• Check out Houston's top high schools. >> Photo: Jerry Baker, Freelance
Photo: Jerry Baker, Freelance
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Check out Houston's top high schools. >>
Check out Houston's top high schools. >>
Photo: Jerry Baker, Freelance
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Westchester Academy for International Studies - Spring Branch ISD

Houston-area rank: 20
State rank: 69
County: Harris
Westchester Academy for International Studies - Spring Branch ISD

Houston-area rank: 20
State rank: 69
County: Harris
Photo: Google Maps
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Tomball Memorial High School - Tomball ISD

Houston-area rank: 19
State rank: 68
County: Harris
Tomball Memorial High School - Tomball ISD

Houston-area rank: 19
State rank: 68
County: Harris
Photo: Jerry Baker, Freelance
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North Houston Early College - Houston ISD

Houston-area rank: 18
State rank: 63
County: Harris
North Houston Early College - Houston ISD

Houston-area rank: 18
State rank: 63
County: Harris
Photo: Dave Einsel/Houston Independent School District
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Harmony Science Academy - Harmony Science Academy

Houston-area rank: 17
State rank: 59
County: Harris
Harmony Science Academy - Harmony Science Academy

Houston-area rank: 17
State rank: 59
County: Harris
Photo: Harmony Science Academy
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Memorial High School - Spring Branch ISD

Houston-area rank: 16
State rank: 56
County: Harris
Memorial High School - Spring Branch ISD

Houston-area rank: 16
State rank: 56
County: Harris
Photo: Jaimy Jones
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Quest Early College High School - Humble ISD

Houston-area rank: 15
State rank: 50
County: Harris
Quest Early College High School - Humble ISD

Houston-area rank: 15
State rank: 50
County: Harris
Photo: Google Maps
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Alief Early College High School - Alief ISD

Houston-area rank: 14
State rank: 46
County: Alief
Alief Early College High School - Alief ISD

Houston-area rank: 14
State rank: 46
County: Alief
Photo: Google Maps
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Cinco Ranch High School - Katy ISD

Houston-area rank: 13
State rank: 39
County: Harris
Cinco Ranch High School - Katy ISD

Houston-area rank: 13
State rank: 39
County: Harris
Photo: Deel2, Wikimedia Commons
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Clear Lake High School - Clear Creek ISD

Houston-area rank: 12
State rank: 38
County: Galveston
Clear Lake High School - Clear Creek ISD

Houston-area rank: 12
State rank: 38
County: Galveston
Photo: CCISD
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East Early College High School - Houston ISD

Houston-area rank: 11
State rank: 28
County: Harris
East Early College High School - Houston ISD

Houston-area rank: 11
State rank: 28
County: Harris
Photo: Google Maps
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Seven Lakes High School - Katy ISD

Houston-area rank: 10
State rank: 25
County: Harris
Seven Lakes High School - Katy ISD

Houston-area rank: 10
State rank: 25
County: Harris
Photo: Katy ISD
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Clements High School - Fort Bend ISD

Houston-area rank: 9
State rank: 24
County: Fort Bend
Clements High School - Fort Bend ISD

Houston-area rank: 9
State rank: 24
County: Fort Bend
Photo: Google
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Harmony School of Innovation - Harmony School of Science

Houston-area rank: 8
State rank: 22
County: Harris
Harmony School of Innovation - Harmony School of Science

Houston-area rank: 8
State rank: 22
County: Harris
Photo: Harmony School Of Innovation
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Kerr High School - Alief ISD

Houston-area rank: 7
State rank: 12
County: Harris
Kerr High School - Alief ISD

Houston-area rank: 7
State rank: 12
County: Harris
Photo: Google Earth
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Clear Horizons Early College - Clear Creek ISD

Houston-area rank: 6
State rank: 10
County: Galveston
Clear Horizons Early College - Clear Creek ISD

Houston-area rank: 6
State rank: 10
County: Galveston
Photo: Google Earth
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Carnegie Vanguard High School - Houston ISD

Houston-area rank: 5
State rank: 9
County: Harris
Carnegie Vanguard High School - Houston ISD

Houston-area rank: 5
State rank: 9
County: Harris
Photo: Google Maps
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Eastwood Academy - Houston ISD

Houston-area rank: 4
State rank: 8
County: Harris
Eastwood Academy - Houston ISD

Houston-area rank: 4
State rank: 8
County: Harris
Photo: Google Maps
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High School for the Performing and Visual Arts - Houston ISD

Houston-area rank: 3
State rank: 5
County: Harris
High School for the Performing and Visual Arts - Houston ISD

Houston-area rank: 3
State rank: 5
County: Harris
Photo: Wikimedia WhisperToMe
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Challenge Early College High School - Houston ISD

Houston-area rank: 2
State rank: 3
County: Harris
Challenge Early College High School - Houston ISD

Houston-area rank: 2
State rank: 3
County: Harris
Photo: Challenge Early College High School Wikimedia Wikipedia
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DeBakey High School for Health Professions - Houston ISD

Houston-area rank: 1
State rank: 2
County: Harris
DeBakey High School for Health Professions - Houston ISD

Houston-area rank: 1
State rank: 2
County: Harris
Photo: Dave Einsel/Dave Einsel/Houston ISD, Houston ISD
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Ask any teacher: strong fundamentals are the building block to a successful college student.

That's why a solid early education is just as important, if not more than schooling received later on in life.

Children at Risk, a nonprofit organization that studies Texas' public education system, recently released its annual rankings for the Lone Star State's best middle schools.

RELATED: Houston's top 20 middle schools

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Jesse J. Rodriguez, superintendent of Proviso Township High Schools District 209, speaks about the new competency-based learning program they are piloting. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Media: Chicago Tribune

Their data show that schools within the same district can vastly differ in their quality of education.

The rankings can serve as a handy evidence-based tool to narrow down the cream of the crop in public education.

In order to rank the schools, researchers examined standardized test scores and student achievement.

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RELATED: Houston's top 20 elementary schools

In addition, researchers compared campuses across the state with similar levels of poverty to eliminate bias against economically disadvantaged schools.

Dozens of school districts in the Houston area were ranked against each other, as well as schools around the state.

Above: See the Houston-area's best high schools.

Fernando Ramirez is a reporter for Chron.com and the Houston Chronicle. You can read more of his stories here and follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93.