Mission, Texas- Mission Collegiate High School (MCHS) has earned a Bronze award from the U.S. News & World Report in its annual ranking of high schools in the country. This is the second year in a row that MCHS has been nationally recognized by the publication.
“We are extremely proud of this recognition,” said Dr. Ricardo López, superintendent for Mission CISD (Consolidated Independent School District). “This ranking was using data from the 2013-2014 school year, when MCHS only had two grade levels. It is exciting to think how much higher in ranking the campus may go as data is included representing all four grade levels that the school currently has. The faculty, staff, and administration at MCHS make it a magical place to learn.”
This year will be the first year MCHS will have graduating seniors. According to U.S. News & World Reports, this year’s rankings marks the first time graduation rates have been used in ranking high schools at this scale.
The national publication uses a four-step process in determining the Best High Schools lists. The first three steps are designed to ensure that the schools serve all students well, using performance on math and reading parts of state exams and graduation rates as benchmarks. Step one statistical performance expected for students in the state. Step two, for schools passing the first step, looks at performance of disadvantaged students as compared to their counterparts in the state. Steps three and four look at graduation rates. Step four looks at college-readiness performance based on Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate test data.
As a state-designated early college high school, MCHS students are allowed to take college courses as early as their freshmen year in high school. Students also receive a rigorous curriculum through dual credit and AP courses. Students who apply themselves can graduate from MCHS with both a high school diploma and an Associate’s Degree from South Texas College. Currently, about 50% of MCHS’s first graduating class are on target to graduate with an Associate’s Degree in May; and then receive their high school diplomas on June 2.