When it comes to preparing for college, few things are as important as your high school. This decides which classes you take and how hard they will be, the level of support you will receive, both academically and socially, and what extracurriculars will be easily available to you. Of course, not everything in a college application is dependent upon your high school, but it is a major factor. Just as currents can work with or against the progress of a ship, so too can a high school work with or against a student in their goal of college admissions. One of the things we often help parents and students with is finding the right high school to meet their needs. Every student is unique, with their own set of wants and needs and goals, and each will be served differently by different high schools. In this article, we’re going to go through some great high school options in San Antonio, to look at what each one offers, and whether or not they might be right for your needs. This won’t be a comprehensive review, but a sampling, to show you what options are available to you.
The Best Private High Schools in San Antonio
We’re going to start by looking at private high schools, and then review public schools separately. This is not every private school in and around San Antonio, but a sampling of some excellent options.
TMI Episcopal
This is a private, coed, Episcopalian, day school, located in San Antonio. It serves students in grades 6-12, and has an optional boarding program for students in grades 8-12. It enrolls approximately 550 students, with a student:teacher ratio of 9:1. The school was formerly known as the Texas Military Institute, and still maintains a strong military tradition. Joining the JROTC is optional, but around a third of the student body chooses to do so. The school is also Episcopalian; while students from any faith background may apply and attend, the Episcopalian faith does inform both the curriculum and the school’s culture.
TMI offers a college preparatory curriculum, along with a suite of honors and AP courses to push students academically. A single year of religious studies coursework is required to graduate. They offer a number of math and science electives that go beyond the AP curriculum, and which are meant to mimic college level coursework. The school offers leadership courses which are only available to cadets, and which are part of their JROTC training. The average SAT score at TMI is 1330, and the average ACT score is 29.
Tuition at TMI is $31,730 annually, though this varies by grade level. For boarding students, tuition and board together costs $62,960. There is a limited amount of need based aid and merit scholarships. Applications to TMI must be done online. These require the online form, three letters of recommendation (math teacher, English teacher, and principal), transcripts from the current and previous year, student supplemental questions, a student interview, and ISEE scores.
Saint Mary’s Hall
By Smhbarons – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29303054
Saint Mary’s is a private, day, coed, school serving pre-k through 12th grade in San Antonio. Note that the school was founded as a girl’s only boarding school, but no longer accepts residential students. The school was founded as part of the Episcopalian faith, but is no longer tied to any specific church, though it does still incorporate some faith-based elements into the school’s culture and curriculum, including weekly chapel. The school enrolls approximately 790 students, with a student:teacher ratio of 15:1.
Saint Mary’s offers an advanced, college preparatory curriculum, featuring 20 AP courses and a number of non-AP honors courses. Students are generally only allowed to enroll in four AP or other college-level courses at once, but may enroll in more with permission from a counselor. They offer an interdisciplinary studies program; these are semester-long courses designed to introduce upper level students to the demands of college-level research and writing college-level papers. Students are required to enroll in one of these courses to graduate. The average SAT score is 1370, and the average ACT score is 32.
Tuition at Saint Mary’s is $34,042 annually, though this varies by grade level. There is some need-based financial aid available. Applications to the school are due in December, and must be completed online. Applications require the online form, ISEE scores, report cards from the current year and the past two years, four letters of recommendation (English and math teachers, an administrator, and an extracurricular source), a shadow day visit and student interview, and a parent interview. Applications open in September.
Keystone School
Located in San Antonio, Keystone is a private, secular, coed, day school, serving students in grades pre-K through 12. It enrolls approximately 490 students, with a student:teacher ratio of 10:1. They offer an advanced college-preparatory curriculum; all students will take at least 4 AP courses by the time they graduate; the average student takes 7. Their students do very well on AP exams on average. They also offer students a chance to participate in science fairs, and are quite proud of their students’ engagement with these. The average SAT score at Keystone is 1420, and the average ACT score is 33.
Tuition at Keystone is $26,470 annually, though this does vary by grade level. There is some need-based aid available. Applications to Keystone open in October, and must be completed online; the main points of entry are pre-school, kindergarten, and 9th grade, all other grades accept students on the basis of seat availability. Applications require the online form, three recommendations (math and English teachers and an optional third teacher), transcripts, a full day campus visit by students which will include an interview, and ISEE scores.
Lutheran High School of San Antonio
LHS (as it is commonly abbreviated) is a private, coed, Lutheran, day school located in San Antonio (as the name might suggest). It serves students in grades 9-12, and enrolls approximately 120 students. Note that LHS is a Lutheran school, and their faith informs both the curriculum and the school’s culture. You do not need to be Lutheran yourself to attend, but the school is.
