Phillip EdwinTexas is home to a remarkable collection of public high schools that consistently rank among the best in the nation, with ten percent of the top 100 high schools in the country located within the state according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 rankings . The state’s highest-performing schools are predominantly magnet programs with selective admissions, though a number of elite zoned schools and charter campuses also rank among the best.
These institutions demonstrate outstanding outcomes in college readiness, graduation rates, and performance on state assessments, preparing students for success at the nation’s most prestigious universities .
Top 15 Public High Schools In Texas
1. School for the Talented and Gifted (TAG) – Dallas ISD
The School for the Talented and Gifted is the highest-ranked public high school in Texas and ranks No. 9 nationally according to the 2025-2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings. Located at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center in Dallas, this magnet college preparatory school serves 546 students in grades 9-12 with a focus on gifted education.
The school boasts an exceptional college readiness rating of 99.3 and has sent graduates to Harvard, Stanford, Yale, and Columbia. Students achieve approximately 95% proficiency in math and reading, with a near 95% graduation rate and access to 26 AP courses. The school admits approximately 135 freshmen annually by application only.
2. Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School – Dallas ISD
Ranked No. 2 in Texas and 15th nationally by U.S. News & World Report, this Dallas ISD magnet school serves grades 6-12 with a primary focus on STEM curriculum. The school is part of the Young Women’s Preparatory Network nonprofit and emphasizes college readiness, leadership development, and wellness life skills .Students demonstrate exceptional performance on state assessments and college-level exams, contributing to the school’s elite national ranking.
3. School of Science and Engineering (SEM) – Dallas ISD
Located at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center alongside TAG, the School of Science and Engineering ranks No. 3 in Texas and 23rd nationally. The college preparatory program serves grades 9-12 with an accelerated STEM focus. The school features specialized STEM tracks in Aerospace, Biomedical, and Nuclear fields, along with a signature “SuperLab” research facility . SEM was named 2025 UIL Academic State Champions and achieves approximately 99% math proficiency and 100% reading proficiency.
4. Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA) – Austin ISD
LASA is the top-ranked high school in Central Texas, placing No. 4 in the state and 36th nationally . This Austin ISD magnet school serves 1,518 students in grades 9-12 and offers 30 AP and 121 honors classes designed to exceed state and district requirements . The school’s most recent class produced 45 National Merit Semifinalists and earned over $32 million in scholarships . Students achieve approximately 94% math proficiency and 99% reading proficiency .
5. Carnegie Vanguard High School – Houston ISD
Ranking No. 5 in Texas and 42nd nationally, Carnegie Vanguard is Houston ISD’s only gifted-and-talented-only campus. The magnet school serves students in grades 9-12 and requires students to take at least 10 AP courses and complete 100 hours of community service. Students consistently exceed state and national averages on SAT and ACT exams and demonstrate approximately 95% math proficiency and 99% reading proficiency.
6. Grand Prairie Collegiate Institute – Grand Prairie ISD
This charter school ranks No. 6 in Texas and 54th nationally. The school serves grades 6-12 and has a 92% minority student population, with all students taking AP classes. It ranks 13th best among charter high schools nationwide and demonstrates a 100% or near 100% graduation rate with strong proficiency in math, reading, and science.
7. BASIS San Antonio – Shavano Campus – San Antonio
Ranking No. 7 in Texas and 58th nationally, this charter school serves grades 6-12 and is the highest-ranked high school in the San Antonio area. The school ranks 14th best among charter schools and 18th best among STEM high schools nationwide. All students take AP classes, and 88% of the student body are minorities.
8. DeBakey High School for Health Professions – Houston ISD
Ranking No. 8 in Texas and 75th nationally, this magnet school in the Texas Medical Center serves grades 9-12 with a specialized focus on health professions and medical careers. Graduates are eligible for the Houston Premedical Academy at the University of Houston, with selected students receiving provisional acceptance to Baylor College of Medicine. The school ranks second best in the Houston area.
9. Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet – Dallas ISD
Ranking No. 9 in Texas and 84th nationally, this Dallas ISD magnet school serves grades 9-12 with a specialized focus on law and legal studies . The overwhelming majority of students are minorities (94%) and economically disadvantaged (83%), yet the school achieves top-tier academic outcomes.
10. Talkington School for Young Women Leaders – Lubbock ISD
Ranking No. 10 in Texas and 95th nationally, this magnet school serves grades 6-12 with a focus on empowering young women through rigorous college preparatory experiences. The school provides a college-preparatory environment focused on developing young women leaders and has a 100% graduation rate with 100% acceptance to four-year universities.
11. Seven Lakes High School – Katy ISD
Seven Lakes High School is one of the largest schools on the list, serving approximately 3,773 students, and demonstrates exceptional academic performance with 84% math and 87% reading proficiency . In a just concluded season, students sat approximately 5,410 AP exams with approximately 94% scoring 3 or higher . It is an elite zoned school in the highly regarded Katy ISD.
