2026 AMERICA'S BEST SCHOOLS
Honor Roll
NCUST is proud to announce the 2026 America’s Best Schools Honor Roll, recognizing an exceptional group of schools whose applications demonstrate strong evidence of academic success for all student groups. Each honor roll school is truly one of America’s Best Schools, as their applications provided clear evidence that school leaders, teachers, and support staff are working together to generate outstanding learning outcomes for every demographic group they serve.
A small number of honor roll schools will soon be named finalists and receive on-site visits as part of the America’s Best Schools Award process; however, every honor roll school is a winner and a testament to what is possible when teams work together to ensure the academic success of all students. There is much to learn from each school on the 2026 America’s Best Schools Honor Roll. By January 30, 2026, NCUST will announce the 2026 America’s Best Schools Finalists and begin scheduling school visits. Congratulations to each school on our 2026 America’s Best Schools Honor Roll!
Table of Contents
Cerritos High School
ABC Unified School District | Cerritos, California
Cerritos High School in the ABC Unified School District exemplifies excellence through a deeply rooted culture of care, rigor, and continuous improvement that ensures every student is known, valued, and challenged to succeed. The school’s inclusive climate, guided by its Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports framework known as “The Cerritos Way,” is evident in daily interactions marked by respect, empathy, and belonging, as well as in student-led initiatives that celebrate identity, culture, and service. This strong foundation of trust extends to families and staff, reflected in high parent confidence, exceptional staff retention, and a shared commitment to students beyond the classroom. Academically, Cerritos High School maintains high expectations for all learners through open-access enrollment in rigorous coursework, including Advanced Placement, University of California–honors, Career Technical Education pathways, and dual enrollment, resulting in significant growth across student groups and an 80 percent Advanced Placement exam pass rate. Instruction is intentional, engaging, and research-based, emphasizing literacy, discourse, inquiry, and real-world application across disciplines, while ongoing formative and summative assessments ensure learning is constantly monitored and refined in partnership with students and families. Targeted interventions, enrichment opportunities, and comprehensive counseling and mental health supports further reinforce equitable access to success. Observers of Cerritos High School consistently note a campus where students are both scholars and champions, evidenced by national and state recognitions, outstanding academic and extracurricular achievements, and a cohesive community united around high expectations, high support, and shared pride in student achievement.
Colonel James “Nikki” Rowe High School
McAllen Independent School District | McAllen, Texas
Colonel James “Nikki” Rowe High School in the McAllen Independent School District exemplifies a unified, high-performing community where excellence, equity, and belonging are inseparable. Grounded in a shared belief that all students can succeed, Rowe operates as a true team of students, families, and staff, marked by mutual respect, strong relationships, and a collective commitment to learning. This culture is reinforced through consistent recognition, fair and respectful discipline, and a wide range of opportunities that allow every student to find purpose through rigorous academics, fine arts, athletics, service organizations, or leadership experiences. Academically, Rowe High School ensures universal access to challenging curricula through high-quality core instruction, advanced coursework, dual credit, and innovative programs such as the INCubator entrepreneurship pathway, while maintaining exceptional outcomes that include a four-time “A” rating, a graduation rate exceeding 99 percent, and all seven academic distinctions from the Texas Education Agency. Instruction is intentionally designed to promote deep understanding, with clear learning targets, frequent academic discourse, and real-time formative assessment that makes student thinking visible and drives immediate instructional adjustment. A robust Multi-Tiered System of Support ensures timely intervention and meaningful enrichment, pairing targeted reteaching with extension opportunities that promote creativity, problem-solving, and real-world application. Observers consistently note high levels of student engagement, strong ownership of learning, and a staff that collaborates relentlessly to refine practice.
Dewey Elementary School
San Diego Unified School District | San Diego, California
Dewey Elementary School in the San Diego Unified School District is a vibrant, student-centered community where every decision is guided by a commitment to accelerate academic achievement and nurture social-emotional well-being. Serving a uniquely high population of military-connected families, with approximately 85 percent of students having one or both parents in the armed services, Dewey intentionally honors service and builds belonging through schoolwide observances, family supports, and a strong culture of care. The campus climate is consistently described as joyful, warm, and welcoming, a reflection of a deeply dedicated staff whose long-term commitment has fostered trust, stability, and shared purpose. Dewey supports the whole child and the whole family through layered counseling services, food distributions, and community partnerships, while empowering students through leadership development as a Leader in Me school grounded in Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits. Academically, Dewey delivers a guaranteed, viable curriculum using state-adopted programs in English language arts and mathematics, enriched by STEAM instruction, one-to-one devices, and targeted supports funded through Title I, Local Control Funding Formula, and a Department of Defense QUEST grant. Instruction is engaging and responsive, marked by collaboration, discussion, risk-taking, and frequent checks for understanding that drive timely reteaching and intervention. Observers see an inclusive, fluid campus where students access what they need when they need it, including strong integration of students with extensive needs. These practices are reinforced through ongoing professional collaboration, data-driven reflection, and continuous feedback cycles, resulting in positive student survey outcomes, academic growth across subgroups, and recognitions such as the California Purple Star School designation. Together, these elements define Dewey Elementary as a place where community, care, and high expectations come together to ensure every student can thrive.
