The Best High Schools in East Texas? The New Rankings Are Out

Every year, the U.S. News and World Report issues their rankings of the approximately 25,000 public high schools in America.

The Methodology

1. College Readiness 30%

   The proportions of 12th graders who took and earned a qualifying score on at least one AP or IB exam. Earning a qualifying score is worth three times more than just taking.

2. State Assessment Proficiency 20%

   Aggregated scores on state assessments that students may be required to pass for graduation.

3. State Assessment Performance 20%

   How aggregated scores on state assessments compare with U.S. News' expectations given the proportions of students who are Black, Hispanic and from low-income households.

4. Underserved Student Performance 10%

   Scores on state assessments aggregated just among students who are Black, Hispanic and from low-income households. These scores are compared with what is typical in the state for non-undeserved students, with parity or higher being the goal.

5. College Curriculum Breadth 10%

   The proportions of 12th graders who took and earned a qualifying score on AP and IB exams in multiple areas. More exams are valued more than fewer exams up to a maximum of four. Earning a qualifying score on an exam is worth three times more than taking.

6. Graduation Rate 10%

   The proportion of entering ninth graders who graduated four academic years later.

In Texas, there were a total of 2,144 public high schools that were either given a numbered ranking or due to lack of data or other reasons, they were considered unranked. 1,532 received a ranking.

Tops in the Pineywoods is...

Four schools in Deep East Texas were ranked in the top 20% statewide (out of 2,144 high schools considered), they included Hudson High School (277), followed by Cushing (380), Latexo (383), and Lufkin (423).

A Look at the Rankings

• Hudson - 277
• Cushing - 380
• Latexo - 383
• Lufkin - 423
• Onalaska - 601
• Colmesneil - 705
• PCA - 729
• Lovelady - 743
• Brookeland - 769
• Diboll - 783
• Woden 807
• Crockett - 831
• Douglass - 833
• Shelbyville - 888
• Groveton - 889
• Coldspring - Oakhurst - 895
• Nacogdoches - 909
• Central Heights - 919
• Central - 928
• Tenaha - 932
• Timpson - 951
• Alto - 981
• Corrigan-Camden - 998
• Woodville - 1019
• Zavalla - 1038
• Broaddus - 1053
• Center 1062
• Shepherd - 1079
• Chireno - 1080
• Rusk - 1098
• Garrison - 1111
• Livingston - 1116
• West Sabine - 1127
• Mt. Enterprise - 1152
• Huntington - 1181
• Big Sandy - 1194
• Warren - 1204
• Kennard - 1,258-1,532nd
• Leggett - 1,258-1,532nd
• Trinity - 1,258-1,532nd
• San Augustine - 1,258-1,532nd
• Hemphill - 1,258-1,532nd
• Martinsville - 1,258-1,532nd
• Jasper - 1,258-1,532nd
• Centerville - unranked
• Apple Springs - unranked
• Chester - unranked
• Wells - unranked

Schools Making the Top 20% in the Tyler/Longview Area

• Tyler ISD Early College High School - 79
• Lindale - 253
• Martins Mill - 274
• Canton - 301
• Whitehouse - 314
• White Oak - 315
• Spring Hill - 325
• Longview - 328
• Hallsville - 378
• Gilmer - 382
• UT Tyler University Academy - 390
• Carthage - 406
• Tyler Legacy - 428

Best of the Best

The top overall high school in Texas is the School for the Talented and Gifted (Dallas ISD), which ranked 6th nationally.

The top overall high school nationwide is The Early College at Guilford in Greensboro, North Carolina.