2023 Best College Prep Public High Schools in the San Antonio Area

• BASIS Texas Charter Schools, TX•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  61 reviews

Sophomore: There are many things that I like about Basis Shavano. First off, the school provides a wide variety of classes and extracurriculars students can choose from, enabling them to enroll into classes or clubs they actually like and giving them a chance to see what their future majors could be like. Not only that, the teachers at Basis are extremely helpful and nice, making the learning experience at Basis not bad at all. Did I mention the lunches? Definitely above-average. However, if there was one thing I could change about my experience at Basis would be the homework load. Basis is the type of school that challenges students in order to prepare them for college, and this is great, but since there isn't a cap on the amount of homework assigned per class, the upper-grade students receive much more work than necessary. Besides that, learning at Basis as a students has been great by far, and I most likely will attend my next high school year at Basis!... Read 61 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1370

• Average ACT 31

• Northside Independent School District (San Antonio), TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.21 out of 5  626 reviews

Junior: Health Careers High School is by far the best high school anyone can attend here in San Antonio! Theres something here for everybody. No matter who you are or who you will be, you can learn a lot from Health Careers. With challenging courses and engaging teachers, it's impossible to be uninterested in learning. Not only that, the community is strong and supporting, as well as diverse. We have people of all kinds of backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, and race all welcoming and kind to one another. Even after the Pandemic, the sense of community and love still persisted and that is truly a blessing. Many graduates upon leaving have expressed that they felt prepared for college and some have even gone on to Medical School! Health Careers High School is the place to be for students in San Antonio. I simply cannot imagine my life without this beautiful school.... Read 626 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1250

• Average ACT 29

• North East Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  660 reviews

Senior: Reagan High School can be a very prestigious high school at times. Your class rank and grades are taken very seriously among the teachers and students. However, our Fine Arts programs are exceptional! Our art, choir, orchestra, band, theater and speech and debate programs have all received outstanding awards and recognitions throughout the last two decades. There are dozens of electives and clubs you can join to make friends and find your passions and interests.... Read 660 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Average SAT 1240

• Average ACT 28

• Alamo Heights Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  331 reviews

Alum: Alamo Heights High School is full of funding and opportunities that exponentially benefit its students. The culture of the school is very much a double edged sword; the majority of students are high performing and of above average intelligence, which propels individuals to be as successful as their peers, however students of average intelligence are often left to believe they are “dumb”. The community of Alamo Heights is predominantly white, and is generationally consistent. There are many students whose parents and grandparents went to their high school. The resources and education quality made accessible to students is unlike anywhere else. The hyper-privileged, exclusive community surrounding the school can be harmful to “outsiders” or minorities.... Read 331 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Average SAT 1230

• Average ACT 28

• North East Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.29 out of 5  290 reviews

Alum: This school gives diverse learning opportunities through unconventional teaching methods. Through project based curriculums, combining lesson plans through all subjects, requiring a B average or higher to stay enrolled, 200+ hours of community service, two languages studied, international travel, and a focus in Honors/AP courses, this school goes above and beyond to prepare the creative minds of its students for College and the professional world. Being a free, non-tuition magnet school, it maintains a balanced demographic by lottery picking its students from all areas of the city. There needs to be more schools like this in America. The wonderful education given here is the education deserved by all students.... Read 290 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Average SAT 1190

• Average ACT 28

• Boerne Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  380 reviews

Senior: Boerne Champion offers students many opportunities starting from the moment they walk into the doors their freshman year. They provide many options for both students who know what they want to study in college as well as options who students who may still be questioning their futures. The faculty and staff work hard in order to prepare students for their futures by providing challenging courses but also by providing support for the students. The classes are challenging yet engaging and more than prepare the students for what they will come across after graduation wether they are going to a university, community college, trade school etc. I am fully confident that my four years at Boerne Champion have prepared me as well as my peers in the best ways possible to succeed in the years to come.... Read 380 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Average SAT 1210

