STISD and Campuses Rank Among Best in Niche Best Schools Rankings for Seventh Consecutive Year

Niche released its 2021 Best Schools K-12 School & District Rankings last week, and for the seventh year in a row, South Texas Independent School District (STISD) and its campuses ranked among the best in the state and nation.

With an A+ overall grade, STISD ranked 3^rd in Texas (out of 1,019 school districts ranked) and 37^th in the nation (out of 10,760 districts ranked) in the Best School Districts rankings. The district also earned the top spot in the state in the Best Places to Teach in Texas, and second in Districts with the Best Teachers in Texas.  

All six STISD campuses were ranked among the best in the state and nation in the 2021 Niche K-12 Schools lists, which grade and rank schools and districts based upon criteria ranging from academics to culture and teachers.

STISD’s two middle schools earned the top two spots in the Best Public Middle Schools in Texas and Best Public Middle School Teachers in Texas categories. South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy (Preparatory Academy) in Edinburg ranked first in the Best Public Middle Schools in Texas (out of 2,215 schools ranked) and second in Best Public Middle School Teachers in Texas (out of 2,131). South Texas ISD Rising Scholars Academy (Rising Scholars) in San Benito earned first place in the Best Public Middle School Teachers in Texas category and second in the Best Public Middle Schools in Texas. Both campuses received an A+ overall Niche grade. In the Best Public Middle School Teachers in America, Rising Scholars ranked 13^th and Preparatory Academy ranked 53^rd out of 24,386 schools ranked. In the Best Public Middle Schools in America category, Preparatory Academy ranked 47^th and Rising Scholars ranked 53^rd out of 25,220 schools ranked. 

All four STISD high schools also ranked among the top in the state and nation in the 2021 Best Public High Schools lists again this year. South Texas ISD Science Academy (Science Academy) in Mercedes ranked 10^th in the state (out of 1,729) and 139^th in the nation (out of 19,532) and received an A+ overall grade. South Texas ISD Medical Professions (Medical Professions) in Olmito ranked 93^rd in the state and received an A, while South Texas ISD Health Professions (Health Professions) in Mercedes ranked 96^th in the state and received an A, and South Texas ISD World Scholars (World Scholars) in Edinburg ranked 126^th in the state and received an A. All four high schools ranked among the top 20 in the state in the Best Magnet High Schools, with Science Academy ranking 6^th, Medical Professions ranking 14^th, Health Professions ranking 15^th, and World Scholars ranking 19^th. 

These are only a few of the categories by which Niche ranked campuses and districts. The following are links to access the detailed lists of district and campus rankings:

South Texas Independent School District: https://www.niche.com/k12/d/south-texas-independent-school-district-tx/rankings/

South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy: https://www.niche.com/k12/south-texas-preparatory-academy-edinburg-tx/

South Texas ISD Rising Scholars Academy: https://www.niche.com/k12/rising-scholars-academy-of-south-texas-san-benito-tx/

South Texas ISD Health Professions: https://www.niche.com/k12/south-texas-high-school-for-health-professions-mercedes-tx/

South Texas ISD Medical Professions: https://www.niche.com/k12/south-texas-academy-for-medical-professions-olmito-tx/

South Texas ISD Science Academy: https://www.niche.com/k12/the-science-academy-of-south-texas-mercedes-tx/

South Texas ISD World Scholars: https://www.niche.com/k12/south-texas-business-education--and--technology-academy-edinburg-tx/

According to the company website, Niche has the most comprehensive data on U.S. schools and neighborhoods. The company rigorously analyzes dozens of public data sets and over 100 million reviews and survey responses to help people understand what a place is really like. 

Additional information on the methodology used for the grading and ranking is available on the Niche website here: https://k12.niche.com/rankings/methodology/.