Dorothea W. Brown Middle School
McAllen Independent School District | McAllen, Texas
Dorothea W. Brown Middle School in the McAllen Independent School District is a thriving learning community defined by inclusion, rigor, and a shared commitment to student growth. Guided by its pillars of Strength, Unity, and Determination, Brown fosters a campus culture where students of all backgrounds feel valued, respected, and capable of success. This culture is strengthened through celebrations of academic progress, including recognition of multilingual growth through the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System, monthly guidance lessons that support social-emotional development, and the presence of the Regional School for the Deaf, which enriches campus life by promoting empathy, accessibility, and respect for diversity. Staff members experience this same culture of care and collaboration, reflected in climate survey results showing high levels of appreciation, well-being, and overall job satisfaction. Academically, Brown Middle School ensures all students engage in rigorous, standards-aligned instruction through intentional lesson design, a strong districtwide bilingual academic language initiative, and frequent opportunities for discourse, writing, and problem solving. Student outcomes reflect this commitment, with eighth grade students earning some of the highest district passing rates on the Texas Success Initiative college readiness assessment. Instruction is purposeful and engaging, built on clear learning objectives, bell-to-bell teaching, ongoing formative assessment, and gradual release of responsibility. Student understanding is continuously monitored through data-driven practices, growth tracking, and collaborative Professional Learning Communities that refine instruction and guide timely intervention and enrichment. Observers consistently note active classrooms, confident students articulating their thinking, and teachers adjusting instruction in real time. These strengths are further reflected in Brown’s accomplishments across fine arts, academics, and athletics, creating a school community where high expectations, strong support, and student pride are clearly visible.
Dr. Albert Schweitzer Leadership Academy
Magnolia School District | Anaheim, California
Dr. Albert Schweitzer Leadership Academy in the Magnolia School District is a high-performing, student-centered community where culture, academics, and leadership are intentionally aligned to develop the whole child. As a Leader in Me school, Schweitzer empowers students to take ownership of their learning, behavior, and future, recognizing that many face significant personal and economic challenges. Leadership is embedded in daily practice through the shared language of Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, weekly leadership lessons, and consistent goal-setting routines supported by student leadership binders. A strong focus on writing drives academic growth, with classroom, individual, district, and state goals aligned and progress regularly celebrated. Instruction is rigorous and research-based, anchored in Explicit Direct Instruction, gradual release of responsibility, and high-leverage strategies such as TAPPLE and Thinking Maps, ensuring equitable access to learning for English learners, students with disabilities, and all learners. Continuous data analysis through diagnostics, Data Dialogue Days, and collaborative planning allows teachers to provide timely intervention and meaningful enrichment, supported by Impact Teachers and instructional coaching. Student voice is elevated through the Lighthouse team, leadership assemblies, service learning, and an annual student-led Leadership Day that showcases confidence, collaboration, and pride. Family partnership is strengthened through intentional outreach, annual surveys, and clear communication via a unified platform. These integrated practices have resulted in strong academic growth, positive accountability outcomes, and national recognition, reflecting a school culture where every student is known, supported, and developed as both a learner and a leader.
Dr. Jonas E. Salk School
Magnolia School District | Anaheim, California
Dr. Jonas E. Salk School in the Magnolia School District is a welcoming, high-performing learning community where strong relationships, inclusive practices, and rigorous instruction work together to help every student succeed. Guided by the HAWKS motto, Have respect, Act responsibly, Work together, Keep safe, Soar to success, the school fosters a culture of pride, belonging, and shared responsibility that is visible in daily interactions, schoolwide celebrations, and consistent expectations. Students and staff actively celebrate academic growth, positive behavior, and character through Spirit Rallies and recognition opportunities, creating an atmosphere of encouragement and collective success. This culture extends to all learners, including students with disabilities and those enrolled in the Special Education Local Plan Area regional program, who are fully included through differentiated supports, buddy programs, and inclusive campus traditions. Academically, Salk provides all students access to a rigorous, standards-aligned curriculum grounded in Explicit Direct Instruction, equitable participation strategies, and consistent use of Thinking Maps to strengthen reasoning, communication, and problem solving. Ongoing collaboration, data dialogue, and instructional coaching ensure that teaching remains responsive and targeted, while social-emotional supports reinforce readiness to learn. Observers quickly notice engaged classrooms, confident students using academic language, and staff who model positivity, collaboration, and care. Together, these elements define Dr. Jonas E. Salk School as a place where high expectations, strong support, and school pride come together to help all students truly soar to success.
