Katy ISD Earns No. 1 Spot in Houston Area for Fifth Straight Year, According to Niche Rankings
For the fifth year in a row, Katy Independent School District has been named the No. 1 Best School District in the Houston Area by Niche, a trusted national platform known for its comprehensive school rankings.The 2026 Niche Best School Districts report reaffirms what many in the Greater Katy community already know: Katy ISD continues to set the standard for public education in the region.
Serving more than 95,000 students across 73 campuses, Katy ISD is the only large district in Texas to consistently place this high across a wide range of Niche performance categories. With an A+ overall rating, Katy ISD also ranked:
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No. 1 in Best Places to Teach in the Houston Area
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No. 1 in Districts with the Best Teachers in the Houston Area
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No. 1 in Best School Districts for Athletes in the Houston Area
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No. 1 Overall School District in the Houston Area
“This recognition is the direct result of our top-tier teachers and staff, who remain committed to delivering the highest quality learning experiences for every single child,” said Superintendent Dr. Ken Gregorski. “Five consecutive years of being number one in Houston, and Top 10 in the state, affirms why Katy ISD remains a destination district for families. Katy ISD represents the standard of excellence in public education.”
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Standing Out Among Texas’ Largest Districts
At the state level, Katy ISD ranked No. 10 overall among all public school districts in Texas, despite being significantly larger than its peers. Of the nine districts ahead of Katy ISD in the statewide ranking, none serve more than 22,000 students, and five serve fewer than 10,000. This underscores Katy ISD’s ability to maintain academic excellence while serving a large, growing population.
Niche’s methodology combines quantitative data from the U.S. Department of Education—including state assessment scores, college readiness, graduation rates, and SAT/ACT scores—with millions of reviews from students and parents. In this year’s results, Katy ISD excelled across every educational level:
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Elementary Schools: Six Katy ISD schools are ranked in the Top 10 Elementary Schools in Houston, with Griffin Elementary holding the No. 3 spot.
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Middle Schools: Katy ISD accounts for 70% of the Top 10 Middle Schools in the region. McMeans Junior Highcame in at No. 2.
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High Schools: Seven Lakes High School ranked No. 2 in the Houston Area, while Cinco Ranch and Taylor High School also landed in the Top 25.
In addition to academic achievement, athletics and teaching culture remain standout strengths. Katy ISD ranked No. 2 for Best Places to Teach in Texas and No. 7 statewide for Best School Districts for Athletes.
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A Legacy of Excellence
Since 2022, Katy ISD has topped Niche’s regional rankings—a testament to the district’s sustained commitment to academic quality, teacher support, and whole-child development. The continued recognition sends a strong message to both families and educators looking for a district that balances high performance with community values.
As Katy continues to grow, district leadership has expressed that these honors reflect not just metrics, but the collective effort of thousands of teachers, staff, students, and parents. It's a distinction that reinforces what many already believe: Katy ISD isn’t just a place to learn—it’s a place to thrive.
To explore the full rankings and learn more about how Niche evaluates schools, visit niche.com.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
