Top 10 School Districts in the San Antonio Metro Area
When searching for a new home, prospective buyers consider many factors. How many square feet are in the basement? Is there a pool in the backyard? Is this neighborhood close to where I work? However, one particular question seems to take the cake these days, especially when it comes to San Antonio: What school district are we in? A recent Realtor.com survey revealed that over 90% of buyers consider school districts very important when searching for their new home.
So what are the top school districts in the San Antonio area? How would you even determine a list? Obviously, a school’s reputation is built on more than just academics or neighborhood stereotypes. A public school system is just that: a system with many parts working together to form a holistic educational experience. There are plenty of factors that make up this system…the quality and variety of extracurricular activities, school diversity, and teachers, among others.
Earlier this year, Niche.com took this mentality into account when they released a definitively ranked list of the top San Antonio area school districts. Niche’s ranking system employs a “healthy balance between statistical rigor and practical relevance,” including parent/student surveys, government and public data, school records, etc. Niche essentially considers the overall experience of the students and parents involved in a particular school district. Each school receives an overall grade based on the following breakdown:
-Academics (50%)
-Health & Safety (10%)
-Student Culture & Diversity (10%)
-Survey Responses (10%)
-Teachers (10%)
-Resources & Facilities (5%)
-Extracurriculars/Activities Guide (2.5%)
-Sports & Fitness (2.5%)
So, which districts came out on top? Here’s our take on the top 10 schools on Niche’s “Best School Districts in San Antonio Metro” list:
1.Alamo Heights ISD
Overall Grade: A+
Alamo Heights Independent School District is located in the Alamo Heights neighborhood off of Hwy 281, just northeast of downtown San Antonio. Approximately 4,808 students attend school in Alamo Heights ISD, spread out over 6 schools. In recent state assessments, 88% of students passed with a score of “proficient” in math and/or reading. Alamo ISD spends almost $20,000 on each student with a total annual budget of about $93,271,000.
Individual grades: A+ (Resources/Facilities), A (Academics, Teachers, Sports/Fitness), A- (Extracurriculars/Activities), B+ (Health/Safety, Student Culture/diversity)
2.Boerne ISD
Overall Grade: A+
Boerne Independent School District is located in Boerne, TX (several miles north of San Antonio via I-10). Boerne ISD boasts 12 schools and just over 7,000 students. In recent state assessments, 92% of students were declared proficient in math and/or reading. Boerne ISD spends almost $11,000 on each student, holding an annual budget of $73,697,000.
Individual grades: A (Academics), A- (Health/Safety, Resources/Facilities), B+(Student Culture/Diversity, Teachers, Sports/Fitness), B (Extracurriculars/Activities)
3.Lackland ISD
Overall Grade: A-
Lackland Independent School District is located in western San Antonio. 1,057 students attend 2 Lackland ISD schools (all grades). According to state assessments, 90% of students in this district scored “proficient” in math and/or reading. Lackland ISD spends approximately $11,000 on each student with an annual budget of $12,339,000.
Individual grades: A+ (Student Culture/Diversity), A- (Academics), B+ (Resources/Facilities), B- (Health/Safety), C (Extracurriculars/Activities, Sports/Fitness)
4. Randolph Field ISD
Overall Grade: A
Randolph Field Independent School District is located in northeast San Antonio. Randolph Field ISD is made up of 3 schools and claims just under 1,200 students (all grades). According to Texas state standards in recent assessments, 93% of students scored “proficient” in math and/or reading. The district spends an average of $10,440 per student with an annual budget of $12,090,000.
Individual grades: A (Academics, Student Culture/Diversity), A- (Health/Safety), B (Extracurriculars/Activities), B- (Sports/Fitness, Teachers, Resources/Facilities )
5.North East ISD
Johnson High School is one of the seven high school campuses in the North East Independent School District. It is also the newest campus, built in 2008.
Overall Grade: A-
North East Independent School District is, naturally, located in the northeast region of San Antonio. By far the largest on the list, NEISD’s head count includes 67,901 students attending 78 schools. State assessments record that 82% of students in this district are proficient in math and/or reading. NEISD spends almost $10,000 on each student with an annual budget of $667,846,000.
Individual grades: A+ (Student Culture/Diversity), B+ (Academics, Health/Safety, Resources/Facilities), B (Teachers, Extracurriculars, Sports/Fitness)
6.Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD
Overall Grade: A-
Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District is located in Schertz, Texas, which is just northeast of San Antonio via I-35. This school district claims approximately 13,400 students spread out over 16 schools. State assessments prove that 85% of students are considered proficient in math and/or reading. Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD spends approximately 8,700 on each student with an annual budget of $113,705,000.
Individual grades: A+(Student Culture/Diversity), B+ (Academics, Sports/Fitness), B (Teachers, Health/Safety, Resources/Facilities, Extracurriculars/Activities)
7. Falls City ISD
Overall Grade: A
Falls City Independent School District is centered in Falls City Township, TX (southeast of San Antonio). Falls City ISD teaches 359 students spread out over 5 schools. According to state assessments, 96% of students scored “proficient” in math and/or reading. Falls City ISD spends an average of $9,027 on each student with an annual budget of $3,313,000.
Individual grades: A (Academics, Health & Safety), A- (Sports & fitness, Teachers), B+ (Administration, Food, Extracurriculars, Culture & Diversity), B (Educational Outcomes), B- (Resources & Facilities)
8.Fort Sam Houston ISD
Overall Grade: A-
Fort Sam Houston Independent School District is centered around US Army base Fort Sam Houston (northeast of downtown San Antonio). Fort Sam ISD teaches 1,613 students spread out over 3 schools. According to state assessments, 84% of students scored “proficient” in math and/or reading. Fort Sam ISD spends an average of $13,316 on each student with an annual budget of $20,613,000.
Individual grades: A+(Student Diversity/Culture), B+ (Academics, Health/Safety), B (Resources/Facilities, Extracurriculars/Activities), B- (Sports/Fitness), C+ (Teachers)
9.Kerrville ISD
Overall: A-
One of the more outlying districts, Kerrville Independent School District is located in Kerrville, TX (about an hour north of San Antonio via I-10). Kerrville ISD claims almost 5,000 students spread out over 11 schools. State assessments show that approximately 85% of students in this district scored “proficient” in math and/or reading. Kerrville ISD spends approximately $8,367 on each student with an annual budget of $42,270,000.
Individual grades: A (Student Culture/Diversity), A- (Academics), B+ (Resources/Facilities), B (Teachers), B- (Sports/Fitness, Health/Safety), C+ (Extracurriculars/Activities)
10. Three Rivers ISD
Overall Grade: A
Falls City Independent School District is centered in Three Rivers, TX (southeast of San Antonio).Three Rivers ISD teaches 638 students spread out over 3 schools. According to state assessments, 77% of students scored “proficient” in math and/or reading. Three Rivers ISD spends an average of $9,027 on each student with an annual budget of $3,313,000.
Individual grades: A+ (Student Culture & Diversity, Resources & Facilities), A (Extracurriculars & Activities), A- (Academics), B+ (Sports & Fitness, Health & Safety), B (Teachers)
Article Courtesy of Keller Williams San Antonio
Top 10 School Districts in the San Antonio Metro Area
