Several Houston-area campuses are being recognized among the top-performing schools in Texas, according to the latest rankings from Children at Risk, a nonprofit that evaluates academic performance across the state.
The annual report highlights standout schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. This year, Houston ISD and Spring Branch ISD both earned high marks in multiple categories.
Houston ISD had three high schools land among the top 10 in Texas. Carnegie Vanguard High School, DeBakey High School for Health Professions, and Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts all ranked among the best in the state.
The top five high schools in Texas were:
- School for the Talented and Gifted (Dallas ISD)
- Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet (Dallas ISD)
- Carnegie Vanguard High School (Houston ISD)
- DeBakey High School for Health Professions (Houston ISD)
- Westlake Academy Charter School (Westlake Academy)
Two Houston-area middle schools made the top 10 list. T.H. Rogers School ranked second in Texas, while Spring Branch Academic Institute placed fifth.
Houston’s Mandarin Immersion Magnet School, Memorial Drive Elementary, and West University Elementary were all recognized among the top elementary campuses in the state.
Mandarin Immersion Magnet placed second statewide, followed by Memorial Drive Elementary at number three and West University Elementary at number five.
Creekside Forest Elementary in Tomball ISD earned a spot among the best in the state, ranking No. 6 on the list of top Texas elementary schools for 2024–2025.
Gold Ribbon schools are campuses that serve high-poverty communities while maintaining strong academic outcomes. Houston ISD stood out with three schools ranked among the top 10 in Texas: Challenge Early College High School, North Houston Early College High School, and East Early College High School.
Houston-area 2024–2025 school rankings
Children at Risk also released a breakdown of the top-performing schools across the Houston region.
Top 10 Houston-area high schools
- Carnegie Vanguard High School – Houston ISD
- DeBakey High School for Health Professions – Houston ISD
- Kinder High School for the Performing & Visual Arts – Houston ISD
- Challenge Early College High School – Houston ISD
- North Houston Early College High School – Houston ISD
- Seven Lakes High School – Katy ISD
- Tomball Star Academy – Tomball ISD
- Harmony School of Innovation – Sugar Land (Harmony Public Schools)
- Clear Horizons Early College High School – Clear Creek ISD
- East Early College High School – Houston ISD
Top 10 Houston-area middle schools
- T.H. Rogers School – Houston ISD
- Spring Branch Academic Institute – Spring Branch ISD
- Fort Settlement Middle School – Fort Bend ISD
- Mitchell Intermediate – Conroe ISD
- Cornerstone Academy – Spring Branch ISD
- Garland McMeans Junior High – Katy ISD
- Seven Lakes Junior High – Katy ISD
- Collins Intermediate – Conroe ISD
- Beckendorff Junior High – Katy ISD
- Young Women’s Leadership Academy – Aldine ISD
Top 10 Houston-area elementary schools
- Mandarin Immersion Magnet School – Houston ISD
- Memorial Drive Elementary – Spring Branch ISD
- West University Elementary – Houston ISD
- Creekside Forest Elementary – Tomball ISD
- Stafford STEM Magnet Academy – Stafford MSD
- Commonwealth Elementary – Fort Bend ISD
- Spring Branch Academic Institute – Spring Branch ISD
- Harmony Science Academy – Sugar Land (Harmony Public Schools)
- Roberts Elementary – Houston ISD
- Stanley C. Stanley Elementary – Katy ISD
Top 10 Houston-area Gold Ribbon high schools
Gold Ribbon campuses are recognized for strong academic performance in underserved communities.
- Challenge Early College High School – Houston ISD
- North Houston Early College High School – Houston ISD
- East Early College High School – Houston ISD
- KIPP Houston High School – KIPP Texas Public Schools
- Blanson CTE High School – Aldine ISD
- Sharpstown International School – Houston ISD
- Alief Early College High School – Alief ISD
- YES Prep North Central – YES Prep Public Schools
- YES Prep Fifth Ward – YES Prep Public Schools
- YES Prep Southwest – YES Prep Public Schools