20 Best Public High Schools in Texas – 2024

April 26, 2024

For many students, finding the ideal high school is just as important as scoping out the right university. Especially for students whose academic interests are defined early, public high schools that offer specialized curriculums are a big draw. At these campuses, students not only prepare for the next step in their academic careers but also develop relevant skillsets which translate well at a collegiate level (for the Best Public High Schools in Texas, scroll down).

Texas is a large and popular state known for its enduring Texas longhorns, good barbeque, and, of course, I know the state for its love of football. But Texas is also home to some of the best public high schools. From performing and fine arts institutions to STEM-focused campuses, the best public high schools in Texas are well-equipped to foster a wide variety of student interests.

As well, the best public schools in Texas are close to some of the top-rated universities in the country. With Rice University, Texas A&M, and UT-Austin consistently topping the list of national highly-ranked universities. Some may debate the difference between private schools and public ones. But between larger cities like Dallas and Houston, and even smaller suburbs, public schools are equipped to provide rigorous academics.

Attending one of the best public high schools in Texas can help set students up for success on their college applications, no matter which college institution they choose.

Best Public High Schools in Texas (cont’d)

When assembling this list, we reviewed several factors. These factors include the school’s statewide—or Texas High Schools—ranking (out of 2,144), the number of students who passed at least one AP exam, average SAT and ACT scores, and graduation rate.

Additionally, we reviewed the College Readiness Index of each school. The College Readiness Index calculates values for schools based on student performance on both state-required tests and AP/IB exams.

Furthermore, we will provide a list to some of the universities that alumni of these high schools chose to attend. There are many impressive four-year colleges on this list, so you’ll want to keep reading to discover what these high-ranking schools and students accomplished.

Finally, while this list is selective, it is important to note that the order of the schools does not necessarily indicate a further ranking.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at 20 of the best public schools in Texas to see how they help prepare high schoolers for the next step in their academic careers.

Best Public High Schools in Texas

1) School for the Talented and Gifted – Dallas, Texas

Statewide Ranking: #1
College Readiness Index: 100
Passed at Least One AP Exam: 100%
Graduation Rate: 100%
Average SAT Score: 1400
Average ACT Score: 32
Total Enrollment: 502
Senior Enrollment: 133
Student-Teacher Ratio: 19:1
Minority Enrollment: 68.5%

Highlights: Students from this high school have gone on to colleges such as Stanford, Yale, Oberlin, Caltech, and Vassar. The school is a preparatory magnet school for students in 9-12 grade. Founded in 1982, their motto is “Be interested. Be interesting.”

Additionally, they are ranked as the #1 best magnet school in Texas, as well as the #1 best public college prep high school in the state.

2) School of Science and Engineering – Dallas, Texas

Statewide Ranking: #3
College Readiness Index: 98.6
Passed at Least One AP Exam: 98%
Graduation Rate: 100%
Average SAT Score: 1370
Average ACT Score: 31
Total Enrollment: 501
Senior Enrollment: 163
Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
Minority Enrollment: 87.2%

Highlights: Currently, this high school is housed in a complex that includes five additional magnet schools. Here, students will have the opportunity to partake in many AP course offerings, including calculus, biology, and statistics.

From this institution, students have continued onto universities such as Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech, MIT, and Purdue University, among others.

While the school is competitive, students and parents agree that lessons are engaging, and teachers genuinely care about student success.

Best Public High Schools in Texas (Continued)

3) Liberal Arts & Science Academy – Austin, Texas

Statewide Ranking: #4
College Readiness Index: 98.1
Passed at Least One AP Exam: 98%
Graduation Rate: 100%
Average SAT Score: 1420
Average ACT Score: 33
Total Enrollment: 1,309
Senior Enrollment: 293
Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
Minority Enrollment: 55.8%

Highlights: Students from this high school have continued on to colleges such as Johns Hopkins, UC Berkeley, Tulane, Cornell, and Darthmouth.

Here, students have the opportunity to be challenged in their coursework with 30 AP classes and over 100 honors courses. However, students tend to also focus on collaborative coursework and projects.

