21 May 2007
TAG and Science & Engineering Magnet named best U.S. public high schools
DALLAS-The Dallas Independent School District's Talented and Gifted Magnet and the School of Science and Engineering, both housed at the Yvonne A. Ewell Magnet Center, have been named the top two high schools in the country, according to Newsweek Magazine.
It is the second straight year that TAG has received the honor.
"This is a credit to everyone involved with both schools," said Superintendent of Schools Michael Hinojosa. "These schools are setting the example for others in both the district and the rest of the nation."
Newsweek annually publishes the list of top 1200 schools in the country. The magazine's criteria is the number of Advanced Placement exams taken divided by the number of students at the school.
"We strongly encourage each of our students to take Advanced Placement exams," said Principal Michael Satarino. "They take a very demanding course load but it pays off when they receive scholarships from the top colleges and universities in the country."
The Science and Engineering Magnet moved from 8th on Newsweek's list last year to 2nd in 2006. During the last five years, Science and Engineering has been the number one school in the nation for minorities passing Calculus AB and BC exams regardless of size and the number one school in the world for students passing Calculus AB, according to the College Board.
"This is the accumulation of several years of extraordinary work by the students and staff affiliated with the school," said SEM principal Richard White. "We have had a healthy competition for years with the TAG Magnet and now that both schools are named the best in the country, everyone has benefited, especially students."
Graduates from both schools are attending some of the nation's elite colleges and universities, including M.I.T., Stanford, Rice, Carnegie-Mellon and Vassar. Over the last five years, graduates from TAG and Science and Engineering have given Dallas ISD the distinction of having at least one AP State Scholar each year, which is awarded to the top male and female graduate in the state who pass the most number of AP exams.
Dallas ISD had two other schools listed in Newsweek's list of top 1200 schools. W.T. White was rated at 131 (14th in Texas) and Hillcrest was listed at 610 (39th in Texas). There are more than 20,000 high schools nationwide.