12. Westlake High School – Eanes ISD
Westlake High School is an elite zoned school located west of Austin with 82% math and 89% reading proficiency and a 98% graduation rate. The school produced 33 National Merit Finalists in a recent year, reflecting its strong academic culture and college preparation.
13. Carroll Senior High School – Carroll ISD
Carroll Senior High School is an elite zoned school in one of the Dallas-Fort Worth area’s priciest housing markets, with approximately 98-99% math proficiency and 99% graduation . The school demonstrates that zoned schools can achieve outcomes rivaling magnet programs when located in resource-rich communities.
14. Spring Branch Academic Institute – Spring Branch ISD
Spring Branch Academic Institute is a top-ranked charter school in the Houston area with exceptional math and reading proficiency rates. The school serves grades K-12 and demonstrates strong academic outcomes that place it among the state’s top public high schools.
15. Clements High School – Fort Bend ISD
Clements High School ranks 17th on Niche’s Best Public High Schools in Texas list and is one of the strongest public schools in the Houston area. Located in Sugar Land, the school has a strong reputation for STEM preparation and college readiness, serving a community with a large South Asian engineering population . Homes in the Clements zone run approximately $400,000-800,000 .
Comparison Table
| No | School Name | Location | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | School for the Talented and Gifted (TAG) | Dallas ISD | #1 in TX, #9 nationally, 99.3 college readiness rating |
| 2 | Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership | Dallas ISD | #2 in TX, #15 nationally, STEM-focused |
| 3 | School of Science and Engineering | Dallas ISD | #3 in TX, #23 nationally, specialized STEM tracks |
| 4 | Liberal Arts and Science Academy | Austin ISD | #4 in TX, #36 nationally, 45 National Merit Semifinalists |
| 5 | Carnegie Vanguard High School | Houston ISD | #5 in TX, #42 nationally, GT-only campus |
| 6 | Grand Prairie Collegiate Institute | Grand Prairie ISD | #6 in TX, #54 nationally, charter school |
| 7 | BASIS San Antonio – Shavano | San Antonio | #7 in TX, #58 nationally, STEM-focused charter |
| 8 | DeBakey High School for Health Professions | Houston ISD | #8 in TX, #75 nationally, Baylor College of Medicine pathway |
| 9 | Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet | Dallas ISD | #9 in TX, #84 nationally, law-focused magnet |
| 10 | Talkington School for Young Women Leaders | Lubbock ISD | #10 in TX, #95 nationally, young women’s leadership |
| 11 | Seven Lakes High School | Katy ISD | 84% math/87% reading, ~5,410 AP exams |
| 12 | Westlake High School | Eanes ISD | 82% math/89% reading, 33 National Merit Finalists |
| 13 | Carroll Senior High School | Carroll ISD | 98–99% math proficiency, 99% graduation |
| 14 | Spring Branch Academic Institute | Spring Branch ISD | Top charter school, exceptional proficiency |
| 15 | Clements High School | Fort Bend ISD | #17 in TX (Niche), STEM-focused, 17th statewide |
Success Tips for Evaluating Public High Schools
Start by identifying your student’s interests and career goals, as Texas’s top schools offer specialized programs ranging from STEM and law to health professions and fine arts.
For students with exceptional academic abilities, the magnet programs at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center in Dallas—TAG, SEM, and others—represent some of the strongest options in the nation.
Consider the selectivity of magnet schools, which require applications and often have limited admissions slots.
For families interested in zoned schools, districts like Katy ISD, Eanes ISD, and Carroll ISD offer high-performing neighborhood options.
Evaluate each school’s college readiness metrics, AP course offerings, and graduation rates, as these are key indicators of how well a school prepares students for higher education.
Finally, consider the school’s location and district context; Dallas ISD, Houston ISD, and Austin ISD each offer different strengths and concentrations of top-ranked schools.
Closing
Texas’s top public high schools represent some of the finest secondary education in the nation, with a remarkable concentration of elite magnet schools in Dallas ISD leading the state rankings . The School for the Talented and Gifted, Irma Lerma Rangel, and the School of Science and Engineering consistently demonstrate exceptional outcomes in college readiness and student performance . Beyond Dallas, Austin’s Liberal Arts and Science Academy and Houston’s Carnegie Vanguard High School showcase the depth of Texas’s educational excellence . Whether you are seeking a STEM-focused magnet, a law or health professions program, an early college experience, or a high-performing zoned school, Texas offers a diverse array of top-tier public high school options.
Note that all information, including rankings, is subject to change, so it is essential to verify current details directly with each school and through official resources like U.S. News & World Report and the Texas Education Agency.