top tier education

3 Dallas high schools rank among America's best in 2024, says U.S. News

Dallas is home to three of the highest-ranked schools in the country.

Three Dallas high schools are dominating U.S. News and World Report's prestigious annual list of the country's best public high schools. One has maintained its standing as the best in Texas.

The 2024 rankings from U.S. News, released April 23, put Dallas ISD’s School for the Talented and Gifted at No. 6 nationally among the country’s best high schools, for the second year in a row. The school also ranks No. 21 nationally among the best STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) high schools (down from No. 8 in 2023) and No. 3 among the best magnet high schools (down from No. 2 in 2023).

Meanwhile, Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School ranks No. 23 nationally among the best high schools (down from No. 18 last year) and No. 10 nationally among the best magnet high schools (down from No. 8 in 2023).

Science and Engineering Magnet School comes in No. 29 nationally among the best high schools (down from No. 23 last year and No. 22 in 2022), No. 37 nationally among the best STEM high schools (down from No. 24 last year and No. 7 in 2022), and No. 11 nationally among the best magnet high schools (down from No. 2 in 2023 and No. 10 in 2022).

Topping the national list for 2024 is the BASIS Peoria Charter School in Peoria, Arizona.

Each year, U.S. News evaluates about 18,000 high schools on six factors: college readiness, reading and math proficiency, reading and math performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth, and graduation rates.

“The 2024 Best High Schools rankings offer a starting point for parents to understand a school’s academic performance, whether it’s a prospective school or one that their child is already attending,” said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., the managing editor of education at U.S. News, in a release. “Accessible data on our high schools can empower families across the country as they navigate today’s educational environment and plan for the future.”

Elsewhere in Texas
Around the state, these Texas high schools also made it into the top 100 nationally (including two more North Texas schools):

Grand Prairie ISD's Collegiate Institute, No. 30 (up from No. 188 last year). No. 6 nationally among best charter high schools.
Houston ISD’s Carnegie Vanguard High School, No. 31 (up from No. 35 last year and No. 40 in 2022). No. 12 nationally among the best magnet high schools and No. 228 among best STEM high schools.
Austin ISD’s Liberal Arts and Science Academy, No. 38 (down from No. 32 last year and No. 34 in 2022). No. 34 nationally among the best STEM high schools.
BASIS San Antonio - Shavano Campus, No. 64 (up from No. 81 last year and No. 77 in 2022). No. 76 nationally among the best STEM high schools and No. 13 nationally among the best charter high schools.
Houston ISD’s DeBakey High School for Health Professions, No. 70 (down from No. 66 last year and No. 50 in 2022). No. 19 nationally among the best magnet high schools and No. 426 among best STEM high schools.
Brownsville ISD's Early College High School, No. 71 (up from No. 229 last year).
Dallas ISD’s Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet, No. 85 (up from No. 93 last year and No. 48 in 2022) . No. 21 nationally among the best magnet high schools.

When broken down just to Texas schools, Dallas' School for the Talented and Gifted, Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School, and Science and Engineering Magnet School are the top-rated public high schools in Texas this year, U.S. News says. Grand Prairie Collegiate Institute follows right behind as the No. 4 best high school in Texas.

Other Dallas-Fort Worth schools that rank among Texas' 100 best are:

No. 17 – Westlake Academy, Westlake
No. 18 – Imagine International Academy of North Texas, McKinney
No. 21 – Trinidad Garza Early College at Mt. View, Dallas ISD
No. 27 – School of Health Professions, Dallas ISD
No. 28 – World Languages Institute, Fort Worth
No. 30 – Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy, Grand Prairie ISD
No. 31 – Uplift Education-North Hills Prep High School, Uplift Education School District, Irving
No. 36 – School of Business and Management, Dallas ISD
No. 39 – Young Women's Leadership Academy, Fort Worth ISD
No. 43 – Booker T. Washington SPVA, Dallas ISD
No. 46 – Highland Park High School, Highland Park ISD
No. 49 – Independence High School, Frisco ISD
No. 51 – Rosie Sorrells Education and Social Services High School, Dallas ISD
No. 55 – Lovejoy High School, Lovejoy ISD, Lucas
No. 56 – Liberty High School, Frisco ISD
No. 57 – Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy, Dallas ISD
No. 58 – Reedy High School, Frisco ISD
No. 60 – Cedar Hill Collegiate High School, Cedar Hill ISD
No. 66 – Wakeland High School, Frisco ISD
No. 73 – Dr. Wright L. Lassiter Jr. Early College High School, Dallas ISD
No. 77 – Coppell High School, Coppell ISD
No. 87 – Centennial High School, Frisco ISD
No. 89 – Young Women's Leadership Academy at Arnold, Grand Prairie ISD

