear Horizons Early College High School, Clear Creek ISD, Houston
- No. 46 – Seven Lakes High School, Katy ISD
- No. 53 – Victory Early College High School, Aldine ISD, Houston
- No. 54 – YES Prep - Southeast, Houston
- No. 57 – East Early College High School, Houston ISD
- No. 58 – Houston Academy for International Studies, Houston ISD
- No. 64 – YES Prep - East End, Houston
- No. 69 – Tomball Star Academy, Tomball ISD
- No. 72 – Early College Academy at Southridge, Spring ISD, Houston
- No. 73 – Tompkins High School, Katy ISD
- No. 75 – Clements High School, Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land
- No. 82 – YES Prep - North Central, Houston
- No. 83 – Sharpstown International School, Houston ISD
- No. 93 – YES Prep - North Forest, Houston
- No. 95 – YES Prep - West, Houston
- No. 97 – High School for Law and Justice, Houston ISD