Highland Park High School

Highland Park High School is a large, high-performing public high school in the affluent Park Cities area of Dallas, Texas, serving over 2,100 students in grades 9-12 as the sole high school for the top-ranked Highland Park Independent School District (Isd).

This school stands out for its consistent, elite-level academic performance across all subjects and student groups. With a nearly perfect graduation rate of 99.1% and a dropout rate of just 0.1%, HPHS achieves STAAR EOC proficiency rates that are dramatically higher than nearby schools. For example, in Biology, HPHS scores 97.3% compared to Woodrow Wilson High School's 64.7%, and in English I Reading, HPHS achieves 94.8% versus Hillcrest High School's 44.7%. The only nearby school with a comparable state ranking is Dr Wright L Lassiter Junior Early College High School, a small, selective magnet school with a very different model. While HPHS's Algebra I scores show some year-to-year fluctuation—dropping to 45% in 2023-2024 before rebounding to 82%—they remain far superior to neighboring schools like North Dallas High School (25.5%).

What truly sets HPHS apart is its exceptional support for all students. The school serves its Special Education students at the 98th percentile statewide, its Low Socio-Economic Status students at the 96th percentile, and its Hispanic students at the 97th percentile—all ranking in the top 5% of Texas. This remarkable equity in performance, where every subgroup achieves at an elite level, is a powerful indicator of strong, inclusive support systems and high instructional standards for every student. It demonstrates that HPHS is not just a good school for some, but a school that effectively serves a diverse range of learners, making it a standout choice in the Dallas area.