Houston's Top High Schools - Ranked by SAT's (2012 scores) (Bellaire: rankings, best)

[bu2]

Originally Posted by swopoe

No, the best option is to avoid A&M or UT all together. Because of the top 10% rule, and even if my kids end up in the top 10%, I want them to avoid these schools on principle. Then again, we have plenty of time before high school, my husband and I are not Texans, and did not go to Texas schools. The top 10% angers me so much, and there are so many other schools out there anyway. Why bother?

As the President of UT once said, Its the University of Texas, not the University of 20 suburban districts in Houston, Dallas, Ft. Worth, San Antonio and Austin.

Having some geographic diversity is a good thing. There's more to Texas than Sugar Land, Plano, Westlake and Northside San Antonio.

[Houston parent]

"The top 10% angers me so much, and there are so many other schools out there anyway. Why bother?"

The primary reason would be the significant difference in tuition between in-state at A&M/UT or out of state at Florida, Georgia Tech, a UC school etc., or the even worse difference between that and private university tuition. Of course there are ways to minimize the difference, like scholarships or serving in the national guard to get in-state tuition. Furthermore, there may be some particular field of study or extracurricular activity/sport that draws them to one of those two schools.

[JL]

Didn't realize George Ranch HS had high SAT scores... a surprise...i used to think Richmond/Rosenberg schools were subpar.

[Houston parent]

"Having some geographic diversity is a good thing."

Sure, but its not a good tradeoff if it means you admit large numbers of less qualified kids and drive well qualified kids away. Schools like Georgia, Florida, Georgia Tech are pulling in surprisingly large numbers of good students from Texas who are being forced out by that stupid rule. Meanwhile, the average SAT score for the incoming classes at A&M and UT could probably be 70-100 points higher (on a 1600 point scale) if they abolished the 10% rule. That, combined with the higher dropout rates for unprepared auto-admits, results in lower rankings in publications like USNWR. Its a lose-lose for the two schools and for thousands of Texas kids every year.

[swopoe]

Yes, University of Texas. I get that. I am from Maryland, and my husband is from Pennsylvania, and both UMD and Penn State pull qualified, diverse students from all over those states without a ten percent rule. The rule does a disservice to Texas' students and to the school. Just my opinion. I went to a small liberal arts college for undergrad (majored in a hard science), and I advocate that over a large state university if possible, though. But that is not the topic of this post.

In any case, if the rule is still in effect when the time comes, I am going to pull for my kids to go out of state, or at least a school that doesn't use a 10% admit rule.

[locotl]

Originally Posted by bu2

That Merit scholar list is pretty sad. Bellaire-25, DeBakey-16, Vangaurd-10, HSPVA-4, Lamar-3, Westside-2, rest of HISD-0.
Madison had 6 back in the 70s and Bellaire, Lamar, Lee, Sharpstown and Westbury undoubtedly had more. Other than the magnets and Bellaire there are 5 total for 20+ high schools.

Friendswood has 11 this year

[bu2]

Originally Posted by swopoe

Yes, University of Texas. I get that. I am from Maryland, and my husband is from Pennsylvania, and both UMD and Penn State pull qualified, diverse students from all over those states without a ten percent rule. The rule does a disservice to Texas' students and to the school. Just my opinion. I went to a small liberal arts college for undergrad (majored in a hard science), and I advocate that over a large state university if possible, though. But that is not the topic of this post.

In any case, if the rule is still in effect when the time comes, I am going to pull for my kids to go out of state, or at least a school that doesn't use a 10% admit rule.

UT was becoming too homogenous as a bunch of serious white (and Asian) Republican leaning conservative kids from the suburbs. I say that as someone who fit that category. That diversity is part of what makes it higher education. I went to a going away party a few years ago for some friends. It was at one of their friends houses and there were a number of international co-workers there. The host had a sticker on her refrigerator, "friends don't let friends vote Republican." I think our departing friends and us were the only Republicans there. But it was refreshing and stimulating. It was like school. As we get out of school we tend to group with people who think like us through friendships and our choice of profession. Its easier to do that these days. And I think the lack of understanding in our two political parties reflects that.