Garfield Elementary School
San Diego Unified School District | San Diego, California
Garfield Elementary School in the San Diego Unified School District is a high-expectations, student-centered community where safety, belonging, and academic rigor are intentionally cultivated for all learners. School climate data shows that most students feel safe, experience belonging, and have trusted adults to support them, while staff report strong systems, collaboration, and a positive work environment reflected in exceptional staff retention. When data identified students who did not feel safe, the school responded with listening sessions, renewed professional learning on addressing peer mistreatment, and additional opportunities for students to connect with administrators and the school counselor, ensuring voices are heard and concerns addressed. Academically, Garfield provides all students access to rigorous, standards-aligned instruction through strong core programs, early baseline assessments, and timely interventions in reading, writing, mathematics, and English language development. Writing is embedded across all content areas to strengthen critical thinking, language development, and comprehension, while instruction emphasizes high student engagement, structured interaction, and frequent checks for understanding. Targeted, data-driven interventions, including Reading Recovery and early risk identification, ensure support is responsive and effective. These integrated practices have resulted in strong academic outcomes and distinguished recognition, including Garfield’s designation as a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School and California Distinguished School, demonstrating a culture where high expectations and strong support drive student success.
Hanna Early College High School
Brownsville Independent School District | Brownsville, Texas
Hanna Early College High School in the Brownsville Independent School District exemplifies a bold commitment to rigor, equity, and college readiness for all students, regardless of background or starting point. Accelerated by significant Texas Title I Priority Schools i3 grant funding, Hanna strengthened instructional systems, technology, and data-driven practices that support high-quality teaching and continuous improvement. A defining feature of the school is its full-inclusion model, where Special Education students learn alongside their peers in general education settings with appropriate supports, ensuring equitable access to grade-level curriculum and advanced learning. Teachers are trained in the Common Instructional Framework and cooperative learning strategies that promote differentiation, collaboration, and higher-order thinking for English learners, gifted students, and those enrolled in Honors, Advanced Placement, and Dual Enrollment courses. The Early College model expands access to postsecondary coursework through intentional preparation, including early administration of the Texas Success Initiative Assessment and targeted tutorials that reinforce the belief that advanced opportunities should be attainable for all. Instruction is purposeful and engaging, supported by structured collaboration, frequent use of formative assessments, and real-time instructional adjustments guided by student data. Students regularly engage in metacognitive routines, academic discourse, and complex problem solving across core content, career and technical education pathways, and college-aligned courses. These practices have produced strong outcomes and national recognition, including multiple Texas Education Agency distinctions and recognition as one of the nation’s most challenging high schools, reflecting a school culture grounded in high expectations, inclusive excellence, and sustained academic success.
Harmony School of Achievement Houston
Harmony Public Schools | Houston, Texas
Harmony School of Achievement in the Harmony Public Schools is a high-performing learning community where character, rigor, and responsiveness are seamlessly integrated to ensure success for every student. As a Certified National School of Character, the school’s culture is grounded in its HEART values—Honesty, Encouragement, Accountability, Respect, and Thoughtfulness—which are explicitly taught, consistently modeled, and visibly embedded across campus. Students participate in regular lessons on emotional well-being and inclusion, while schoolwide initiatives such as No Place for Hate and student-led celebrations reinforce belonging and respect across all demographic groups. This strong culture of care extends to staff, who are empowered as leaders, recognized intentionally, and supported through collaborative structures that promote collective efficacy. Academically, Harmony School of Achievement provides universal access to rigorous, standards-aligned instruction through a highly responsive, data-driven system. Daily exit tickets, Student Work Analysis, and Biweekly Data Meeting cycles ensure instruction is continuously refined and differentiated to meet precise student needs. Targeted intervention and enrichment are embedded into lesson design, supported by mastery-based programs, Gifted and Talented opportunities, and personalized learning platforms that push students toward advanced achievement. Observers see classrooms characterized by productive struggle, differentiated lab instruction, and students engaged in complex problem solving. These practices have resulted in exceptional outcomes, including an A rating from the Texas Education Agency, strong growth on Measures of Academic Progress assessments, competitive STEM achievements, and widespread teacher recognition. Together, these elements define a school where high expectations, strong character, and instructional excellence create an environment in which all students are known, challenged, and supported to succeed.
