Baylor College of Medicine at Ryan has received the Magnet Schools of America President’s Award, one of the organization’s top national awards, as well as being honored with a Magnet Schools of Excellence Award.

Energy Institute High School and Parker Elementary School also received 2017 National Merit awards from Magnet Schools of America, the national association for magnet and themed-based schools.

The three schools are among 244 public magnet schools and programs from across the nation to receive the awards. They were selected for their commitment to high academic standards, school diversity, specialized curricula and instruction, family engagement, and community partnerships.

BCMAR and Energy Institute High School received a Magnet Schools of Excellence Award, the top merit award given to a select group of magnet schools. BCMAR was then selected for the Magnet Schools of America President’s Award – one of the top three national awards. Parker Elementary School earned a Magnet Schools of Distinction Award, which is the second-highest distinction awarded to schools.

“We are so proud of these recognitions for the wonderful magnet programs offered to our students,” said HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza. “HISD takes great pride in its specialty schools, and to be ranked among the best in the nation is extremely gratifying and is a testament to the hard work going on in these schools.”

BCMAR prepares students from diverse backgrounds for rigorous high school programs, college, and careers through an innovative, accelerated health science program. The school’s three mandatory health science courses – neuroscience, scientific decision making, and foundations in biotechnology and bioengineering – combined with its cross-curricular integration, enables students to learn through a unified theme, creating a path for contextualized and inquiry-based learning.

The Energy Institute, which will graduate its first class this spring, is the nation’s first high school devoted to preparing students for careers in the energy field, including geosciences, offshore technology, and alternative energy.

Magnet Schools of America represents about 4,340 magnet schools serving nearly 3.5 million students and supports and serves the leaders and teachers of magnet and theme-based schools, while promoting the development of new magnet programs and public schools of choice.

The 2017 awards were handed out during a ceremony at Magnet Schools of America’s 35th National Conference, hosted by Los Angeles Unified School District in Los Angeles, on April 26-30. For a complete listing of awards, go to magnet.edu.