• Average ACT 27

• School of Science & Technology, TX•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.85 out of 5  143 reviews

Works Here: I am a proud teacher at SST. I have taught in other districts in the public domain, but SST is so much different. It is a family! The students who attend here are amazing. They inspire me to be a better educator. Our students have designed and created 3-D printed hands for children born with missing limbs. I am in awe of the innovative future leaders, doctors, cyber security warriors, computer programmers and other STEM professionals that attend here. These students are going to change the world! I have been part of this family for 5 years and plan to stay here until I retire. In my opinion, there is no better school out there! The administration treats the faculty with respect and I feel appreciated each day. More importantly, the administration care very much about the students, as well. Many were former educators or counselors at this school. They know all the students and really listen to students' concerns. SST truly is the best place to be!... Read 143 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Average SAT 1130

• Average ACT 25

• Northside Independent School District (San Antonio), TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  794 reviews

Senior: This high school gives all of it's attention to it's students and funds the school equally. Not only do I always feel at home here at Brandeis but district assures that I have what I need to pass until graduation. The counselors introduced to me the finest and best classes they could offer to me that fit my portfolio, which I was thankful for. Thank you Brandeis!... Read 794 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Average SAT 1180

• Average ACT 27

• North East Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  753 reviews

Junior: There's so many opportunities at Johnson, and all the programs are so well managed. It's rare to find a school that's competitive at football, wrestling, basketball, band, orchestra, choir, and theater. Band and orchestra have even performed and competed at the national level! The academic programs are strong and produce incredible AP scores. It's an amazing school, no wonder we have more transfers every year.... Read 753 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A minus

• Average SAT 1210

• Average ACT 27

• Northside Independent School District (San Antonio), TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  634 reviews

Senior: Tom C. Clark has extremely attentive advanced teachers that dedicate time for their student's success. It doesn't leave students behind and creates a network of assistance and safety that fosters the possibility of furthering one's education past graduation. The building is always clean and counselors are always available. Personally, I was zoned for a different school in NISD but chose to attend Clark because of all its merits and awards. It offers many and diverse clubs and sports. And perhaps most notably, it is the only school in NISD to participate in Model UN and has one of the most populated Latin clubs in the state!... Read 634 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Average SAT 1160

• Average ACT 26

• North East Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  505 reviews

Senior: I moved to San Antonio the summer before my junior year, and since then, I've had an excellent experience at Churchill High School. This high school has some of the most remarkable and passionate teachers I've ever met, which has enriched my high school career so much. They have a number of extracurriculars and clubs that connect students and make each person at Churchill High School feel like they are part of a special community. One thing that Churchill High School can improve on is to reduce its use of paper. Unlike other schools I've been at, Churchill High School is more traditional in their use of pen and paper, and it could possibly transition to lending laptops to each student, which could also enrich their learning experience at home.... Read 505 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Average SAT 1170

• Average ACT 26

• Boerne Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  201 reviews

Sophomore: One thing I love about Boerne High School is the variation of course difficulty, as well as the access to different levels of education. For those pursuing a less academically driven education, on-level classes are a great option to still earn high school credits. For those pursuing higher levels of academic success, AP and dual credit classes allow students to earn college credit from even freshman year. Most students are easygoing and friendly, and the overall environment is relaxed. The teachers do an excellent job at connecting with students, and school events such as football games allow students to connect and show school spirit.... Read 201 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Average SAT 1180

• Average ACT 26

• Lackland Independent School District, TX•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  47 reviews

Senior: Stacey is a great school with amazing teachers and staff. while the school is small I think that's a benefit, everyone knows each other and you really feel like you're in a community. The staff are always open to help you or answer your questions and provide great resources for our future. While our school isn't perfect it's one of the best I've been too... Read 47 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Average SAT 1110