Harmony School of Advancement Houston
Harmony Public Schools Houston North | Houston, Texas
Harmony School of Advancement Houston in the Harmony Public Schools is a vibrant, high-performing campus where belonging, rigor, and real-world opportunity are intentionally built for every student. Survey data shows that more than 90 percent of students feel supported, respected, and safe, and the school’s multicultural community, representing more than 20 languages and cultures, is celebrated through student organizations, inclusive traditions, and strong relationships. This supportive climate is reinforced by attendance consistently above 95 percent, declining disciplinary referrals, and outcomes that reflect a college-going culture, including a 100 percent graduation rate and 100 percent college acceptance rate across all demographic groups. Academic rigor is both equitable and expansive, with college-level access embedded through 22 Advanced Placement courses, districtwide pathways such as Project Lead the Way in biomedical science, engineering, and computer science, and a shift to Advanced Placement World History for all students. Students demonstrate mastery through both advanced academics and career certifications, earning 279 industry-based credentials in a single year, made accessible through the school’s on-campus testing center at no cost to families. High-quality instruction is strengthened through systematic lesson review, an Instructional Leadership Team that provides modeling and feedback cycles, and data-driven monitoring that includes targeted interventions, counselor supports, and ongoing family communication. Staff culture is equally strong, with more than 90 percent of personnel reporting they feel valued and trusted, and a 97 percent teacher retention rate supported by meaningful recognition and continuous professional learning. Visitors would notice engaged classrooms, student work showcasing academic growth and certifications, and a community where families are genuinely connected through home visits and parent supports, creating an environment where every learner is known, challenged, and empowered to succeed.
Harmony School of Discovery Houston
Harmony Public Schools Houston North | Houston, Texas
Harmony School of Discovery Houston in the Harmony Public Schools is a deeply inclusive, high-expectations learning community where character development, academic rigor, and student voice are intentionally integrated to support every learner. A strong sense of belonging is cultivated through the Core Value Houses initiative, which unites students across grade levels around Teamwork, Integrity, Gratitude, Empathy, Reasoning, and Service, reinforcing identity, mentorship, and shared responsibility. Student surveys consistently reflect high levels of emotional safety, trust, and connection, while service-learning projects, leadership opportunities, and community partnerships empower students to see themselves as contributors beyond the classroom. Families are active partners through home visits, cultural celebrations, and schoolwide events, strengthening trust and engagement. Academically, Harmony School of Discovery ensures equitable access to rigorous, standards-aligned instruction through accelerated pathways, strong differentiation, and data-driven practices that support English learners, students with disabilities, and advanced learners alike. Teachers consistently monitor understanding through formative assessments, benchmarks, and collaborative data analysis, refining instruction through timely intervention and enrichment. Observers note classrooms rich in academic discourse, problem solving, and student ownership, with clear learning targets and inclusive participation. These practices have resulted in strong outcomes, including a 100 percent college acceptance rate, expanded Advanced Placement and dual enrollment participation, high rates of industry-based certification attainment, and recognition through national scholarship finalists. Together, these elements define a school culture where high expectations, meaningful support, and character-driven leadership prepare students for success in college, career, and life.
Harmony School of Excellence El Paso
Harmony Public Schools West Texas | El Paso, Texas
Harmony School of Excellence El Paso in the Harmony Public Schools is a welcoming, high-expectations learning community where students and staff experience respect, belonging, and consistent support. Campus climate and health survey results reflect a strong culture of trust and collaboration, with improved scores across instructional leadership, organizational trust, and family engagement, as well as 100 percent staff retention and high student retention. The school’s core values of being caring, honest, accountable, motivated, positive, and safe are reinforced daily through the shared identity of being “Tiger Champs,” creating a campus atmosphere that visitors immediately recognize as warm, inclusive, and purposeful. Academically, Harmony School of Excellence ensures all students access rigorous, standards-aligned instruction through differentiated lessons, targeted small-group support, and enrichment opportunities that challenge learners at every level. English learners receive additional language supports, students with disabilities engage in appropriately differentiated instruction aligned to grade-level concepts, and above-grade-level students deepen learning through higher-order tasks and real-world applications. Instructional quality is strengthened by campus coaches who support lesson planning, walkthroughs, feedback cycles, and modeling, while teachers use frequent checks for understanding, data from interim assessments and MAP, and collaborative planning to refine instruction in real time. Targeted intervention and enrichment are intentionally scheduled and closely monitored, ensuring support is responsive and effective without removing students from core learning. These integrated practices have resulted in consistent academic growth, strong assessment outcomes, and recognition through state distinctions and designation as a National School of Character, reflecting a school culture where high expectations and strong relationships drive student success.
