HOUSTON – June 12, 2018 – Spring Early College Academy has earned a top-10 ranking among high schools in the greater Houston area in the annual list created by Children at Risk, coming in number seven in the area and number 33 in the state.

The non-profit education advocacy group releases its list at the end of each school year, using a variety of metrics to measure school performance, including student achievement, graduation rates and SAT/ACT participation, while factoring in the percentage of economically disadvantaged students.

Last year, Spring Early College Academy ranked 37 in the area and 124 in the state. Diana Kimberly, academy principal, attributed the school’s improvement over the past year to targeted and focused instruction.

“The teachers built relationships and connected with students on a personal level to build trust and confidence,” Kimberly said. “Student data was used to determine gaps and weaknesses in individual students so that all instructional needs were met.”

According to Children at Risk, the school saw significant gains in performance on STAAR Algebra I and English EOC exams.  On the Algebra 1 exam, 29 percent more students Met Grade Level this year over last year. For English I and II tests, eight percent more students Met Grade Level.

Spring Early College Academy is one of the district’s schools of choice, offering students the opportunity to graduate with an associate degree while earning a high school diploma. Through a partnership with Lone Star College-North Harris, students take classes at the academy as well as the Lone Star College campus to meet their requirements.