The San Antonio ISD has gotten knocked around a lot in the past week, with the controversy over the teacher layoffs, but today the district got some good news, as SAISD's Young Women's Leadership Academy was named the top public high school in San Antonio, News Radio 1200 WOAI reprots.
The designation came from the group Children at Risk. President Dr. Bob Sanborn says great public schools provide a true economic boost to the city.
"Good public education historically has been the way that students move from one economic class to a higher economic class," Sanborn said.
Young Women's Leadership Academy Principal Delia McLerran says the school is structured for success.
"Being able to plan vertically between our middle school program and our high school program," she said. "Having systems in place to help teachers and students adopt strategies to make them successful, and of course giving the students as many college opportunities as possible."
She says many of the girls at the Academy are the first in their families to attend college.
Other top ranked high schools including Judson Early College Academy, and Health Careers, Clark, and Brandeis High Schools in the Northside ISD, as well as Johnson High School in Northeast.
Top rated middle schools include the Basis Academy and Great Hearts Academy Charter Schools, as well as Smithson Valley Middle School in the Comal ISD and Lopez Middle School in North East.
Top rated elementary schools include Hardy Oak, Hoffman Lane, and Wilderness Oak Elementaries.
Children at Risk also honor the Gold Ribbon Neighborhood Schools, which succeed for lower income families. Top elementary schools in that category include Big Country Elementary, Burke Elementary, and McQueeney Elementary.