HISD Has Top Schools in Eight-County Region

Half of the top 30 schools in the Houston area are from HISD 

For the second year in a row, Houston ISD schools have dominated the Children at Risk Greater Houston School Rankings.

The 2013 rankings, unveiled today at a press conference at HISD’s Carnegie Vanguard High School, include 1,208 schools in traditional school districts and charter schools.

The Houston Independent School District has 6 of the top 10 elementary schools, 3 of the top 10 middle schools, and 6 of the top 10 high schools in 2013.

“Today is a day for everyone on Team HISD – students, parents, teachers, principals, bus drivers, food services workers, custodians, police officers, maintenance workers, administrators, and everyone else – to take pride in the great work happening in schools across our district,” said Superintendent Terry Grier. “We are showing the nation the great things that can happen when an entire community rallies around the children entrusted to our public schools. We still have work to do if we are to achieve our goal of truly becoming great all over, but the signs of progress are undeniable.”

            HISD’s top 10 schools for 2013

 Elementary Schools

T.H. Rogers (No. 1)

River Oaks (No. 2)

Oak Forest (No. 6)

West University (No. 7)

Bush (No. 8 )

Condit (No. 9)

Middle Schools

T.H. Rogers (No. 1)

Briar Meadow (No. 5)

Kaleidoscope (No. 7)

High Schools

DeBakey High School for Health Professions (No. 1)

Carnegie Vanguard (No. 2)

Eastwood Academy (No. 3)

East Early College (No. 7)

High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (No. 8 )

Challenge High School (No. 9)

Other Schools Honored

Children at Risk also singled out several HISD schools for special recognition.

  • Reagan High School was named the region’s best urban comprehensive high school. Waltrip High School ranked No. 4 on that list, while Milby and Austin high schools occupied the final two spots in the Top 10.
  • DeBakey and Carnegie Vanguard are the region’s Shell Top High Schools for Math and Science.  Eastwood is No. 4 on the list, and Bellaire is No. 7.
  • Eastwood Academy and East Early College High School are two of the region’s three schools to earn the Shell Gold Ribbon for Math and Science.

More Accolades for HISD Schools

April has been a great month of recognition for HISD schools.  Earlier this month, the district was named as a repeat national finalist for the Broad Prize for Urban Education, considered the Nobel Prize for public school districts.  The Broad Prize recognizes the urban school district in America with the most impressive academic achievement and strongest progress toward closing the achievement gap.

Last week, HISD set a new record for the most schools to earn a spot on the Washington Post Challenge Index, which identifies the top 9 percent of high schools nationally.  This year, 33 HISD high schools made the list, which is based largely on the number of students attempting and passing college-level Advanced Placement exams.