(The Center Square)–Ten percent of the top 100 high schools in the country are in Texas, according to a U.S. News 2025-2026 Best High Schools Rankings.
The rankings assessed nearly 18,000 public high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Rankings are based on six factors based on state assessments performance and how well students are prepared for college, the report says.
Eight of Texas’ top 10 high schools are magnet schools; two are open-enrollment charter schools. Magnet schools offer theme-based curriculum in specific subjects, teachers receive specialized training and students are required to apply in a selective application process. There are currently 270 magnet public schools in Texas serving nearly 210,000 students, according to Public School Review.
Open-enrollment charter schools are public schools that use a non-selective application process, including a lottery system. There are currently 1,057 public charter schools in Texas serving more than 484,000 students, according to Public School Review.
The report ranked 1,578 public high schools in Texas. Six of the top 10 are in north Texas; the top three are in Dallas ISD. Four of the top 10 are in Austin, Houston and San Antonio.
The top schools have small enrollments, small student to teacher ratios and 100% or near 100% graduation rates. Students also report 100%, or near 100%, proficiency in math, reading and science, take Advanced Placement classes and classes at local universities.
Ranking first is the School for the Talented and Gifted (TAG), a magnet college prep school for gifted students in Dallas ISD. It has 546 students enrolled in grades 9-12. It ranks 9th best overall and 33rd best among science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) high schools nationwide.
Ranking second best is the Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, a magnet school in Dallas ISD, with 292 students enrolled in grades 6-12. It ranks 15th best in the country.
Ranking third best is the School of Science and Engineering, a magnet college prep school n Dallas ISD. It has 495 students enrolled in grades 9-12. It ranks 23rd best overall and 46th best among STEM high schools nationwide.
Ranking fourth best is the Liberal Arts and Science Academy, a magnet school in Austin ISD, with 1,518 students enrolled in grades 9-12. It ranks 36th best overall and 74th best among STEM high schools nationwide. LASA offers 30 AP and 121 honors classes that “are designed to be more challenging than what the state and district require,” the report states.
Ranking fifth best is Carnegie Vanguard High School, a magnet school in Houston ISD, with 824 students enrolled in grades 9-12. It ranks 42nd best nationwide. Students are required to take at least 10 AP classes and complete 100 hours of community service and “consistently exceed state and national averages on SAT and ACT exams,” the report notes.
Ranking sixth best is Grand Prairie Collegiate Institute, a charter school in Grand Prairie ISD, with 135 students enrolled in grades 6-12. It ranks 54th overall and 13th best among charter high schools nationwide. All students take AP classes; 92% of students are minorities.
Ranking seventh best is BASIS San Antonio-Shavano Campus, a charter school with 348 students enrolled in grades 6-12. It ranks 58th overall, 14th best among charter schools and 18th best among STEM high schools nationwide. All students take AP classes; 88% are minorities.
Ranking eighth best is DeBakey High School for Health Professions, a magnet school in Houston ISD located in the Texas Medical Center. It ranks 75th nationwide and second best in the Houston area. Its 922 students are enrolled in grades 9-12. Graduates are eligible for the Houston Premedical Academy, an undergraduate program at the University of Houston. Those selected receive provisional acceptance to Baylor College of Medicine.
Ranking ninth best is Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet in Dallas ISD, ranking 84th nationwide. Its 480 students are enrolled in grades 9-12. The overwhelming majority are minorities (94%) and economically disadvantaged (83%).
Ranking 10th best is the Talkington School for Young Women Leaders, a magnet school in Lubbock ISD. It ranks 95th nationwide. It has 231 students enrolled in grades 6-12.
Rounding out the top 20 public schools in Texas are the Young Women’s Leadership Academy in San Antonio ISD, Hector J Garcia Early College Highschool in Laredo ISD, School of Health Professions in Dallas ISD, Westlake Academy Charter School, IDEA McAllen College Preparatory, Health Careers High School in Northside ISD in San Antonio, Richards School for Young Women Leaders in Austin ISD, Challenge Early College High School in Houston ISD, IDEA Frontier College Preparatory in Brownsville and IDEA Quest College Preparatory in Edinburg.
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These plans feature significantly higher deductibles—averaging around $7,500 nationally—and greater cost-sharing requirements. Families who once paid modest amounts after subsidies now face average premium increases of $65 or more per month, even as they accept plans that leave them responsible for thousands in upfront costs before meaningful coverage kicks in.
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Values alignment represents another growing concern. Government-influenced plans operate within a framework shaped by federal mandates and political priorities that may not reflect conservative principles of limited government, personal freedom, and ethical stewardship. Families who want to direct their healthcare dollars toward providers and benefits that honor traditional values sometimes find marketplace options feel misaligned, forcing a compromise between affordability and conviction.
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