Good Reports

Houston high school makes the grade as biggest standout in Texas for 2019

Austin high schools shine on new report.

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When Charles Dickens wrote, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," there was an excellent chance he was not actually talking about the French Revolution, but rather high school. Area students, however, can find comfort in the knowledge that at least they're getting a great education during the four rollercoaster years.

According to a new report from Niche.com, one of Texas' — and the nation's — best high school is (or, rather, remains) right here in Houston. Carnegie Vanguard School is listed as the No. 1 standout school in the state (a ranking that recognizes schools making a key difference in their community); the No. 4 school overall in Texas; and also cracked the top 50 in the country, coming in at No. 37. Carnegie Vanguard High School also recently scored well in the U.S News & World Reportlist of best high schools in the nation, coming in at No. 15 overall. The Inner Loop vanguard school scores high marks for college prep and math proficiency.

Across the state, Austin Independent School District's Liberal Arts & Science Academy ranks No. 11 in the country and No. 1 in the state. (LASA, as it's better known, earned the same ranking last year.)

With a 99-percent graduation rate and 1400 average SAT score, it's not surprising that the East Austin school is the valedictorian of the statewide class. It also aced special categories, earning the top spot for Best Public High School Teachers in Texas and Best College Prep High School in Texas.

West Austin's Westlake High School also earned high marks, coming in as the fifth best public high school in Texas and the No. 41 best school in the U.S. Westlake also boasts a 99-percent graduation rate and 1330 average on the SAT.

In order to determine the rankings, Niche.com graded each school based on academics, diversity, parent/student satisfaction surveys, and teacher grades, among other factors. Academics were given the most weight at 60 percent while the rest of categories are each given a 10 percent weight. Clubs, health and safety, facilities, and sports are each factored in at 2.5 percent.

Other Lone Star State schools with good report cards include Dallas' School of Science and Engineering (No. 23) and School for the Talented & Gifted (No. 27).

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Thanks, Queen Bey

Pop icon Beyoncé donates $100,000 to University of Houston Law School

Photo by Erza Shaw Getty Images

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Pop megastar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has donated $100,000 to the University of Houston Law Center Criminal Justice Clinic through her BeyGOOD Foundation. The gift will allow the clinic to hire fill-time faculty to head it, benefiting the students who study there.

“I am delighted that the BeyGOOD Foundation has made this very generous gift to the UH Law Center,” said Leonard Baynes, dean of the UH Law Center. “Not only will this funding help establish a full-time criminal justice clinic that provides pro bono legal services in our community, but it will also supercharge our already excellent criminal law and justice programming.”

The clinic is one of nine at UHLC. It helps students learn to navigate the criminal justice system, especially on behalf of clients that are underserved by skilled attorneys. People of color are affected disproportionately by a lack of good, ethical representation.

Beyoncé, the most decorated artist in Grammy history and easily the biggest musical star native to Houston, has a long history of advocating for criminal justice reform. She was a staunch supporter of the police reform following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, asking law enforcement to “stop killing us” in a web post. In 2020, she penned an open letter to the Kentucky attorney general asking for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Through her BeyGOOD Foundation, established in 2013, Beyoncé has focused mostly on expanding the prospects of Black-owned business and offering education opportunities to students. Forwarding the cause of legal representation in Texas while also helping out marginalized communities compliments her other philanthropic work.

“At UH Law, we envision a legal profession where ‘everyone has the opportunity to prosper,’ as BeyGOOD envisions, and we will achieve this vision by providing access to strong and effective legal representation in criminal proceedings,” Baynes said. “And together, through this gift, the BeyGOOD Foundation and UHLC will shepherd the next generation of criminal justice attorneys in the city of Houston, the state of Texas and the nation.”