4) Carnegie Vanguard High School – Houston, Texas

Statewide Ranking: #5
College Readiness Index: 98.6
Passed at Least One AP Exam: 98%
Graduation Rate: 96%
Average SAT Score: 1380
Average ACT Score: 31
Total Enrollment: 913
Senior Enrollment: 248
Student-Teacher Ratio: 24:1
Minority Enrollment: 78%

Highlights: Generally, students at this high school take an average of 10 AP courses before graduating. Solidifying its standing in the community, students are also required to complete 100 hours of community service before graduation.

Alumni from this institution have continued on to schools such as Southern Methodist University, Rice, Baylor, Texas Tech, and Harvard.

5) Westlake High School – Austin, Texas

Statewide Ranking: #41
College Readiness Index: 74.7
Passed at Least One AP Exam: 72%
Graduation Rate: 99%
Average SAT Score: 1360
Average ACT Score: 31
Total Enrollment: 2,823
Senior Enrollment: 726
Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
Minority Enrollment: 35.4%

Highlights: With the opportunity to take a variety of AP courses, 83% of students opt to take the exam. The school also allows many opportunities for students to participate in a variety of extracurriculars, like sports, theatre, and speech and debate.

From this high school, students have continued on to institutions such as Boston University, New York University, Oberlin College, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Best Public High Schools in Texas (Continued)

6) Westwood High IB World School –Austin, Texas

Statewide Ranking: #65
College Readiness Index: 68.1
Passed at Least One AP Exam: 65%
Graduation Rate: 99%
Average SAT Score: 1360
Average ACT Score: 31
Total Enrollment: 2,781
Senior Enrollment: 657
Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
Minority Enrollment: 64.2%

Highlights: While students agree the atmosphere is competitive, they also agree that lessons are engaging and teachers care about their students. Additionally, the school is ranked at #1 in its district. At this campus, students can enroll even as early as Pre-K!

After seniors graduate, they have attended a variety of impressive institutions. Such examples include American University, Georgetown, University of Michigan, and Texas A&M.

7) Vandegrift High School – Austin, Texas

Statewide Ranking: #99
College Readiness Index: 60.4
Passed at Least One AP Exam: 57%
Graduation Rate: 98%
Average SAT Score: 1300
Average ACT Score: 30
Total Enrollment: 2,723
Senior Enrollment: 682
Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
Minority Enrollment: 39.7%

Highlights: Opening in 2009, this high school is named after 1st Lt. Matthew Ryan Vandegrift. In addition to offering a variety of sports and extracurriculars, the school also offers several AP courses for students. 68% of students opt to partake in the AP examinations.

Notable institutions alumni have been accepted to include Princeton, Stanford, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech University.

Best Public High Schools in Texas (Continued)

8) Liberty High School – Frisco, Texas

Statewide Ranking: #60
College Readiness Index: 62.2
Passed at Least One AP Exam: 60%
Graduation Rate: 100%
Average SAT Score: 1320
Average ACT Score: 30
Total Enrollment: 1,936
Senior Enrollment: 551
Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
Minority Enrollment: 64.7%

Highlights: Located in a rural setting, this high school serves students grades 9-12. The high school is ranked as #1 in the district, out of 10 schools.

After graduation, students from this institution go on to attend notable institutions. Some of these schools include Columbia, Southern Methodist University, Duke, University of Pennsylvania, and West Point.

9) Meridian Word School – Round Rock, Texas

Statewide Ranking: #56
College Readiness Index: 80.4
Passed at Least One IB Exam: 82%
Graduation Rate: 98%
Average SAT Score: 1260
Average ACT Score: 29
Total Enrollment: 379
Senior Enrollment: 80
Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
Minority Enrollment: 66.7%

Highlights: Meridian is a charter school that participates in the International Baccalaureate program. Essentially, this means students can graduate with an IB diploma after completing a two-year course in each of the required six subject groups. This institution serves students K-12 and is located in a mid-size city.

Additionally, students from this high school have continued onto impressive collegiate programs. Some notable institutions include Howard University, Johns Hopkins, Purdue, and even Trinity College, Dublin.

10) Uplift North Hills Preparatory – Irving, Texas

Statewide Ranking: #17
College Readiness Index: 88.7
Passed at Least One AP Exam: 74%
Graduation Rate: 100%
Average SAT Score: 1340
Average ACT Score: 29
Total Enrollment: 494
Senior Enrollment: 103
Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
Minority Enrollment: 91.7%

Highlights: Located in a large city, this high school is a charter school for students in grades 9-12. Out of 11 high schools in its district, this campus is ranked #1.

