Best Public Schools in San Antonio, TX

San Antonio, Texas, is home to 516 schools serving students from elementary through high school, offering a diverse educational landscape that ranges from top-tier magnet and charter institutions to schools facing significant challenges, particularly in high-poverty areas.

Standout schools in the area include Health Careers High School (Northside ISD) and Basis San Antonio- Shavano Campus (Basis Texas), which consistently rank in the 99th percentile with near-perfect test scores and graduation rates above 98%. Other high performers include Reagan High School (North East ISD) and Robert G Cole Middle/High School (Ft Sam Houston ISD), both ranking in the 93rd-97th percentile. In contrast, schools like George Gervin Academy and Lanier High School (San Antonio ISD) struggle with low test scores and high dropout rates, often serving student populations with over 90% free/reduced lunch eligibility. Middle schools such as Lopez Middle (North East ISD) and Pieper Ranch Middle (Comal ISD) excel, while many others show a notable "middle school math dip" in 7th grade proficiency.

Key takeaways for parents include that higher per-student spending does not guarantee better outcomes—Southside High School spends $11,147 per student but ranks in the 30th percentile, while Johnson High School spends $7,587 and ranks in the 94th percentile. District performance varies widely; North East Independent School District (Isd) and Northside Independent School District (Isd) contain both top performers and struggling schools. Military-connected schools like Ft Sam Houston Elementary perform exceptionally well, while charter networks like Great Hearts Texas show mixed results across campuses.