top tier education

Astounding Austin high school ranks among America's best in 2024, says U.S. News

Austin is home to one of the highest-ranked schools in the country.

One Austin high school is dominating U.S. News and World Report's prestigious annual list of the country's best public high schools.

The 2024 rankings from U.S. News, released April 23, put Austin ISD’s Liberal Arts and Science Academy at No. 38 nationally (down from No. 32 last year and No. 34 in 2022) among the country’s best high schools. The school also ranks No. 52 nationally among the best STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) high schools (down from No. 34 last year and No. 70 in 2022).

Topping the national list for 2024 is the BASIS Peoria Charter School in Peoria, Arizona.

Each year, U.S. News evaluates about 18,000 high schools on six factors: college readiness, reading and math proficiency, reading and math performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth, and graduation rates.

“The 2024 Best High Schools rankings offer a starting point for parents to understand a school’s academic performance, whether it’s a prospective school or one that their child is already attending,” said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., the managing editor of education at U.S. News, in a release. “Accessible data on our high schools can empower families across the country as they navigate today’s educational environment and plan for the future.”

Elsewhere in Texas
Around the state, these Texas high schools also made it into the top 100 nationally:

Dallas ISD's The School for the Talented and Gifted, No. 6 (unchanged from last year). No. 21 nationally among the best STEM high schools, and No. 3 among the best magnet high schools.
Dallas ISD's Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School, No. 23 (down from No. 18 last year) and No. 10 nationally among the best magnet high schools.
Dallas ISD's Science and Engineering Magnet School, No. 29 nationally among the best high schools (down from No. 23 last year), No. 37 nationally among the best STEM high schools, and No. 11 nationally among the best magnet high schools.
Grand Prairie ISD's Collegiate Institute, No. 30 (up from No. 188 last year). No. 6 nationally among best charter high schools.
Houston ISD’s Carnegie Vanguard High School, No. 31 (up from No. 35 last year and No. 40 in 2022). No. 12 nationally among the best magnet high schools and No. 228 among best STEM high schools.
BASIS San Antonio - Shavano Campus, No. 64 (up from No. 81 last year and No. 77 in 2022). No. 76 nationally among the best STEM high schools and No. 13 nationally among the best charter high schools.
Houston ISD’s DeBakey High School for Health Professions, No. 70 (down from No. 66 last year and No. 50 in 2022). No. 19 nationally among the best magnet high schools and No. 426 among best STEM high schools.
Brownsville ISD's Early College High School, No. 71 (up from No. 229 last year).
Dallas ISD’s Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet, No. 85 (up from No. 93 last year and No. 48 in 2022) . No. 21 nationally among the best magnet high schools.

Among just the Texas schools, Austin's Liberal Arts and Science Academy (No. 6) ranked within the top 10 best-rated public high schools this year, U.S. News says.

Other Austin-area schools that rank among Texas' top 100 best are:

No. 15 – Richards School for Young Women Leaders, Austin ISD
No. 22 – IDEA Rundberg College Preparatory, Austin
No. 44 – Meridian School, Round Rock
No. 45 – Chaparral Star Academy, Austin
No. 53 – Westlake High School, Eanes ISD, Austin
No. 74 – Westwood High School, Round Rock ISD, Austin
No. 79 – IDEA Montopolis College Preparatory, Austin
No. 94 – Harmony School of Endeavor Austin, Austin
No. 96 – Vandegrift High School, Leander ISD, Austin

us news & world report high schools rankings austin

Hit the Road

Austin City Council passes resolution over MoPac expansion concerns

Photo courtesy of KVUE

The City Council has taken issue with some environmental concerns and planning that may be outdated.

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) has been looking to make improvements on MoPac Expressway South from Cesar Chavez Street to Slaughter Lane to try to improve traffic. It is looking to add up to four express toll lanes.

But the Austin City Council recently passed a resolution over its concerns with the project.

“[The resolution] tells the city manager to work with the CTRMA on the MoPac South Project. When you see state money being spent on projects that affect the local community, we want to make sure we are holding the highest standard possible," Councilmember Paige Ellis said.

Some of the concerns listed in the resolution include that it's been more than 11 years since CTRMA held its original scoping meeting; that the Recommended Build Alternative has not changed substantially since 2015; and that fine particulate matter in the air in Travis County already exceeds healthy metrics; plus others.

Ellis said she has some environmental concerns.

"The environment is protected for species like the golden cheeked warbler and salamanders, so we want to make we are sure limiting impervious cover," Ellis said.

The CTRMA said its environmental study evaluates potential harms and mitigations to things like water quality and endangered species. The CTRMA added that it has "worked extensively with the city of Austin throughout the study."

Read the full story, including information on how to submit feedback, and watch the video at KVUE.com. CultureMap has added a paragraph to this excerpt listing some details from the City Council document.