Israel Garcia and his classmate Nazar Bevzenko look for a classroom to study for an upcoming exam at Carnegie Vanguard High School in Houston. (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
Carnegie Vanguard High School and DeBakey High School for Health Professions have both been ranked in US News and World Report’s annual high school rankings. Not only are they included in the top 100, but both also appear in the top 10 for Texas schools.
The schools are ranked by six factors:
- college readiness
- college curriculum breadth
- state assessment proficiency
- state assessment performance
- underserved student performance
- graduation rates
Carnegie Vanguard ranked as 42nd overall in the nation, and fifth in Texas, while DeBakey is 75th in the nation and ninth overall in Texas.
Carnegie Vanguard is the only High School Vanguard Program in Houston ISD, meaning every student is considered gifted and talented, and students only take Advanced Placement classes for the core curriculum. DeBakey, meanwhile, is the only Houston magnet high school for health professions, and typically only offers 200 to 300 spots that students must take entrance exams for.
This ranking comes on the heels of A-F accountability ratings being released by the Texas Education Agency. This year, HISD received a B rating after receiving a C the previous year. HISD has also been under a state takeover since 2023 after Wheatley High School received low academic ratings for several years; a high number of teacher vacancies is another issue for the district. The B rating could signal an end of the state takeover.
The other 17 Houston schools that join Carnegie Vanguard and DeBakey on the list of Texas’ 100 best are:
- No. 18: Challenge Early College High School, Houston ISD
- No. 21: Kinder High School for Performing and Visual Arts, Houston ISD
- No. 27: Young Women’s College Prep Academy, Houston ISD
- No. 31: Eastwood Academy, Houston ISD
- No. 32: Kerr High School, Alief ISD
- No. 44: Spring Early College Academy, Spring ISD
- No. 60: North Houston Early College High School, Houston ISD
- No. 66: East Early College High School, Houston ISD
- No. 71: Yes Prep-Southwest, Houston
- No. 77: Sharpstown International School, Houston ISD
- No. 82: Clements High School, Fort Bend ISD
- No. 83: Energy Institute High School, Houston ISD
- No. 86: Houston Academy for International Studies, Houston ISD
- No. 88: Harmony School of Innovation-Sugar Land, Sugar Land
- No. 90: Jordan High School, Katy ISD
- No. 92: Clear Horizons Early College High School, Clear Creek ISD
- No. 95: Yes Prep-North Central, Houston
“Students and families need data to help them make one of the most important decisions of their academic journey. Our Best High Schools rankings provide the insights to help them identify schools that will prepare students for college success,” said US News managing editor for education LaMont Jones, Ed.D., in a press release. “Access to information isn’t just helpful — it’s essential for planning a student’s future.”
