When seeking to buy a home in San Antonio, you may consider your commute to work, cost of living, or even the character of your neighborhood, but local school districts should also be considered - even if you do not have children. Purchasing a property near a reputable public school district increases the total value of your home, oftentimes.
If you're considering relocating to San Antonio, you might be wondering how good the schools are. To make your transition smoother, we've taken the time to select and assess the best schools in San Antonio while organizing them into their respective school districts.
1. BASIS Texas Charter Schools
Our rating for the School District: 4.85 out of 5
BASIS Texas Charter Schools in San Antonio is a tuition-free, public charter school that serves students in grades K–12 and is part of the BASIS Charter School Network. With 6 schools and 3048 students within the school district, BASIS Charter Schools prides itself on its STEM-infused, college preparatory, K–12 tuition-free curriculum.
World-class academic excellence is what drives BASIS, and students are challenged to conquer high-level concepts. With the majority of the teachers being experts in their fields, students in BASIS Texas Charter Schools are exposed to big ideas, creative solutions, and a sky’s-the-limit attitude in discovering what is possible.
Currently BASIS Texas Charter Schools has an average graduation rate of 100 percent and SAT score of 1360 while offering students a variety of services including gifted and talented programs, special education, and athletics. It also embraces inclusion and a unique sense of community at each campus. And students are encouraged to lead, connect, collaborate, and hold themselves accountable for their successes and failures.
Area of Town/Neighborhood: Castle Hills and Shavano Park
What Parents / Students Are Saying: “I have been enrolled in Basis school since 6th grade. My Gifted and Talented teacher recommended this school and I loved it from the first day I started there. The teaching is very intense and the teachers are from all over the world! It is a totally different experience and it's all worth it!” (Source: Niche)
Top Schools in BASIS Texas Charter Schools
* BASIS San Antonio - Shavano Campus: Offers an accelerated curriculum with tons of college-level courses
* BASIS San Antonio - Shavano Campus: Offers several advanced placement classes
* BASIS San Antonio Primary - North Central Campus: Teachers, students, and families value learning and are there to support the learning process!
2. Alamo Heights Independent School District
Our rating for the School District: 4.7 out of 5
The Alamo Heights Independent School District is home to a plethora of top-rated schools, including Woodbridge Elementary. Currently, Alamo Heights Independent School District contains 5 schools and 4,846 students with a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1.
With an average graduation rate of 97 and SAT score of 1230, the AHISD offers students a variety of services including gifted and talented programs, special education, athletics, and ROTC.
Students that attend schools in the Alamo Heights district have access to schools that help them to better prepare for college and that look to educate the whole child. To help educate the entire child, they offer both athletic and academic programs that challenge students to be the best that they can be both in the school setting and in the world at large.
Area of Town/Neighborhood: Alamo Heights
What Parents / Students Are Saying: “Our daughter attended Woodridge in 1st grade and is now transitioning to 2nd. Her teacher last year was fantastic—kind, collaborative, and focused on both learning and character development. We’re looking forward to our daughter’s involvement in The Heights (GT) program next year.” (Source: GreatSchools)
Top Schools in Alamo Heights International School District
* Alamo Heights High School: Excellent infrastructures for proper learning
* Alamo Heights Junior School: Robust curriculum with excellent staff support
* Woodridge Elementary School: Phenomenal teachers support
3. Boerne Independent School District
Our rating for the School District: 4.65 out of 5
Serving Borne, Texas the Boerne Independent School District is a school system that works hard to ensure that no student is left behind. They offer students the opportunity to excel in both academics and sports.
Boerne Independent School District contains 13 schools and 9,617 students. Within Boerne Independent School District, 100.0% of teachers are licensed, and 95.1% have three or more years of experience. The student-to-teacher ratio is higher than the state average, at 17:1.
Schools like Samuel V. Champion High School, Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary, and Boerne Middle School South offer students a wide variety of clubs including robotics, Sign Language, and mock trial. Additionally, to help students thrive in all their endeavors, schools in the area offer students counseling and special education services.