• Average ACT 26

• Comal Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  444 reviews

Senior: Smithson Valley is one of the best schools in Texas. The academics are extremely competitive and so are the sports teams. Every teacher there is nice with an exception of a few older teachers. The dress code and other school policies are normal. Whenever there is an on-campus issue, the administration is always quick and discrete when handling the issue, communicating to the parents, staff, and students with transparency. ComalISD itself is run very well and the environment is uplifting and positive. The only critiques I have for Smithson Valley HS is that it does not validate its artists enough. The art department is severely underfunded and overshadowed by the many other electives offered on campus, mainly those that participate in UIL activities.... Read 444 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Average SAT 1190

• Average ACT 26

• San Antonio Independent School District, TX•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  61 reviews

Junior: I really enjoy having smaller graduating classes, since it allows me to form a great community and get to know almost everyone individually. Furthermore, I love my teachers and the close relationships we are able to form. They are really supportive and passionate about the subjects they teach. They work with us until we truly understand topics and encourage our asking of questions. However, our school lacks a significant amount of funding, which becomes difficult when our abilities are limited in various departments. For example, our theatre department is really small and sometimes the money it takes to put on shows has to come directly from our teacher's pocket. Also regarding science fairs, we are sometimes unable to access certain equipment for our experiments and project ideas. Overall, the environment and interpersonal connections are really nice. The students build each other up and support each other.... Read 61 reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• Average SAT 1190

• Average ACT 26

• Idea Public Schools, TX•

• 6-11

• •
  Rating 4.4 out of 5  5 reviews

Works Here: This school has many clubs the scholars can choose from and they are even given the opportunity to create new clubs they are interested in so long as they get a adult sponsor to assist them. All the clubs are so fun and the kids have a great time learning new things they are interested in. I am part of the staff and have participated in the arts and crafts clubs and the kids had a great time being very creative with their ideas and expressing themselves creatively.... Read 5 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• Average SAT 840

• Average ACT 20

• New Braunfels Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.38 out of 5  346 reviews

Senior: The thing that i love the most about New Braunfels High School is that our mascot is a Unicorn! Growing up here ensure that your blood bleeds BLUE! Every teacher that i have had seems to really enjoy teaching here. Many of them have been here for many years and I feel that says quite a bit about our Administration. One thing that i wish was different is the actual school...it is old and outdated and other than what each teacher does to their room to make it nice, it is not very aesthetically pleasing. Maybe when I graduate from College with my Interior Design degree I can come back to my Alma Matter and redesign the campus!... Read 346 reviews

• grade B

• grade B+

• Average SAT 1160

• Average ACT 26

• Northside Independent School District (San Antonio), TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  603 reviews

Junior: O'Connor is the absolute BEST school in the San Antonio Area, it's the most supportive, diverse, and inclusive school you'll ever come across. My experience has been nothing but great, and got me into a Top 20 College. The teachers are amazing, and there's tons of stuff to get involved in. It's the only NISD campus that's outdoors, and getting sun everyday is one of my favorite things about O'Connor. Administration is so close, and are fantastic with parents, they know ALL their students names. The Counseling Department is award winning, and O'Connor is so privldeged to have them. The students are kind and respectful. Everyday is a good day at O'Connor.... Read 603 reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• Average SAT 1140

• Average ACT 26

• Idea Public Schools, TX•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  19 reviews

Alum: My experience at Idea Walzem was fairly great! My teachers were always there to provide endless support and make sure that I was on top of things no matter the circumstances, and I wasn’t just a number there. However, for future students, I would like to see more variety in the AP classes they can take. I know that CollegeBoard plans to release several new AP classes, but seeing classes like AP Psychology and such would be awesome in the future. Allowing IDEA students to take more AP classes geared towards their majors in the future will greatly help them! Overall, I think Idea Walzem is a great, comforting, and safe environment, but having some academic variety would be amazing for the future graduating classes.... Read 19 reviews

