How strong are the public high schools in Dallas?
With a fresh school year kicking off, we analyzed newly released data from Niche.com, which incorporates comprehensive report cards, rankings and reviews to help you choose the right school, to identify those schools that made the biggest strides last year, as well as those that top the city's best public high school rankings.
A. Maceo Smith New Tech High School's overall rating improved the most among its peers in Dallas, rising from a C+ to a B, according to data from Niche.
For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 3030 Stag Road, enrolls 394 students. A. Maceo Smith New Tech High School serves a fairly diverse population: 73% of students identify as Hispanic and 24% identify as black. Niche gave the school mixed grades: B- on an A-D scale for academics, B for administration and C+ for clubs and activities.
The overall ranking comes from Niche's proprietary algorithms. A school's ranking might change due to many factors, including the relative rankings of similar schools and whether a school gained or lost peers due to openings or closings. Other numbers come from current public data from the U.S. government.
Academically, 87% of A. Maceo Smith New Tech High School's students scored proficient or above in math, and 67% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 78% in math and 62% in reading. The school's improved rating is notable since it serves a less-affluent population, with 92% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, 13% more than the city average.
It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. H. Grady Spruce High School saw its overall rating jump from a C- to a C. The school is located at 9733 Old Seagoville Road and is much larger, currently serving 1,767 students, of whom 79% identify as Hispanic and 19% identify as black.
Niche gave H. Grady Spruce High School mixed grades: C on an A-D scale for academics, C+ for administration and C for clubs and activities. The school's latest math proficiency was 81%, and reading proficiency was 37%. It also serves a less-affluent population, with 88% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
Thomas Jefferson High School also improved, from a C- to a C. The school is located at 4001 Walnut Hill Lane and has 1,702 students currently enrolled.
Niche gave Thomas Jefferson High School mixed grades — C on an A-D scale for academics, C- for administration and B- for clubs and activities. Its latest math proficiency was 72%, and reading proficiency was 45%. The school has 82% of its students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
While some public high schools are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including:
- Highland Park High School, with an overall rating of A+.
- Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, with an A+ rating overall.
- School of Science & Engineering, rated A+ overall.
This story was created automatically using data from Niche.com, then reviewed by an editor before publication. Click here for more about how and why Hoodline is automating local news. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.
