Online media service Stacker recently released a list of 30 high schools in the state of Texas that “stand out [among the thousands of schools] for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.”

South Texas Independent School District’s (STISD) Science Academy earned the 15th spot on the list, reflecting its position on the Niche 2023 Best Public High Schools ranking released earlier this school year.

Stacker compiled this list using 2023 rankings from Niche, which focuses on eight weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics and grades, but other factors include culture and diversity, health and safety, clubs and activities, resources, and surveys of parents, teachers and students.

As explained on its website, Stacker’s newsroom complements existing local coverage around the country. [They] produce national and local stories that contextualize today's biggest news and bring the world's most compelling data sets to life. The list of Stacker’s best public high schools, according to Niche, has been covered by Texas media, including KXAN in Austin.

In the full Niche 2023 Best Schools K-12 School & District Rankings, STISD and its campuses ranked among the best in the state and nation for the ninth year in a row.

With an A+ overall grade, STISD ranked 2nd in Texas (out of 1,018 school districts ranked) and 38th in the nation (out of 10,751 districts ranked) in the Best School Districts rankings. For the second year in a row, the district also earned the top spots in the state in the Best Places to Teach in Texas and the Districts with the Best Teachers in Texas. STISD also ranked 6th out of 11,687 districts ranked in the Districts with the Best Teachers in America. 

STISD’s two middle schools earned the top two spots in the Best Public Middle School Teachers in Texas category and spots in the top 6 in the Best Public Middle Schools in Texas. South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy (Preparatory Academy) in Edinburg ranked fifth in the Best Public Middle Schools in Texas (out of 2,212 schools ranked) and second in Best Public Middle School Teachers in Texas (out of 2,157). South Texas ISD Rising Scholars Academy (Rising Scholars) in San Benito earned first place in the Best Public Middle School Teachers in Texas category and sixth in the Best Public Middle Schools in Texas. Both campuses received an A+ overall Niche grade. In the Best Public Middle School Teachers in America, Rising Scholars ranked 8th and Preparatory Academy ranked 15th out of 24,682 schools ranked. In the Best Public Middle Schools in America category, Preparatory Academy ranked 47th and Rising Scholars ranked 51st out of 25,154 schools ranked. In the Best Public Middle Schools in their counties – Hidalgo and Cameron – both campuses also claimed the number one spot. 

All four STISD high schools also ranked among the top in the state and nation in the 2023 Best Public High Schools lists again this year. South Texas ISD Science Academy (Science Academy) in Mercedes ranked 15th in the state (out of 1,808) and 208th in the nation (out of 20,032) and received an A+ overall grade. The campus claimed first place in the Best Public High Schools in Hidalgo County. South Texas ISD Health Professions (Health Professions) in Mercedes ranked 116th in the state and 2nd in Hidalgo County, and received an A. South Texas ISD Medical Professions (Medical Professions) in Olmito ranked 161st in the state, 2nd in Best Public High Schools in Cameron County, and received an A. South Texas ISD World Scholars (World Scholars) in Edinburg ranked 138th in the state, 3rd in Hidalgo County, and received an A.

These are only a few of the categories by which Niche ranked campuses and districts. The following are links to access the detailed lists of district and campus rankings:

South Texas Independent School District: https://www.niche.com/k12/d/south-texas-independent-school-district-tx/rankings/

South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy: https://www.niche.com/k12/south-texas-isd-preparatory-academy-edinburg-tx/rankings/

South Texas ISD Rising Scholars Academy: https://www.niche.com/k12/south-texas-isd-rising-scholars-academy-san-benito-tx/rankings/

South Texas ISD Health Professions: https://www.niche.com/k12/south-texas-isd-health-professions-mercedes-tx/rankings/

South Texas ISD Medical Professions: https://www.niche.com/k12/south-texas-isd-medical-professions-olmito-tx/rankings/

South Texas ISD Science Academy: https://www.niche.com/k12/south-texas-isd-science-academy-mercedes-tx/rankings/

South Texas ISD World Scholars: https://www.niche.com/k12/south-texas-isd-world-scholars-edinburg-tx/rankings/

According to the company website, Niche has the most comprehensive data on U.S. schools and neighborhoods. They rigorously analyze dozens of public data sets and over 100 million reviews and survey responses to help Niche visitors understand what a place is really like.

Additional information on the methodology used for the grading and ranking is available on the Niche website here: https://k12.niche.com/rankings/methodology/. 

About STISD

South Texas ISD is a state- and nationally-recognized public school district offering tuition-free college- and career-preparation to students in grades 6-12 from Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy Counties.

The open-enrollment, all-magnet district is comprised of seven secondary campuses within the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, including four high schools – South Texas ISD Health Professions in Mercedes, South Texas ISD Medical Professions in Olmito, South Texas ISD Science Academy in Mercedes, and South Texas ISD World Scholars in Edinburg; two middle schools – South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy in Edinburg and South Texas ISD Rising Scholars Academy in San Benito; and one virtual campus, South Texas ISD Virtual Academy, now in its second year, through which students in grades 6-10 (and eventually grades 6-12) can learn 100 percent from home.

For additional information, call 1-800-21STUDY or visit www.stisd.net.