Area of Town/Neighborhood: Boerne
What Parents / Students Are Saying: “I have always found staff easy to contact and got prompt replies about concerns.” (Source: Niche)
Top Schools in Boerne Independent School District
* Boerne-Samuel V. Champion High School: Academic readiness and inclusion of e-learning as part of teaching methods
* Boerne Middle School South: Excellent sports curriculum and extracurricular clubs
* Cibolo Creek Elementary School: Active administration and friendly environment
4. Fort Sam Houston Independent School District
Our rating for the School District: 4.6 out of 5
Fort Sam Houston Independent School District is a public school district based in San Antonio, Texas serving grades K-12. It has 1,501 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. According to state test scores, 57% of students are at least proficient in math and 62% in reading.
Students served by the Fort Sam Houston Independent School District have access to both Fort Sam Houston Elementary and Robert G. Cole (a combined middle and high school). At the elementary school level, children have access to a variety of clubs including stem-focused clubs like robotics. In middle and high school, students looking for options to excel in their favorite subjects can sign up for JROTC and the National Honors Society, amongst others.
Both schools prepare students for the challenging world after high school by setting them up for success. Both the elementary school and Robert G. Cole offer students a Chromebook program. High School students are given the tools they need to prepare for higher education and the school has an 87 percent college placement rate.
Area of Town/Neighborhood: Fort Sam Houston
What Parents / Students Are Saying: “The teachers actually care about the kids, the sports programs and coaches are excellent, the band teacher has really been awesome. We decided to live on base specifically so she could attend Cole and I think we made the right decision.” (Source: Niche)
Top Schools in Fort Sam Houston School District
* Robert G. Cole High School: Beautiful and conducive school environment
* Robert G. Cole Middle School: Staff and students have tight-knit relationships due to the small school size
* Fort Sam Houston Elementary School: Home to happy teachers offering solid enrichment classes
5. Randolph Field Independent School District
Our rating for the School District: 4.55 out of 5
Randolph Field Independent School District serves students and is located on Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in Universal City, TX. Currently, the Randolph Field Independent School District contains 3 schools and 1,441 students with a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1.
Top-rated in both sports and academics, the Randolph Field Independent School District is top-rated on both Niche and Great Schools. Starting in elementary school, students have access to extracurricular activities including groups like the young astronauts, poetry, and theater clubs. They also have a thriving Air Force Junior ROTC program.
As far as academics go, students at Randolph High School, which is “dedicated to excellence”, can not only take Advanced Placement courses but can also take academic dual credit courses. Schools in the area are active in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) as well as the arts and humanities.
Area of Town/Neighborhood: Randolph Field Air Force Base, Olympia Hills, and Universal City
What Parents / Students Are Saying: “The school itself was not too big, and though I excelled, it gave an opportunity to everyone to shine.” (Source: Niche)
Top Schools in Randolph Field International School District
* Randolph High School: Quite safe and secured due to its location in a military area
* Randolph Middle School: Nice extracurricular activities and hygienic cafeteria
* Randolph Elementary School: Very attentive, talented teachers, a vibrant curriculum, and kind staff
6. Lackland Independent School District
Our Rating for the School District: 4.5 out of 5
Lackland Independent School District is a highly-rated, public school district located in the San Antonio area. Currently, this school district has 890 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1. Lackland Independent School District is best known for its work in creating a cooperative learning environment.
Students in the district have access to two schools: Lackland Elementary and Virginia Allred Stacey Junior and Senior High School. Students here are encouraged to think of others within not only their own community but also the world at large.
The Virginia Allred Stacey Junior and Senior High School is home to the award-winning robotics team, the Bots in Blue. But the schools in this district offer more than just high-achieving intellectual pursuits. Both the elementary school and high school offer achievement-oriented sports opportunities.
Area of Town/Neighborhood: Lackland AFB and Alamo Ranch
What Parents / Students Are Saying: “This school is amazing! They have an all-day PreK program and I absolutely love my son's teacher. They do PE every day and have tons of exposure to music, art, technology, etc.” (Source: GreatSchools)
Top Schools in Lackland Independent School District
* Virginia Allred Stacey Senior School: Home to teachers committed to student growth through proper teaching methods
* Virginia Allred Stacey Junior School: School is technologically advanced with a dedicated tech club
* Lackland Elementary School: Home to three playgrounds including structures for children with special needs.
7. Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District
Our Rating for the School District: 4.4 out of 5
Serving the Texas communities of Schertz, Cibolo, and Universal City, the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District’s motto is “Inspire - Innovate - Excel.”
Schools in this district pride themselves on being able to foster a close student-teacher relationship as you would find in a small town but also their ability to offer students top-notch educational opportunities.
There are 16 schools in this district that serve over 15,000 students. The district is home to several top-rated schools, including O. G. Wiederstein Elementary, J. Frank Dobie Junior High, and Byron P. Steele II High Schools. Students of these schools, and others in the district, tend to go onto higher educational opportunities and have a 96% graduation rate.
The district offers academically exceptional students the ability to participate in a gifted and talented program. Byron P. Steele II offers a dual-credit program for students that wish to attain college credits while in High School. There are also a number of clubs and athletic options to help students achieve excellence in all aspects of their lives.
Area of Town/Neighborhood: Schertz, Cibolo, and Universal City
What Parents / Students Are Saying: “We have had an awesome experience at Wiederstein. The teachers are amazing and the Principal is wonderful.” (Source: Niche)
Top Schools in Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District
* Byron P. Steele II High School: Located in a great community and receive mutual support from the host community
* Laura Ingalls Wilder Intermediate School: Very approachable administration committed to student success
* Wiederstein Elementary School: Skilled and Amazing staff
8. North East Independent School District
Our Rating for the School District: 4.2 out of 5
Located right in San Antonio is the North East Independent School District. This large school district is home to 47 elementary schools, 16 middle schools, and 11 high schools. Some notable schools in the area are Texas Purple Star Campus Reagan High School, The International School of the Americas, and Bush Middle School. While many of the schools in this district are highly rated, these are three of the topmost rated.
Many of the schools in the district provide students with take-home iPads. Moreover, teachers and administrators are dedicated to seeing their children succeed and offer Family Specialists to help bridge the gap between home and school to help all their students to achieve success.
Schools in the district take a whole new approach to education and not only offer opportunities to excel within the classroom setting in science, math, english, and history but also offer them access to athletics, fine arts, and JROTC.
Area of Town/Neighborhood: Stone Oak
What Parents / Students Are Saying: “I love this school they always are available when you need help. The teachers, the school director, and AP are AWESOME!!!! I have my daughter in the DUO program and she [speaks] and [understands] both languages.” (Source: Niche)
Top Schools in North East Independent School District
* Johnson Hill High School: Offers multiple opportunities to help students join extracurricular activities and college classes
* Bush Middle School: Great teachers and administration
* Wilderness Oak Elementary School: Excellent administration, support personnel, and the custodial and food service personnel
9. Comal Independent School District
Our Rating for the School District: 4.0 out of 5
The Comal Independent School District is home to 31 different schools. Schools in this district include top-rated schools like Memorial Early College High, Smithson Valley Middle, and Sprecht Elementary. The district is known for its high achievements including its 98 percent graduation rate, low class sizes, and 20 different Texas UIL athletic sports.
Schools in the district are places where high achievers can feel challenged. Johnson Ranch Elementary School fifth graders were recently crowned champions of the Pentabowl Math Competition.
But most importantly, the school system in Comal works hard to see all of their students achieve success. With over 22 dedicated school psychology specialists, schools in the Comal Independent School District work hard daily to ensure that special education students are given just as many opportunities to succeed as anyone else.
Area of Town/Neighborhood: New Braunfels and Comal
What Parents / Students Are Saying: “My experience with Comal ISD IS great in Canyon High School. They always aim to keep us students safe and provide many academic opportunities for us, such as providing us with college credit with [advanced] college courses!” (Source: Niche)
Top Schools in Comal Independent School District
* Smithson Valley High School: Safety-conscious and flexible academic curriculum
* Smithson Valley Middle School: Positive atmosphere with a dedicated counseling department
* Specht Elementary School: Offers many extracurricular activities like choir, art time, lego classes, robotics, violin, chess, dance, and exercise with your parents classes
10. Medina Valley Independent School District
Our Rating for the School District: 3.8 out of 5
Medina Valley Independent School District students are known for their exceptional levels of pride in not only their schools but the community at large. Students in Medina Valley Public Schools are presented with a wide variety of options to help them contribute to their community. One such example is their program where high school students read to elementary school students.
