Texas Border Business
Edinburg – Edinburg CISD’s Vela High School has been named to U.S. News and World Report’s list of “Best High Schools” for the second consecutive year. Vela High School was named No. 2,085 nationwide and No. 189 in Texas.
“We are honored to make the list again this year,” Vela High School Principal Sylvia Ledesma said. “The hard work and determination from our students, teachers, parents, staff and the community have allowed us to reach this achievement and earn this ranking among the best schools in the state and the nation.”
According to U.S. News and World Report, the rankings evaluate more than 20,500 public high schools nationwide to identify schools that best serve all their students – including historically underserved populations – and assess the degree to which students are prepared for college-level coursework.
The U.S. News rankings feature data on several factors, including enrollment, graduation rates, diversity, participation in free and reduced-price lunch programs and the results of state assessments, as well as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate test data.
“Top-ranked schools succeed in three main areas: exceeding expectations on state proficiency tests, offering challenging coursework and graduating their students,” said Anita Narayan, managing editor of Education at U.S. News. “We encourage parents to use the Best High Schools rankings and data to research which schools in their state and nationwide are ensuring students are well-equipped for the future.”
Overall, the rankings emphasize student outcomes, incorporating data on graduation rates and state assessments. Students at the 5,948 schools that receive national recognition from U.S. News graduate at rates that are 12 percentage points higher, on average, than students at other schools throughout the country.