After they graduate, seniors have attended a variety of impressive colleges. These schools include Babson College, Texas Tech, Johns Hopkins, UC Berkeley, and Wake Forest University.

Best Public High Schools in Texas (Continued)

11) Cypress Woods High School – Cypress, Texas

Statewide Ranking: #142
College Readiness Index: 37.1
Passed at Least One AP Exam: 35%
Graduation Rate: 97%
Average SAT Score: 1220
Average ACT Score: 27
Total Enrollment: 3,185
Senior Enrollment: 806
Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
Minority Enrollment: 52.8%

Highlights: With high subject proficiency test scores in science (93%) and reading (83%) and mathematics (60%), this high school earned higher ranks than other schools in the district. Located in a large suburban area, the school serves students in grades 9-12.

Alumni of the high school have earned acceptances and attended a number of prestigious schools. These institutions include UPenn, Dartmouth, Yale, and Harvard.

12) Seven Lakes High School – Katy, Texas

Statewide Ranking: #46
College Readiness Index: 58.3
Passed at Least One AP Exam: 57%
Graduation Rate: 98%
Average SAT Score: 1330
Average ACT Score: 30
Total Enrollment: 3,582
Senior Enrollment: 974
Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
Minority Enrollment: 64.3%

Highlights: This campus is located in a large suburb and is one of 10 schools in its district. A STEM-focused school, it is rated highly in this regard. With high subject proficiency in science and mathematics, its scores range above the district average.

Following graduation, students have attended institutions such as Texas Tech, University of Houston, and Drake University.

Best Public High Schools in Texas (Continued)

13) Coppell High School – Coppell, Texas

Statewide Ranking: #78
College Readiness Index: 62.5
Passed at Least One AP Exam: 58%
Graduation Rate: 100%
Average SAT Score: 1350
Average ACT Score: 29
Total Enrollment: 3,839
Senior Enrollment: 873
Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
Minority Enrollment: 73.6%

Highlights: Students at this high school have the opportunity to take a variety of AP exams to earn college credit. Currently, there are 32 AP exams offered each year across 19 disciplines. Some of these subjects include Biology, Chemistry, Music Theory, and Computer Science.

Post-high school, students from this campus have attended a variety of well-known four-year institutions. Some notable examples include Carnegie Mellon, Virginia Tech, UCLA, Northwestern, and Rhodes College.

14) BASIS San Antonio – Shavano Campus – San Antonio, Texas

Statewide Ranking: #7
College Readiness Index: 100
Passed at Least One AP Exam: 100%
Graduation Rate: 100%
Average SAT Score: 1370
Average ACT Score: 31
Total Enrollment: 348
Senior Enrollment: 80
Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
Minority Enrollment: 77.3%

Highlights: Located in a large city, this campus serves students in grades 6-12. A character school, this high school is notably tuition-free. Ultimately, the curriculum is STEM-infused, college preparatory focused.

Students have many options for wonderful four-year institutions after graduation. Some examples of such institutions students have attended include Boston University, Rice, MIT, and California Institute of Technology.

15) Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts – Houston, Texas

Statewide Ranking: #12
College Readiness Index: 84.4
Passed at Least One AP Exam: 82%
Graduation Rate: 100%
Average SAT Score: 1290
Average ACT Score: 30
Total Enrollment: 781
Senior Enrollment: 179
Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
Minority Enrollment: 61.1%

Highlights: At this high school, students have the opportunity to study a variety of creative disciplines from creative writing and dance to instrumental music, theatre, and visual arts.

Alumni from this high school have continued on to achieve many great accomplishments. For example, past students have not only earned Tony and Grammy nominations but also star on TV shows and even become the Texas Poet Laureate.

Best Public High Schools in Texas (Continued)

16) Flower Mound High School – Flower Mound, Texas

Statewide Ranking: #154
College Readiness Index: 41.9
Passed at Least One AP Exam: 41%
Graduation Rate: 100%
Average SAT Score: 1320
Average ACT Score: 29
Total Enrollment: 3,602
Senior Enrollment: 940
Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
Minority Enrollment: 42.3%

Highlights: This high school is located in a large suburb and serves students grades 9-12. At this campus, students have earned subject proficiency scores in mathematics, reading, and science higher than both the district and state averages. The school offers AP exams in subjects such as Computer Science, Micro- and Macroeconomics, Human Geography, and Environmental Science.

