These North Texas public high schools are among nation’s best on U.S. News list
Some of the best public high schools in the country are located right here in North Texas.
U.S. News & World Report recently released its “best public high schools” list for the 2025-2026 school year, which saw three Dallas ISD schools make the top 25 ranking.
Each school’s performance was ranked by factors such as state testing and graduation rates, according to U.S. News. Here’s a look at what schools made the nationwide and statewide lists.
Best Texas high schools in the U.S.
Three Dallas ISD schools were the highest-ranked Texas schools on U.S. News’ national ranking.
Dallas’ the School for the Talented and Gifted is the highest-ranked Texas school on the nationwide list, at No. 9.
The school’s missions is to “provide an environment in which the unique worth, dignity, and abilities of each individual are not only recognized but cultivated and celebrated as well,” according to its website.
Some of the school’s graduates have gone on to attend Harvard University, Stanford University, Yale University, Colombia University and many more.
Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School came in 15th place on the ranking.
The school is part of the Young Women’s Preparatory Network nonprofit and primarily focuses on STEM curriculum, according to its website. Core values for the school are leadership, college readiness and wellness life skills.
Finally, the School of Science and Engineering ranked 23rd on the list.
The school is a college preparatory program that aims to provide a “world-class education” with an accelerated STEM focus, according to its website. Both the School of Science and Engineering and School for the Talented and Gifted are both located in the same building at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center.
Best public high schools in Texas
The three Dallas schools mentioned above were the top three schools on U.S. News’ best high schools in Texas list. Here’s a look at which other schools made the top 10:
- School for the Talented and Gifted (Dallas)
- Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School (Dallas)
- School of Science and Engineering (Dallas)
- Liberal Arts and Science Academy (Austin)
- Carnegie Vanguard High School (Houston)
- Grand Prairie Collegiate Institute (Grand Prairie)
- BASIS San Antonio- Shavano Campus (San Antonio)
- DeBakey High School for Health Professions (Houston)
- Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet (Dallas)
- Talkington School for Young Women Leaders (Lubbock)
To see how Fort Worth ISD’s schools fared on U.S. News & World Report’s list, click here.
This story was originally published August 22, 2025 at 1:28 PM.