dallas us news & world report high schools rankings

Pestilence News

New invasive pest in Texas is destroying grasses and pasture

TAMU

Mealyworm is small but damaging.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has issued an urgent alert to farmers to inspect their pastures for a newly detected and highly damaging pest: the pasture mealybug (Helicococcus summervillei).

According to a release from the Department of Agriculture (TDA), this invasive species, never before reported in North America, has been confirmed in multiple Texas counties and is already causing significant damage to pasture acreage across the southeast portion of the state.

The pasture mealybug causes “pasture dieback,” leaving expanding patches of yellowing, weakened, and ultimately dead turf.

This pest was first detected in Australia in 1928; its first detection in the Western Hemisphere occurred in the Caribbean between 2019 and 2020.

The TDA is working with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to coordinate a rapid response and protect Texas producers.

Mealybug history
Although the mealybug is just now being spotted, researchers suspect it may have been introduced before 2022.

Since mid-April 2025, southern Texas pasture and hay producers have been reporting problems in their fields. These fields show grass patches becoming brown or necrotic, or patches that are completely dead. Originally, it was presumed that symptoms were caused by another mealybug called the Rhodes grass mealybug, which has been reported in the U.S. since 1942. However, further investigations confirm that it's this new pasture mealybug (Heliococcus summervillei).

It has devastated millions of acres of grazing land in Australia and has since spread globally. Its rapid reproduction, hidden soil-level feeding, and broad host range make it a significant threat to pasture health and livestock operations.

MealybugTAMU

Adult females are approximately 2-5 mm long, covered in a white, waxy coating. They are capable of producing nearly 100 offspring within 24 hours, resulting in several generations per season. While adult females can live for up to 100 days, most damage is inflicted by the youngest nymphs, which feed on plant sap and inject toxic saliva that causes grass to yellow, weaken, and die.

“This is a completely new pest to our continent, and Texas is once again on the front lines,” Commissioner Miller says. “If the pasture mealybug spreads across Texas grazing lands like it has in eastern Australia, it could cost Texas agriculture dearly in lost productivity and reduced livestock capacity. TDA is working hand-in-hand with federal and university partners to respond swiftly and protect our producers from this unprecedented threat.”

Houston has a problem
The estimated impact area currently covers 20 counties, primarily in the Houston area, including: Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, Refugio, Calhoun, Victoria, Goliad, Dewitt, Lavaca, Fayette, Jackson, Matagorda, Brazoria, Galveston, Wharton, Colorado, Austin, Washington, Burleson, Brazos, and Robertson. AgriLife entomologists have submitted a formal Pest Incident Worksheet documenting significant damage to pastures and hayfields in Victoria County.

Research trials are underway to determine the best integrated pest management options. Currently, there is no known effective labeled insecticide for pasture mealybug.

Affected plants include: Bermudagrass, Bahia grass, Johnsongrass, hay grazer (sorghum–sudangrass), St. Augustine grass, various bluestem species, and other tropical or subtropical grasses. Damage can occur in leaves, stems, and roots.

Symptoms:

Yellowing and discoloration of leaves within a week of infestation
Purpling or reddening of foliage
Stunted growth and drought stress despite rainfall
Poorly developed root systems
Dieback starting at leaf tips and progressing downward
Premature aging, making plants more vulnerable to pathogens

How to spot it

Scout regularly for mealybugs on grass leaves, stems, soil surface, leaf litter, and under cow patties
Focus on unmanaged areas such as fence lines, ungrazed patches, and roadsides
Look for fluffy, white, waxy, or “fuzzy” insects on blades and stems
If plants appear unhealthy and insects match this description, investigate further

“Early identification is critical, and we need every producer’s eyes on the ground,” Commissioner Miller added. “We are working diligently with our federal and state partners to determine how to best combat this novel threat and stop it in its tracks.”

If you observe suspicious symptoms or insects matching the descriptions above, contact TDA at 1-800-TELL-TDA immediately.

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