Harmony School of Innovation Katy
Harmony Public Schools Houston West | Richmond, Texas
Harmony School of Innovation Katy in the Harmony Public Schools is a high-performing, character-centered campus where inclusivity, academic rigor, and student leadership are deeply embedded in daily practice. Designated as a National School of Character, the school fosters a climate in which students across all demographic groups report strong feelings of belonging, safety, and respect, supported by meaningful leadership opportunities such as Student Council, Senior Council, and student-led organizations including Women in STEM and Robotics. Staff culture mirrors this strength, with high ratings for collaboration and administrative support and significant recognition through the Texas Teacher Incentive Allotment, reflecting a professional environment where excellence is valued and sustained. Academically, HSI-Katy ensures equitable access to rigorous, college- and career-ready learning through more than 20 Advanced Placement courses, University of Texas OnRamps dual credit offerings, and five Career and Technical Education pathways that engage nearly all students. Strong outcomes on state accountability measures, college readiness benchmarks, AP performance, and industry-based certifications confirm that rigor translates into mastery. Instructional quality is reinforced through collaborative lesson planning, high-quality lesson preparation protocols, ongoing audits, and continuous observation-feedback cycles that keep instruction responsive and aligned to student needs. A comprehensive system of assessment, reteaching, and enrichment ensures that learning is continuously monitored and refined, while extensive extracurricular and enrichment programs connect academics to real-world application. Visitors to HSI-Katy would observe purposeful, student-centered classrooms, engaged learners, and a unified community grounded in the belief that every student can excel academically, lead with character, and succeed beyond graduation.
Harmony School Of Science Middle High El Paso
Harmony Public Schools West Texas | El Paso, Texas
Harmony School of Science Middle High El Paso in the Harmony Public Schools is a purpose-driven campus where character, rigor, and reflection are intentionally aligned to support every student and adult. Guided by the FIERCE core values of Friendly, Integrity, Engaged, Respectful, Collaborative, and Empathetic, the school has built a shared language and identity that is lived daily through character lessons, social-emotional learning check-ins, self-reflection cycles, and inclusive family partnerships. Students and staff regularly reflect on how they demonstrate these values, creating intrinsic motivation, accountability, and a culture of mutual respect that observers immediately notice in positive interactions and a warm, focused environment. Academically, all students engage in rigorous, grade-level curriculum supported by strong lesson preparation, real-time checks for understanding, and data-driven reteach and enrichment cycles that maintain high expectations for English learners, students with disabilities, and advanced learners alike. Instructional quality is reinforced through consistent lesson prep expectations, instructional leadership feedback, and collaborative data meetings that ensure teaching is responsive and mastery-focused. Continuous monitoring through formative assessments, RTI systems, student goal setting, and family communication ensures learning is refined and supported at every step. These integrated systems have resulted in sustained high performance, including an A rating from the Texas Education Agency, recognition for academic excellence, improved enrollment stability, and designation as a National School of Character, reflecting a school where strong values and strong instruction work together to drive student success.
Harmony Science Academy El Paso
Harmony Public Schools West Texas | El Paso, Texas
Harmony Science Academy El Paso in the Harmony Public Schools is a deeply connected learning community where belonging, rigor, and high expectations are intentionally cultivated for every student and adult. Relationships are at the heart of the campus, reinforced through the Virtual Home Visit program that builds trust with families, especially new and Emergent Bilingual students, and strengthens student motivation and engagement. Academic confidence is developed through multiple Texas Success Initiative opportunities, targeted tutorials, and access to more than ten Advanced Placement courses, with student achievement celebrated through traditions such as the AP Scholar Breakfast. A wide range of clubs, athletics, and extracurricular programs provides every student meaningful opportunities to belong, lead, and excel, while staff are supported through intentional structures that promote morale, collaboration, and professional growth. Instructionally, all students engage in rigorous, grade-level curriculum supported by strong lesson preparation, language-rich strategies, and high-quality programs that develop literacy, academic language, and critical thinking without lowering expectations. Teachers use consistent formative assessments, data meetings, blended learning, and targeted reteach and enrichment cycles to monitor understanding and respond to student needs in real time, while students actively track goals and take ownership of their progress. These integrated systems have produced strong outcomes, including an A rating from the Texas Education Agency, seven distinction designations, high Advanced Placement participation and performance, a 100 percent graduation rate, national and state School of Character recognition, and designation as a Project Lead the Way Distinguished High School, reflecting a campus where strong relationships and strong instruction work together to prepare students for college, careers, and life.
Juan Seguin Elementary
McAllen Independent School District | McAllen, Texas
Juan Seguin Elementary in the McAllen Independent School District is a vibrant, inclusive learning community where students and staff feel supported, challenged, and inspired to succeed. Student climate survey data, strong attendance patterns, and daily classroom interactions demonstrate that students across all demographic groups feel safe, cared for, and believed in, reinforced by a schoolwide commitment to social-emotional learning, positive behavior supports, and leadership opportunities such as Social-Emotional Learning Ambassadors. Staff experience the same sense of trust and support, reflected in consistently low turnover, collaborative professional culture, and shared responsibility for student success. Academically, all Prekindergarten through fifth-grade students engage in rigorous, student-centered instruction grounded in inquiry, project-based learning, and real-world application, with the five-E instructional model driving deep learning in math and science and strong analytical expectations in reading and writing. Instruction is continuously refined through data-driven planning, weekly professional learning meetings, small-group reteach and enrichment, and clear learning goals that promote high cognitive engagement for all learners, including bilingual students, gifted and talented students, and those needing targeted intervention. These systems have produced strong outcomes, including an A rating from the Texas Education Agency, multiple state distinctions, significant growth among economically disadvantaged students, and recognition for instructional excellence through Teacher Incentive Allotments and statewide awards. Enrichment through UIL competitions, fine arts, athletics, and family partnership initiatives further reflects a well-rounded culture where academic excellence, belonging, and opportunity extend beyond the classroom, ensuring every Seguin student is prepared to thrive academically and personally.
