Washington Post High School Challenge
Thirty-three HISD high schools earned recognition in the
Washington Post High School Challenge, a list of 1,900
schools representing the top 9 percent in the nation
when it comes to preparing graduates for college.
Only 146 Texas high schools made the list, and HISD
campuses — Carnegie Vanguard, Eastwood Academy,
High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal
Justice, and DeBakey High School for Health
Professions — represent four of the national top 100.
The Houston Independent School District is the largest school district in Texas and the seventh-largest in the United States with 276
schools and more than 203,000 students. The 301-square-mile district is one of the largest employers in the Houston metropolitan area
with nearly 30,000 employees.
Washington Post High School Challenge
Rank
Ranked within
the top 100
Schools nationally
School Name
Rank
School Name
13
Carnegie Vanguard
1,088
Wheatley
50
Eastwood Academy
1,089
Chavez
1,133
Davis
1,140
Lee
1,155
Jordan
1,200
Sam Houston
1,277
Reagan
1,304
Waltrip
1,333
Washington
1,410
Austin
1,540
Worthing
1,570
Jones
1,581
Kashmere
1,708
Mt. Carmel
1,726
Madison
1,844
Sterling
79 High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal
Justice
99
DeBakey HS for Health Professions
136
High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
174
Furr
192
Houston Academy for International Studies
280
Lamar
332
Challenge Early HS
363
Bellaire
427
East Early College
514
Sharpstown
542
Westside
551
North Houston Early College
655
Westbury
736
Scarborough
953
Milby
The Houston Independent School District is the largest school district in Texas and the seventh-largest in the United States with 276
schools and more than 203,000 students. The 301-square-mile district is one of the largest employers in the Houston metropolitan area
with nearly 30,000 employees.
HISD Claims Nearly One-Quarter
of top High Schools
HISD Highlights
33HISD high schools
made the top 9% nationally (best showing since 2010)
23%
HISD schools account for
of Texas campuses named to the list
AP scores by HISD students high enough to earn college credit
increased by
45% in 2012
The Houston Independent School District is the largest school district in Texas and the seventh-largest in the United States with 276
schools and more than 203,000 students. The 301-square-mile district is one of the largest employers in the Houston metropolitan area
with nearly 30,000 employees.
Equity and Access
Expansion in Number of AP Course Seats
In the past three years (2010-2012)
127%
HISD
127%
Houston ISD
127%
Rest of Texas
64%
Rest of the U.S.
57%
Texas
64%
US
57%
Achievement and Performance
Increase in Scores of 3 or Better on AP Exams
In the past three years (2010-2012)
51%
HISD
51%
Houston ISD
51%
Rest of Texas
31%
Rest of the U.S.
27%
Texas
31%
US
27%
Penetration
% of 2012 Students Participating in AP Courses
In the past three years (2010-2012)
54.2%
HISD
54.2%
Houston ISD
54.2%
Rest of Texas
35.5%
Rest of the U.S.
32.4%
Texas
35.5%
US
32.4%
Equity and Access
Students Scoring 3+ On at Least One AP Exam*
Other than Spanish Language
11.8%
HISD
11.8%
Houston ISD
11.8%
Rest of Texas
8.3%
Rest of the U.S.
7.6%
Texas
8.3%
US
7.6%