LHS offers an advanced academic curriculum, with a focus on preparing students for college. They offer a number of optional pathways for students with specific interests, including engineering, health sciences, and art. These combine electives together to give students a foundation in these particular fields, and prepare them for higher education in them. The average SAT score at LHS is 1230, and the average ACT score is 28.
Tuition for LHS is not listed on their site. There is some need-based aid available; they note that all students receiving aid must perform additional volunteering at the school. Applications must be submitted online, but are designed to be straightforward. These include the online form, standardized test scores, their report card from their current school, two letters of recommendation (teacher and counselor), and an optional day of shadowing.
The Best Public High Schools in San Antonio
Now that we’ve looked at some private schools, we’re going to turn our attention to public schools. We’re going to look at both schools in San Antonio itself, and in the surrounding suburbs. We will include any information on enrollment if it is necessary. Note that San Antonio has multiple subsidiary school districts within it, so the quality of schools and the curriculum they offer can change in different neighborhoods of the city.
International School of the Americas
This is a selective enrollment magnet school in San Antonio, and is part of the North East Independent School District. The school was founded with support from the nearby Trinity University, and still maintains close ties with that institution; many teachers at ISA are Trinity alumni. Admissions to ISA is selective. Students who live anywhere in San Antonio may apply, but are judged in two pools; those in district and those out of district. Students must complete the online application; this includes three short answer questions. A lottery system is then used to select students for admissions. Siblings of current students are given preference. The school enrolls 500 students; only 125 are accepted into 9th grade each year.
ISA offers an advanced, college-preparatory curriculum. They have a strong liberal arts core, but have an extended focus on humanities and social sciences compared to other schools. They do have strong STEM subjects, but the school really excels in the humanities. Students are given global perspective, and each year each grade takes a major trip, to gain new perspectives.
ISA is also notable for its Model UN. Its students host one of the largest Model UN conferences in the country each year, and students from the US and Mexico attend. This event is hosted at Trinity University, but is run by ISA students. The school offers other clubs, but does not have its own sports teams; students interested in athletics may pursue them through Lee High School, which is nearby.
Reagan High School
Located in San Antonio, Reagan is part of the North East Independent School District. It is a zoned high school, and has no admissions requirements besides living in its zone of the district. It enrolls approximately 3,400 students, with a student:teacher ratio of 18:1. The school focuses on an advanced, college preparatory curriculum; it has no particular focus, but offers a range of courses across the board.
Reagan offers AP courses, honors courses, and dual enrollment courses. They also offer a range of career training programs to students. For extracurriculars, Reagan is well known for the strength of their marching band; it regularly excels in regional competitions, and has competed nationally. They also have a strong athletics program.
Health Careers High School
By Northside Independent School District – NISD, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5150732
Located in San Antonio, HCHS is a magnet school overseen by Northside Independent School District, but is attended by students from across Bexar County. As the name suggests, the school has a focus on students who are interested in pursuing a career in medicine in the future. This school must be applied to online through the district’s website. This requires the online form; students both from the district and from elsewhere in San Antonio may apply. The school enrolls approximately 900 students.
HCHS offers an advanced academic curriculum, including 20 AP courses. They also offer dual enrollment coursework through Northwest Vista College. Students in the school may pick one medical course of study to focus on; this gives them an introduction to medical and lab techniques. These programs are meant to prepare students for varying careers, from college programs in preparation to apply to medical school to direct career fields, like nursing.
Johnson High School
Located in San Antonio, Johnson is part of the North East Independent School District, and is a zoned high school. There are no particular requirements to apply or attend; you simply need to live in the district zoned to it. Johnson enrolls approximately 3,200 students, with a student:teacher ratio of 18:1. Johnson is notable for the success of their marching band, which is often quite competitive at the regional level, and has competed nationally; they are rivals with Reagan, both for band and athletically.
Johnson offers a full suite of advanced coursework, with 31 AP courses and 32 honors courses, along with options for dual enrollment. They do not have a particular area of academic focus, and instead offer a broad array of courses, and are generally strong academically. They offer a range of career and technical courses in business and engineering as well, to supplement their core academic offerings. The average SAT score at Johnson is 1038, and the average ACT score is 23.6.
Final Thoughts
High school is an incredible time for most students, one that sees them grow and change as people, developing into who they will become. This process is guided particularly by the schools they attend, which give them room to grow and resources to explore, both academically and otherwise. We hope that this article has given you insight into what your high school options look like in San Antonio, and which may be of most use to you.
Of course, high school is more than just what you do in the classroom; what you learn and experience outside of it is nearly as important. If you are looking for guidance for your own high school journey, or want specific advice on finding the right school for your particular situation, then schedule a free consultation with us today. We have a long experience helping students make the most of every kind of situation, and are always happy to hear from you.