I think its a good policy. And its really not that different from the past. In ancient history when I went to UT, if you were in the top 10%, you basically just had to sign your name to the SAT to get a high enough score to get in. That's only changed as UT started working to keep its enrollment around 50k.

Its tough if your kid is not in the top 10%. And I have a lot of friends in that position. Many are looking at out of state schools. What we really need to do is get Houston, UTD and Texas Tech to be better alternatives.

Note that it is easier to get in if you go to JC first. And I think Texas still has the UT-Arlington 1st 2 years option, but I'm not sure about that.

If you are thinking about changing high schools to get in the top 10% (as I've seen on another thread), I think you are missing the point. I had a friend whose Mom was a teacher who did an M&M transfer in Junior High to my school, but moved back to Woodson/Worthing in 9th grade so he would be higher in class rank. You ought to get as good as you can in high school to get you ready. Once you get to college, you can get a great education at many schools and miss it at great schools. Its very much up to you.

[usc619]

Originally Posted by bu2

UT was becoming too homogenous as a bunch of serious white (and Asian) Republican leaning conservative kids from the suburbs. I say that as someone who fit that category. That diversity is part of what makes it higher education. I went to a going away party a few years ago for some friends. It was at one of their friends houses and there were a number of international co-workers there. The host had a sticker on her refrigerator, "friends don't let friends vote Republican." I think our departing friends and us were the only Republicans there. But it was refreshing and stimulating. It was like school. As we get out of school we tend to group with people who think like us through friendships and our choice of profession. Its easier to do that these days. And I think the lack of understanding in our two political parties reflects that.

I think its a good policy. And its really not that different from the past. In ancient history when I went to UT, if you were in the top 10%, you basically just had to sign your name to the SAT to get a high enough score to get in. That's only changed as UT started working to keep its enrollment around 50k.

Its tough if your kid is not in the top 10%. And I have a lot of friends in that position. Many are looking at out of state schools. What we really need to do is get Houston, UTD and Texas Tech to be better alternatives.

Note that it is easier to get in if you go to JC first. And I think Texas still has the UT-Arlington 1st 2 years option, but I'm not sure about that.

If you are thinking about changing high schools to get in the top 10% (as I've seen on another thread), I think you are missing the point. I had a friend whose Mom was a teacher who did an M&M transfer in Junior High to my school, but moved back to Woodson/Worthing in 9th grade so he would be higher in class rank. You ought to get as good as you can in high school to get you ready. Once you get to college, you can get a great education at many schools and miss it at great schools. Its very much up to you.

Well said, I couldn't agree more

[nana053]

Originally Posted by locotl

Friendswood has 11 this year

Thirteen Pearland Independent School District students are competing as semifinalists in the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Over the past five years, Pearland ISD has witnessed an increase in National Merit semifinalists and finalists. This year marks the greatest achievement yet with 13 semifinalists:
2012-13: 11 semifinalists and 11 finalists
2011-12: 6 semifinalists and 6 finalists
2010-11: 7 semifinalists and 6 finalists
2009-10: 3 semifinalists and 2 finalists

[Jonathz]

FBISD has 69 National Merit Semifinalists Named in 2014, and 48 in 2013

FBISD’s 2013 National Merit Finalists Named
FORT BEND ISD – The Fort Bend Independent School District is proud to announce the names of 47 FBISD students who have been named finalists in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program. To put that number in perspective, Fort Bend ISD has one of the highest percentages of National Merit Finalists among the larger school districts in Texas.

Sixty-Nine FBISD 2014 National Merit Semifinalists Named
Forty-eight-FBISD-2013-National-Merit-Semifinalists-Named


According to the article, Clements High School has the most, followed by Austin High School and Dulles High School in the Fort Bend ISD