Best Public Schools in Houston, TX

The Houston, Texas area is home to a diverse array of 749 schools, including 456 elementary schools, 140 middle schools, 131 high schools, and 22 alternative schools. These institutions serve students across a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds and academic abilities.

Among the standout schools in the region are Debakey H S For Health Prof, which ranked 32nd out of 1,987 Texas high schools and received a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. This magnet high school demonstrated exceptional performance, with 90-100% of students proficient in core subjects like Algebra I, Biology, and English. Another high-achieving institution is Memorial High School, which ranked 150th statewide and also earned a 5-star rating, with 84-94% of students meeting academic standards across the board. In contrast, several schools, including Sharpstown High School, Wisdom High School, and Houston Math Science And Technology Center, stood out for their low performance, with proficiency rates well below the state and district averages.

The data reveals significant disparities in academic achievement across the Houston Independent School District (Isd) and surrounding areas, with graduation rates ranging from 78.4% to 97.2% and test scores varying greatly by school. These gaps often emerge as early as 3rd grade, underscoring the critical importance of a strong elementary school foundation. While the top-ranked schools tend to be charter or magnet programs, the data suggests that addressing these inequities will require a multifaceted approach targeting funding, curriculum, teacher quality, and other key drivers of student success.