Two schools in the Dallas Independent School District School (Dallas ISD) have achieved top spots on the 2017 Best High Schools national rankings, according to the U.S. News & World Report. Dallas ISD’s School for the Talented and Gifted at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center (TAG) has been named the best high school in Texas and No. 4 in the nation.
TAG shares the national top 10 honors with the School of Science and Engineering (SEM) at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center, which placed No. 9 nationally and No. 3 in the state. In total, seven Dallas ISD schools received gold medals and were named in the magazine’s Texas Best High Schools rankings.
TAG is a perennial member of the top 10 schools nationally. Ben Mackey, TAG principal, believes the annual recognition has helped encourage high student achievement.
“While we appreciate the rankings and the attention that it brings, what really drives us is the work we’re doing at TAG and across Dallas ISD to increase equity and access for all students,” Mackey said.
He noted that TAG is proud to see the growth in the number of students from low income families who are contributing to maintaining the school’s high achievement rates. In the last four years, Mackey said TAG’s student population has increased from 26 percent low socioeconomic status to what he anticipates will be more than 40 percent in the fall.
“When you look at the student populations on the top ten there are two schools that stand out, and that’s TAG and SEM,” said Mackey. “We’re proud of the progress we’ve made so far and are excited to continue driving forward by providing high-quality education.”
The following schools earned the “gold medal” designation for demonstrating the highest college readiness, placing them among the top in Texas and in the nation. (** denotes the school is housed at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center):
- School for the Talented and Gifted** – No. 1 in Texas (No. 4 nationally)
- School of Science and Engineering ** – No. 3 in Texas (No. 9 nationally)
- Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts – No. 13 in Texas (No. 92 nationally)
- Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School – No.17 in Texas (No. 99 nationally)
- Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet** – No.40 in Texas (No. 232 nationally)
- Rosie M. Collins Sorrells School of Education and Social Services** – No.44 in Texas (No. 259 nationally)
- School of Health Professions** – No. 50 in Texas (No.310 nationally)
- School of Business and Management** – No. 52 in Texas (No. 336 nationally)
