Best High Schools in Zip Code 78224

Zip code 78224 in San Antonio, Texas, is home to four high schools serving 3,013 students across a mix of traditional public, charter, early college, and alternative models, with a significant portion of students coming from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The standout school in this area is Frank L Madla Early College High School, which ranks in the 85th percentile statewide and earns a 4-star rating. It dramatically outperforms both district and state averages on all STAAR exams, with 91.67% proficiency in U.S. History and 83.33% in English II, while maintaining a 98% graduation rate and a 0% dropout rate. Idea Ewing Halsell College Preparatory is the second-highest ranked school (44th percentile) and shows strong results in Biology (72.41% proficient) and U.S. History (80% proficient). In contrast, South San Antonio High School, the largest school with 2,190 students, serves a population with 89.63% economic disadvantage and consistently scores below state averages, ranking in the bottom 26th percentile. The Alternative School serves a high-needs population of 62 students and, while its test scores are critically low, it reports a 0% dropout rate, indicating success in retaining at-risk students.

A key takeaway is that the early college model at Madla is highly effective, achieving exceptional results despite 50% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch. Notably, per-student spending is nearly identical across schools (ranging from $9,554 to $9,937), yet outcomes vary widely, suggesting that school model and leadership matter more than funding alone. There is also a clear disparity between the two schools in South San Antonio Independent School District (Isd), which show low performance, and the charter schools from Idea Public Schools and New Frontiers Public Schools Inc, which demonstrate significantly better academic results.