As far as academics go, students have four elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school to choose from. At these schools, students can receive instruction from award-winning teachers, participate in unique learning experiences for science and math, have access to a supportive team of in-school counselors, and a variety of clubs to help peak their interests.
All students of the Medina Valley Independent School District have access to a gifted and talented program. The goal of this program is to help those students who demonstrate exceptional academic abilities to receive a more challenging education.
Area of Town/Neighborhood: Castroville and La Coste
What Parents / Students Are Saying: “I have attended Medina Valley since the 7th grade, it has been such a great experience and was a definite upgrade from my last school. Medina Valley High School has offered nothing but the greatest courses and extra-circulars. I am involved in many extra-circulars that my previous school never offered such as Mu Alpha Theta (Greek Math Society) FFA judging teams and public speaking events, Student Council, Swim, and many more.” (Source: Niche)
Top Schools in Medina Valley Independent School District
* Medina Valley High School: Lovely school spirit and bond between teachers and students
* Medina Valley Middle School: Home to a variety of school clubs to help students develop their interest
* Castroville Elementary School: Offers students access to a gifted and talented program
11. Great Hearts Academy
Our Rating for the School District: 3.75 out of 5
Great Hearts Texas is a network of state-chartered public schools that offer honors-level liberal arts education in the spirit of the finest independent private schools. With its position as a highly rated school district, Great Hearts Academy in San Antonio boasts 6,642 students in grades K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 20 to 1.
Thanks to its academic structure, students in this school district are provided with an exceptional opportunity to get the very best in a college preparatory institution.
According to the school website, the goal of the Great Hearts Academy in San Antonio is to establish a new standard and purpose for public secondary education. Great Hearts Academy believes in each student's innate ability to comprehend the rich tradition of Western Civilization, as well as to grow in the virtues that characterize a profound, philosophical life, which is summed up by the triad of our Latin motto: verum, pulchrum, bonum - truth, beauty, and goodness.
Area of Town/Neighborhood: Terrell Hills, Olmos Park, and Downtown
What Parents / Students Are Saying: “I have been there since second grade and it's truly an amazing and nurturing school! I highly recommend it. I used to be in public school and frankly, I was bored and felt like I wasn't united with my school. Now I feel our culture and our family. Everyone knows everyone. Great Hearts schools will be at the top of my list for children. Also, although a charter school, they enable free will and culture.” (Source: Niche)
Top Schools in Great Hearts School District
* Great Hearts Monte Vista North: Amazing liberal arts/great books program
* Great Hearts Monte Vista North: Phenomenal curriculum and lots of options for extracurricular activities
* Great Hearts Northern Oaks: Healthy and successful learning environment.
12. Northside Independent School District
Our Rating for the School District: 3.5 out of 5
The Northside Independent School District is located in and serves the community of Marion, TX. Nearly 1500 students attend the four different schools in this district. The schools are Marion Elementary School - Karrer Campus, Marion Elementary School - Krueger Campus, Marion Middle School, and Marion High School.
Students in this district benefit from close student-teacher interaction due to their relatively small class sizes of 14 students per teacher. Small class sizes are exceptionally beneficial in high school where the school offers students both advanced placement and dual credit courses to help them excel after high school.
Northside Independent School District schools are dedicated to ensuring that their students are able to succeed in all their endeavors. This is why both Marion Middle and High Schools offer students opportunities for Future Farmers of America and a robust fine arts education.
Area of Town/Neighborhood: Marion
What Parents / Students Are Saying: “I attended Marion ISD since second grade, and I am proud to say that I am a Marion Bulldog. The schools have incredibly well-kept facilities, and the school district itself has had an influx of funding. There are plenty of new facilities in development.” (Source: Niche)
Top Schools in Northside Independent School District
* Health Careers High School: Culturally diverse with a solid academic curriculum and qualified teachers
* Garcia Middle School: Fabulous Gifted and Talented (GT) Program and an abundance of social and academic clubs
* Leon Springs Elementary School: Highly dedicated teachers and maintains long-standing traditions of excellence
If you want to make sure that your child succeeds in all their educational pursuit, choosing a home in the right school district in San Antonio may be all you need to give your child the best educational experience. Get started today by reaching out to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate HomeCity to find a home in the San Antonio area.