• grade B

• grade B+

• Average SAT 1020

• Average ACT 22

• Randolph Field Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  125 reviews

Sophomore: This high school, Randolph High School offered me many opportunities, and the people here are wonderful. The staff is kind and the teachers aren't prejudiced. The students are well put together and are extremely hardworking.... Read 125 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• Average SAT 1150

• Average ACT 26

• Comal Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  426 reviews

Junior: The first thing I learned when I started school at CHS was that anyone is welcome anywhere! The staff and faculty are super welcoming to new students, previous students, and students that are currently enrolled. Everyone in Canyon does their part to keep the Canyon High reputation to a high standard. The traditions are amazing and there is so much school spirit throughout the town. Canyon High is known for its incredible sportsmanship on the field or court, humbleness, and welcoming of all who come to school. My time at Canyon High has brought so many great memories and I have made so many friends through clubs, sports, and other extracurriculars. Anyone who attends CHS would tell you that the amazing staff and teachers push you to be the best you can be, and always want you to excel in all parts of the school. The staff is very motivating and kind to every student.... Read 426 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• Average SAT 1150

• Average ACT 25

• Fort Sam Houston Independent School District, TX•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  154 reviews

Senior: Robert G. Cole is a military school on Fort Sam Airforce Base. Because of its nature, the school houses some of the most respectful people I have had the pleasure of talking to. The students know what is expected of them, and they take all the opportunities the school provides. Cole is constantly changing, and it adds new classes and invites students to try many academic ventures. Teachers love what they do and share their knowledge with the students well. Here at Cole, we incorporate a "flex" system, that is to say, our schedules are flexible. On certain days and during certain periods, we are allowed to visit another teacher's classroom, which allows us to study, catch up, or just hang out. Cole prepares students for college by providing college-level classes and higher-learning clubs. The education that a student receives at Cole is top-tier, and most of the students will enter college.... Read 154 reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• Average SAT 1120

• Average ACT 24

• Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.85 out of 5  453 reviews

Senior: I honestly really enjoyed my experience at Clemens, speaking a senior now GET INVOLVED AND KEEP ON TOP OF YOUR WORK! Your experience will be so much more enjoyable spending time with people who share similar interests, and when you can have two off periods your senior year. Take journalism/join the publications! The teacher, and organization is something I am extremely grateful for. I have met some of my best friends through that program, and still talk to past graduates today. You will learn real world experience, and BEEF up your resume in ways not thought possible. Take Dual Credit classes! They are insanely better and easier than AP and the teachers are amazing (plus you will receive college credit from just taking the class). I do wish however, COVID-19 was dealt with better, but that is not the schools fault more so Texas in general.... Read 453 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• Average SAT 1150

• Average ACT 26

• North East Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  526 reviews

Senior: MacArthur is the smallest High School within the North East Independent School District, but it always strives to bring the best value to other organizations that are not just on the campus grounds. The teachers always go above and beyond to give the students the resources they need to thrive through the year. They will always go out of their way to guide anyone to the right path when they are struggling. MacArthur may not be the best at every sport that it offers, but the coaches make sure that the athletes are willing to give it their all through heart and dedication. This school is full of school spirit in every organization and tradition that it offers, and it is always done the Brahma way. The Brahma way is a network of connections that flows through every activity on the campus grounds.... Read 526 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• Average SAT 1140

• Average ACT 24

• Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  564 reviews

Senior: There is so much opportunity and room fo explore at this school. They offer many options for kids to try and figure out what they like to do and don't like to do! The teachers care about their students a lot and a lot of resources are provided to help the students with learning. Also, there's a variety of teachers with different teaching styles! What I would change is the fact that you need to set an academic path for yourself as a freshman that determines your future years at the school. Mine has changed twice already and I think it makes things a bit scarier and boxed un for kids when they first enter high school. But other than that, the school is pretty great!... Read 564 reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• Average SAT 1140

• Average ACT 25