Round Rock School Named Tops In Texas

ROUND ROCK, TX — A Round Rock school secured the top ranking among high schools in Texas, according to national rankings compiled by U.S. News & World Report.

The magazine in its annual rankings named Meridian School, a public charter school at 2555 N. Interstate 35 in Round Rock, as the top Texas high school. Additionally, the school snagged the sixth spot in the national rankings, according to the magazine's reckoning.

The school supplanted the Liberal Arts and Science Academy that previously was deemed the top local school in the rankings last year. LASA still managed a respectable showing in the fifth ranking among Texas schools. Nationally, the magnet program at the Lyndon B. Johnson High School campus, moved up the national rankings to the 16th spot — up from the 27th spot last year.

All told, 21 schools in the Austin area from 15 distinct school districts and educational entities made it onto the national rankings — including six Austin ISD schools. Of the total schools in Austin making the national list, eight are charter schools and four are magnet programs.

Key to the methodology were four criteria: School performance as compared to the state average; academic performance among historically under-served students; levels of college preparation; and whether graduation rates were higher than 80 percent.

The magazine also awarded figurative medals in an Olympic-style designation. Eleven schools were awarded gold medals, 10 silver and two bronze. Overall, the state shared the No. 20 spot with Colorado in the state rankings.

To see the full U.S. News & World Report rankings, click here.

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