Alumni from this high school have continued onto notable universities. Some examples of these universities include the University of Arkansas, the University of North Texas, and Baylor.

17) Clements High School – Sugar Land, Texas

Statewide Ranking: #75
College Readiness Index: 59.4
Passed at Least One AP Exam: 58%
Graduation Rate: 98%
Average SAT Score: 1360
Average ACT Score: 30
Total Enrollment: 2,488
Senior Enrollment: 600
Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
Minority Enrollment: 78.8%

Highlights: Sugar Land, Texas is a mid-size city, and students at this school are enrolled in grades 9-12. Out of 13 high schools in its district, this campus is ranked #1. Ultimately, the curriculum is mostly STEM-focused.

This high school is home to the Global Studies Academy. This academy provides a curriculum which prepares students for the “growing global economy.” The campus offers over 30 AP courses in subjects like Statistics, Foreign Languages, Music, and more.

Best Public High Schools in Texas (Continued)

18) Clear Horizons Early College HS – Houston, Texas

Statewide Ranking: #42
College Readiness Index: 74.1
Passed at Least One AP Exam: 68%
Graduation Rate: 100%
Average SAT Score: 1200
Average ACT Score: 26
Total Enrollment: 416
Senior Enrollment: 93
Student-Teacher Ratio: 30:1
Minority Enrollment: 80.8%

Highlights: With the opportunity to take a variety of AP courses, 93% of students opt to take the exams at the competition of the course. With high subject proficiency ratings in mathematics, reading, and science, this school performed better than the district and state averages. Ultimately, students apply to this campus in 8th grade and are selected by a lottery system.

Students have been admitted to several impressive post-graduate institutions. These institutions include Baylor, Texas Tech, the University of Houston, St. Mary’s, and the University of Portland.

19) DeBakey High School for Health Professions – Houston, Texas

Statewide Ranking: #6
College Readiness Index: 86.7
Passed at Least One AP Exam: 83%
Graduation Rate: 100%
Average SAT Score: 1360
Average ACT Score: 31
Total Enrollment: 891
Senior Enrollment: 195
Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
Minority Enrollment: 84.7%

Highlights: This campus is located on the Texas Medical Center campus. There, students have access to the resources at notable research facilities. In partnership with local universities, students can attend undergraduate courses there in a program designed specifically for students of this school.

Alums from this high school have continued on to a variety of impressive colleges. These institutions include Baylor College of Medicine and, in partnership with the University of Houston, a specialized program there.

Best Public High Schools in Texas (Continued)

20) Kerr High School – Houston, Texas

Statewide Ranking: #24
College Readiness Index: 69.7
Passed at Least One AP Exam: 65%
Graduation Rate: 100%
Average SAT Score: 1220
Average ACT Score: 26
Total Enrollment: 790
Senior Enrollment: 196
Student-Teacher Ratio: 20:1
Minority Enrollment: 96.2%

Highlights: For students in grades 9-12, this high school’s graduation rate is well above the state median. With high subject proficiency scores in reading and science, this school’s marks rose above the district and state averages.

Ultimately, this high school aims to give students the freedom and responsibility to become active participants in their own learning processes. Some of their core values include community, creativity, and integrity.

Review & Additional Resources

Preparing for college starts in high school. Whether it be joining a variety of extracurriculars or opting for advanced classes, students should be aware of how their high school career will translate into their collegiate one. As we can see, some of these high schools are perfect for students with specialized interests to get a jump on their college education. For example, there are high schools on this list that specialize in medicine, performing arts, and that even offer top-rated STEM-focused curricula.

Ultimately, there are many public high schools in Texas with shining credentials. These public high schools come from many cities and suburbs across the state. For students looking at any major, there are a wide variety of public high schools in Texas that will prepare them well for the next step in their academic careers.

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Meghan Dairaghi

With a BA in English and an MFA in Creative Writing, Meghan has served as a writing tutor at the University of Missouri St. Louis and Maryville University. Additionally, Meghan has held editorial roles at River Styx and Boulevard, and was a prose reader at Farside Review. Most recently, her work has been featured in Belle Ombre, Flypaper Lit, and Mag 20/20, among others, and she was nominated for the Mary Troy Prize in Fiction.