Mission Vista Academy
Beaumont, CA | America’s Best Schools Alternative School Category
Mission Vista Academy is a personalized, independent study charter school designed to support homeschooling families while maintaining high academic standards and strong relationships. Serving students across Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Orange Counties, Mission Vista Academy fosters a culture where families are true partners in learning, reflected in survey data showing overwhelming parent engagement, trust, and satisfaction. Through structured Learning Period meetings, individualized graduation plans, and flexible instructional models, students work toward mastery of grade-level standards at a pace aligned to their strengths and needs. A wide range of curricular pathways, including Choice Plus, Choice Plus Academy, Edgenuity, and Mission 2 Learn, provide both flexibility and rigor, while credentialed teachers closely monitor progress using Assignment and Work Record reports, formative and summative assessments, and adaptive diagnostics such as STAR 360. Instruction is continuously refined through data review, regular parent communication, and targeted intervention and enrichment supports, including literacy and math programs, tiered direct instruction, social-emotional learning resources, and mental health services. Students benefit from extensive family engagement opportunities, field-based learning, extracurricular enrichment, and strong governance oversight, all contributing to consistent academic growth, improved performance on the California School Dashboard, gains among English learners, and recognition such as the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma. Together, these systems create a learning environment where flexibility, accountability, and personalized support work in concert to help every student thrive academically and personally.
Nye Elementary School
San Diego Unified School District | San Diego, CA
Nye Elementary School in the San Diego Unified School District is a collaborative, equity-centered learning community where belonging, rigor, and continuous growth define the daily experience for students, staff, and families. Rooted in strong relationships and shared leadership, the school fosters a positive and inclusive culture through restorative practices, social-emotional learning, and trauma-informed supports that ensure every student feels safe, valued, and capable of success. Instruction across classrooms reflects high expectations and a deep belief in student potential, with teachers designing grade-level, standards-based lessons that emphasize higher-order thinking, academic discourse, and real-world application while maintaining rigor for English learners and students with special needs through thoughtful scaffolds rather than lowered expectations. Ongoing checks for understanding, formative assessments, and flexible grouping guide targeted supports and enrichment within core instruction, ensuring students remain engaged in meaningful learning experiences. Professional Learning Communities play a central role in sustaining quality and coherence, as educators collaboratively analyze data, refine lessons, and align practices to shared goals. Strong family and community partnerships further reinforce this work through consistent communication, engagement events, and culturally responsive outreach. These integrated systems have resulted in strong outcomes, including California Distinguished School recognition, achievement rates that exceed district averages, improved attendance, and equitable growth across student groups, making Nye Elementary a clear example of how high expectations, inclusive practices, and collaborative culture come together to support excellence for every learner.
O. Henry Elementary
Richardson Independent School District | Garland, TX
O. Henry Elementary in the Richardson Independent School District is a vibrant, inclusive learning community where strong relationships, high expectations, and intentional systems come together to support the success of every student and educator. From the moment students arrive each morning, personalized greetings and daily emotional check-ins establish a culture of connection and care that carries into classrooms, where learning is rigorous, student-centered, and grounded in trust. The school celebrates the whole child through regular recognition of academic achievement, growth, attendance, and core values, while ensuring that all students can participate in joyful, inclusive activities that honor creativity, language development, and cultural identity. Instruction is tightly aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and English Language Proficiency Standards, with teachers collaborating weekly in Professional Learning Communities to analyze data, plan targeted reteach and enrichment, and refine instruction for learners at every level. High-quality first instruction, frequent checks for understanding, and responsive use of the Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports ensure that student progress is continuously monitored and supported, with families actively engaged through conferences, communication, and shared goal setting. Gifted and Talented students benefit from rich extensions that emphasize depth, complexity, and real-world application, while Emergent Bilingual students receive high-expectation instruction paired with purposeful linguistic supports, data-informed interventions, and consistent progress monitoring. These integrated practices have resulted in exceptional outcomes, including earning all six state distinctions from the Texas Education Agency, strong performance in academics and the arts, successful exits from ESL services, and significant Teacher Incentive Allotment recognitions. Visitors to O. Henry Elementary consistently observe a joyful, purposeful campus where students are engaged, staff feel valued, and a shared commitment to growth, equity, and excellence is evident in every classroom and interaction.
