Report card

7 prestigious Houston-area high schools rank among best in Texas for 2021

St. John's School is ranked the No. 2 private high school in Texas.

Several Houston-area school are among the top of their class among public and private high schools in Texas.

New rankings from education website Niche put three local institutions among the top public high schools in the state and four among the top private high schools in the state.

Carnegie Vanguard High School (in Houston ISD) leads the area best public high schools, while our prestigious St. John’s School leads the private academies.

Niche ranks public high schools based on factors such as state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality, and Niche user ratings.

Meanwhile, Niche ranks private high schools based on factors like SAT/ACT scores, quality of colleges that students consider, student-teacher ratio, and Niche user ratings.

“Our 2022 rankings come at a time when so many parents are curious about the different options for their children’s education, including some they may never have considered before,” Luke Skurman, founder and CEO of Niche, says in a news release.

Other local schools also ranked well:

Top-ranked School for the Talented and Gifted (Dallas ISD).
Second-ranked Liberal Arts & Science Academy (Austin ISD).
Third-ranked School of Science and Engineering (Dallas ISD).
Fourth-ranked Westlake High School (Eanes ISD).
Fifth-ranked Carnegie Vanguard High School (Houston ISD).
Sixth-ranked DeBakey High School for Health Professions (Houston ISD).
Seventh-ranked Carroll Senior High School (Carroll ISD).
Eighth-ranked Westwood High School (Round Rock ISD).
Ninth-ranked Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (Houston ISD).
10th-ranked Vandegrift High School (Leander ISD).

The top private high schools in Texas are:

Top-ranked St. Mark’s School of Texas in Dallas.
Second-ranked St. John’s School in Houston.
Third-ranked Greenhill School in Addison.
Fourth-ranked The Hockaday School in Dallas.
Fifth-ranked St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin.
Sixth-ranked The John Cooper School in The Woodlands.
Seventh-ranked The Awty International School in Houston.
Eighth-ranked Keystone School in San Antonio.
Ninth-ranked Cistercian Preparatory School in Irving.
10th-ranked The Kinkaid School in Houston.

As for the best school districts in Texas, they are:

Top-ranked Eanes ISD in Austin.
Second-ranked South Texas ISD in Mercedes.
Third-ranked Highland Park ISD in Dallas.
Fourth-ranked Carroll ISD in Southlake.
Fifth-ranked Coppell ISD in Coppell.
Sixth-ranked Lovejoy ISD in Allen.
Seventh-ranked Frisco ISD in Frisco.
Eighth-ranked Argyle ISD in Argyle.
Ninth-ranked Grapevine-Colleyville ISD in Grapevine.
10th-ranked Allen ISD in Allen.

rankings education

a new record

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo commits over $30 million to education

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo cattle exhibition

Courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The money supports studies in fields such as animal husbandry.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo continues its annual tradition of breaking its own record when it comes to educational endowments. On Giving Tuesday, the organization pledged to disburse $30,353,380 in 2026 in the form of scholarships, grants, and other funding.

“This milestone moment of reaching $30 million in a single year highlights the Rodeo’s unwavering dedication to Texas youth and education,” HLSR president and CEO Chris Boleman said in a statement. “Thanks to our loyal donors, sponsors, more than 36,000 volunteers and dedicated attendees, 2026 will reach historic heights in supporting the next generation of leaders, agricultural professionals and organizations that share the Rodeo’s mission.”

This brings the total of education funding provided by the Rodeo since 1932 up to $660 million. Last year's $28 million commitment also set a new record.

One innovation this year is the establishment of the Area Go Texan Vocational Scholarship, a program that expands on the relationship with 68 Texas counties through the Area Go Texan affiliate program. One student from each county will receive $6,000 toward a degree or certificate in a vocational field at a Texas nonprofit college or university. Another $500,000 in vocational scholarships will awarded to 10 schools in 2026. Guidelines for applying can be found at this link.

In total, the Rodeo will hand out $15,126,000 in scholarships, $11,273,500 to junior exhibitors, $3,430,880 in grants, and $523,000 in graduate assistantships. Grants will be awarded to 82 Texas institutions and organizations, such as Arts for Rural Texas, BridgeYear, The Bryan Museum, Diversity in the Arts and Entertainment, Greater Houston Partnership Foundation, Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA), Space Center Houston, Texas State University Development Foundation, and University of St. Thomas at Houston.

Money for the annual endowment is raised through the annual auctions, sales of livestock and art, and through charitable donations. The goal of the endowment program is to promote study and research in agriculture, animal husbandry, and other fields that directly benefit the Rodeo.

The Rodeo is scheduled to run from March 2 – 22, 2026. More information on performers, attractions, and vendors can be found at RodeoHouston.com. Scholarship applications are open through February 2, with funds being awarded in summer 2026.

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