Two Austin public schools ranked among the 100 best high schools in the country in a new ranking by U.S. News & World Report
The Liberal Arts and Science Academy ranked No. 43 nationally and No. 5 in Texas, while the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders ranked No. 97 nationally and No. 10 statewide. Both schools are part of the Austin Independent School District
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U.S. News evaluated nearly 27,000 public high schools across all 50 states and the District of Columbia for its 2026-27 Best High Schools rankings. Nearly 18,000 schools received rankings based on six factors measuring academic performance and how well they prepare students for college
College readiness carried the most weight, accounting for 30% of a school’s overall score. The measure considers the proportion of 12th grade students who took and earned qualifying scores on Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams
State assessment proficiency and state assessment performance each accounted for 20% of a school’s score. U.S. News also considered how well underserved students performed, the breadth of college-level coursework available to students and graduation rates
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How Travis County schools performed in TEA’s accountability ratings
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LASA, a selective public magnet high school in Austin, received a 99.76 overall score from U.S. News. The school also ranked among the country’s top STEM and magnet high schools
Ann Richards, an all-girls college-preparatory school serving students in grades six through 12, received a 99.46 score. The school ranked among the country’s top magnet high schools
Texas had 11 schools ranked among the top 100 nationally
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The state’s highest-ranked campus was the School for the Talented and Gifted in Dallas, which ranked No. 8 in the country.Â
Central Magnet School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, took the top spot in the national rankings