P.S. 249, The Caton School
New York City Public Schools | Brooklyn, NY
P.S. 249 The Caton School in the New York City Public Schools is a nationally recognized learning community where care, rigor, and collective responsibility drive exceptional outcomes for every student. From daily leadership greetings and structured social-emotional learning check-ins to a strong PBIS framework and culturally affirming celebrations, students experience school as a place of safety, belonging, and high expectations. Instruction is grounded in research-based practices, with standards-aligned mini-lessons, differentiated small-group instruction, and frequent formative assessments that allow teachers to respond to student needs in real time. Through tightly structured Achievement Teams, vertical leadership collaboration, and four-week data cycles, educators continuously refine instruction, intervene early, and extend learning for students ready for acceleration, resulting in strong achievement across all demographic groups, including multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and students from low-income backgrounds. Students are active partners in their learning, setting goals, engaging in self- and peer-assessment, and demonstrating deep understanding through discourse, problem solving, and authentic tasks, including the school’s signature math poster method and rich arts programming. Families are deeply engaged through consistent communication, workshops, and celebrations that reinforce trust and shared ownership of student success. These systems have produced sustained academic growth, equity of outcomes, and a long record of honors, including National Blue Ribbon School recognition and the NCUST America’s Best Schools Award. Visitors to P.S. 249 consistently observe joyful classrooms, purposeful instruction, and a unified school culture where adults and students work together with the shared belief that all children can and do achieve at high levels.
Renaissance Charter School at West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, FL
Renaissance Charter School at West Palm Beach is a high-performing Title I campus within Charter Schools USA that exemplifies excellence through a deeply embedded leadership culture, rigorous instruction, and data-driven systems that ensure success for all scholars. As Florida’s only Title I Academic Lighthouse School through the Leader in Me program, students actively practice the 7 Habits, participate in leadership roles such as Lighthouse Team, honor societies, and advisory committees, and use leadership notebooks to set, track, and reflect on academic, behavioral, and personal goals in partnership with their families. A stable and highly satisfied staff, consistently ranked in the top three of 62 Charter Schools USA campuses statewide for staff happiness, sustains strong routines, high expectations, and instructional coherence. Observers see bell-to-bell instruction, targeted small-group teaching, and extensive intervention systems, including daily elementary reading and math interventions, middle school success blocks, ESOL pull-outs with language supports, ESE collaboration, and accelerated coursework for advanced learners, alongside high school credit opportunities in middle school. Instruction is strengthened by intensive professional development in the Science of Reading, Kagan strategies, Thinking Maps, and continuous data analysis through weekly Leaders in Data meetings that drive reteaching until mastery is achieved. These practices have produced exceptional outcomes, including sustained A ratings for eight consecutive years, ranking as the highest-performing Title I school in Palm Beach County, top statewide rankings among Title I schools, and strong proficiency and learning gains well above state averages. Celebrations of success, rich enrichment offerings, and a visible culture of student leadership reinforce motivation and belonging, leaving visitors with a clear impression of a joyful, disciplined, and highly effective school community where scholars lead their learning and consistently achieve at the highest levels.
Richardson Terrace Elementary
Richardson Independent School District | Garland, TX
Richardson Terrace Elementary, part of Richardson Independent School District, is a vibrant, high-performing campus where a culture of care, leadership, and rigorous learning is evident in daily practice and sustained outcomes. Students are welcomed each morning through personal check-ins that foster belonging and emotional well-being, while leadership opportunities such as morning announcements, Student Safety Patrol, Tigerettes dance team, Tiger Choir, and UIL+ academic competitions build confidence, collaboration, and school pride. Instruction is grounded in high expectations for all learners, including Gifted and Talented students, Emergent Bilinguals, and students receiving special education services, with teachers using depth and complexity strategies, differentiated demonstrations of learning, and data-driven planning to ensure access to grade-level rigor and meaningful enrichment. Collaborative structures such as PLCs, Kid Talk meetings, MTSS processes, and ITime intervention blocks ensure instruction is continuously refined, responsive, and targeted, resulting in more than 95 percent proficiency in early elementary math and reading on district assessments and strong growth across MAP, TELPAS, and CIAs. Students actively monitor their progress through digital portfolios, goal setting, and real-world learning experiences such as BizTown, STEM center visits, and community-based programs that deepen relevance and application. Terrace’s integrated approach to assessment, intervention, and enrichment is reinforced by joyful traditions, strong family engagement, and a highly supportive staff culture, culminating in exceptional achievements including all six Texas Education Agency distinctions in 2024–2025, an 89/B accountability rating, district and campus awards for educators, and standout success in academics, arts, leadership, and community initiatives.
