HISD High Schools Win More National Accolades
Houston ISD high schools are well represented on two national lists issued today that seek to identify the top high schools in America.
The strong showing on the Washington Post High School Challenge rankings and Newsweek’s America’s Best High Schools of 2012 are the result of HISD’s Advanced Placement initiative that began with the 2009-2010 school year. That was the year Superintendent Terry Grier called on all high schools to expand student access to college-level AP courses and the district agreed to pay the exam fees for all students in those classes.
“This is great recognition of the hard work being done by teachers and students at high schools across the Houston Independent School District,” said Superintendent Terry Grier.
Today, all HISD high schools offer a minimum of 10-15 AP classes, and the number of exams earning a score of 3 or higher, which is the score most colleges require for course credit, is up 35 percent.
HISD’s strong AP progress is one reason the district is among four finalists for the Broad Prize for Urban Education, which recognizes the top urban school district in America. This week, a Broad Prize panel of experts is touring HISD schools as part of the evaluation process.
Washington Post High School Challenge
Twenty-one HISD high schools earned recognition in the Washington Post High School Challenge, a list of 1,800 schools representing the top 9 percent in the nation when it comes to preparing graduates for college. Only 125 Texas high schools made the list, and HISD campuses – Carnegie Vanguard, Eastwood Academy, and DeBakey High School for Health Professions – represent three of the national top 100.
HISD high schools that made the Washington Post list include:
2012 Rank School Name
10 Carnegie Vanguard
23 Eastwood Academy
96 Challenge Early HS
114 DeBakey HS for Health Professions
153 Bellaire
161 High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
168 East Early College
194 Furr
228 High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice
267 Lamar
275 Westside
548 Westbury
553 Lee
833 Chavez
1,001 Milby
1,062 Reagan
1,121 Scarborough
1,158 Washington
1,205 Davis
1,377 Waltrip
1,571 Austin
Newsweek’s list of America’s Best High Schools
HISD high schools also occupy 9 out of 1,000 positions on Newsweek’s list of America’s Best High Schools. Only 86 Texas high schools made the Newsweek list. HISD schools on the list are:
2012 Rank School Name
13 Carnegie Vanguard
72 Eastwood Academy
75 DeBakey HS for Health Professions
162 High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
439 Bellaire
446 Challenge Early College
685 High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice
883 Lamar
957 Mount Carmel Academy