Katy ISD Students Bring Home UIL Academic State Championships and Top Honors at 2026 Texas State Meet
Katy ISD students are once again proving that academic excellence is a defining part of the district’s culture. At the 2026 University Interscholastic League (UIL) Academic State Meet, students from Seven Lakes High School, Tompkins High School and Jordan High School earned state championships, runner-up finishes and top-three placements while competing against some of the highest-achieving students in Texas.
For families across Katy ISD, these accomplishments reflect more than individual success. They showcase the strength of the district’s academic programs, the dedication of students and educators, and the opportunities available to students who pursue excellence in subjects ranging from mathematics and computer science to social studies, writing and digital media. As Texas continues to place a growing emphasis on college and career readiness, Katy ISD’s performance at the state level highlights the district’s reputation as one of the region’s leading public school systems.
Seven Lakes High School Earns State Championship Honors
Seven Lakes High School led Katy ISD’s state meet performance, finishing third overall in the Class 6A state standings while capturing the Class 6A Social Studies State Championship. The championship team included Matthew Myers, Andy Truong, Rey Georghiou and Adam Brown.
The Spartans also earned a state runner-up finish in Number Sense, powered by an individual state championship performance from Nayaneshwar Sanampuri. In Accounting, Seven Lakes secured a third-place team finish, while Claire Simoens earned a silver medal with a second-place individual finish.
The school’s success extended beyond traditional academic events and into creative competition. Sofia Morias and Bianca Salinas won the Class 6A Traditional Animation state title for their film Together or Naught, while Zaina Quadri earned third place in Digital Animation for To the Core.
Tompkins High School Excels in Computer Science
Tompkins High School added another strong showing for Katy ISD with a third-place team finish in Computer Science. Team members Nathan Yan, Guhan Gargya, Andrew Yoon and Zoe Xue also achieved the highest programming score recorded in Texas during the competition.
Tompkins student Shiv Patel earned an individual bronze medal with a third-place finish in Accounting, adding to the school’s impressive performance at the state meet.
Jordan High School Earns State Runner-Up Finish
Jordan High School also brought home significant honors. The school’s spelling team, consisting of Aimee Xia, Maria Guerra-Galvan, Qianyu Lou and Fayna Wang, earned a state runner-up finish.
In journalism competition, Danielle Merritt secured a third-place finish in Editorial Writing, demonstrating the diverse academic talents represented across Katy ISD campuses.
District Leaders Celebrate Student Achievement
"Katy ISD students continue to demonstrate what is possible through hard work, perseverance and a passion for learning," said Katy ISD Instructional Officer Kristina Sides. "Competing at the state level is an accomplishment in itself, and these students excelled against the very best academic competitors in Texas."
The recognition comes as UIL academic competitions continue to serve as one of the state's premier showcases for student achievement, testing knowledge and skills across a wide range of disciplines.
Katy ISD State Meet Highlights
Among the district’s top team accomplishments were:
- Seven Lakes High School — 3rd Place Overall Class 6A
- Seven Lakes High School — Class 6A Social Studies State Champions
- Seven Lakes High School — Number Sense State Runner-Up
- Seven Lakes High School — 3rd Place Team Accounting
- Seven Lakes High School — Traditional Animation State Champions (Together or Naught)
- Seven Lakes High School — 3rd Place Digital Animation (To the Core)
- Tompkins High School — 3rd Place Team Computer Science
- Jordan High School — State Runner-Up in Spelling
Individual state medalists included Nayaneshwar Sanampuri, Claire Simoens, Shiv Patel, Danielle Merritt, Sofia Morias, Bianca Salinas and Zaina Quadri.
What These Results Mean for Katy ISD
State-level academic competition requires months of preparation, mentorship and dedication. For students and families throughout Katy ISD, these results reinforce the district’s commitment to academic achievement and provide another example of local students competing successfully on one of Texas’ most competitive educational stages.
As the district looks ahead to the 2026-27 school year, the accomplishments of these students serve as a reminder that excellence in Katy ISD extends far beyond the classroom, reaching statewide recognition in academics, journalism, STEM fields and the arts.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more Katy ISD news, student achievements and education updates from across the Katy area.
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.