Sequoia Elementary
San Diego Unified School District | San Diego, CA
Sequoia Elementary in the San Diego Unified School District is a nurturing and academically focused campus where students and adults consistently feel safe, supported, and valued. Student survey data shows that students feel safe at school and believe that adults genuinely care about their well-being, a climate reinforced by strong family feedback and very low staff turnover. A culture of appreciation is intentionally built through weekly Staff Shout Outs and “Love Notes” that recognize exceptional contributions, including staff members honored at the district level. Students develop confidence, ownership, and social-emotional skills through a comprehensive Social Emotional Learning program aligned to the five core competencies identified by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, as well as restorative justice practices that help students resolve conflict through dialogue and reflection. Positive behavior is encouraged through “Caught Being Good” tickets and “Dragon Leader” recognition, which includes opportunities such as breakfast with the principal. Academically, all students receive a guaranteed and viable curriculum using the Benchmark literacy program and Eureka Math, with instruction aligned to California State Standards and intentionally differentiated for English Learners, students with disabilities, and those needing additional support. Teachers consistently implement the Gradual Release of Responsibility model, balancing whole group instruction with targeted small group lessons that build independence and mastery. Student progress is closely monitored through classroom assessments, monthly Professional Learning Community data reviews, and schoolwide literacy goals that promote reading engagement. Since the pandemic, Sequoia has demonstrated significant academic growth in both literacy and math, earning recognition from local and state organizations for improving achievement for all learners.
Stephen C Foster Elementary
Compton Unified School District | Compton, CA
Stephen C. Foster Elementary, part of the Compton Unified School District, is a vibrant and inclusive school community where students feel cared for, respected, and capable of success. A strong sense of belonging is intentionally cultivated as staff honor students’ identities, cultures, and backgrounds while maintaining high expectations for academic achievement, positive behavior, and meaningful engagement. Families are warmly welcomed on campus, and multigenerational connections are common, with former students returning to volunteer, participate in after school programs, and remain connected to the school community. Cultural pride is embedded throughout the curriculum as students study trailblazers who reflect their lived experiences and learn that perseverance and excellence are attainable. Positive behavior is reinforced through a student store that motivates learners while teaching practical lessons in budgeting, decision-making, and responsibility. Foster operates as a true school family, with staff knowing students across grade levels and intentionally supporting them as they grow. This caring culture extends to adults as well, resulting in strong collaboration, high morale, and a professional environment grounded in the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports framework. Academically, students engage in rigorous and engaging learning through writing across genres, project-based learning in science and social studies, real-world math applications, arts integration, and school-wide strategies such as Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), which builds organizational, inquiry, collaborative, and college readiness skills. Instruction is guided by data, strengthened through Professional Learning Communities, and delivered using Explicit Direct Instruction with consistent modeling, guided practice, and independent application. Ongoing formative assessments, technology-supported monitoring, targeted interventions, and robust enrichment programs ensure that all learners are supported and challenged. As a result, Foster Elementary has demonstrated sustained academic growth, earned multiple Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports recognitions, and received statewide acknowledgment for Latino student achievement, reflecting a school culture defined by care, rigor, equity, and community pride.
Thigpen-Zavala Elementary
McAllen Independent School District | McAllen, Texas
Thigpen-Zavala Elementary in the McAllen Independent School District is a high-performing, student-centered campus where both students and staff feel valued, supported, and capable of success. A defining feature of the school is its exceptionally high staff retention, reflecting a culture of trust, professionalism, and shared purpose. Teachers are supported through collaborative Professional Learning Communities, transparent communication, and intentional recognition systems that reinforce morale and collective ownership. Students experience a nurturing, inclusive environment where strong relationships, cultural pride, and high expectations drive engagement and achievement. Despite serving a high-poverty, high-mobility population, student mobility has significantly decreased as families increasingly choose to remain connected to the school community. Classrooms reflect rigorous, standards-aligned instruction supported by data-driven practices using tools such as i-Ready, mCLASS Amplify, and state assessments to inform targeted instruction. All students participate in a daily Targeted Assistance Growth block, receiving intervention, enrichment, or extension aligned to individual needs, while Emergent Bilingual, Special Education, and Gifted and Talented students access grade-level rigor through appropriate scaffolds and project-based learning. Students actively track their own progress through goal setting and data monitoring, fostering ownership and a growth mindset. Instructional excellence is reinforced through strong first-teach practices, writing across content areas, structured collaboration, and continuous curriculum refinement. These systems have resulted in sustained academic growth, four consecutive A ratings from the Texas Education Agency, and repeated distinctions for academic achievement, growth, and closing achievement gaps. Observers consistently note a vibrant, respectful campus culture where high expectations, data-informed instruction, and community pride work together to ensure every learner thrives.
