Katy ISD Students Shine with 1,680 College Board National Recognition Awards
Hard work and academic excellence are paying off for Katy ISD students in a big way. This week, the district announced that 1,680 students have been honored by the College Board’s National Recognition Program, a prestigious acknowledgment of achievement that can open doors to college and scholarship opportunities.
The program, part of the College Board’s BigFuture® initiative, highlights students who performed at the highest levels on the PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™ 10, and Advanced Placement® (AP) exams. Eligibility also requires maintaining at least a B+ GPA and achieving benchmarks such as scoring in the top 10 percent at their school or earning a 3 or higher on multiple AP exams.
“This recognition is a testament to the hard work and perseverance our students demonstrate every day and the support our teachers provide on their academic journey,” said Katy ISD Chief Academic Officer Dr. Christine Caskey. “We are incredibly proud to see so many of them honored for their excellence.”
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Expanding Access and Opportunity
For the first time, the College Board introduced three new recognition categories:
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First-Generation Recognition Award for students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education.
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Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award designed to highlight achievement in communities historically underrepresented in higher education.
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School Recognition Award, honoring top-performing students at every high school.
For Katy ISD families, these honors are more than a milestone — they can directly influence a student’s academic future. Colleges and universities nationwide look to the College Board program as a marker of academic potential, and many institutions connect scholarship dollars to recipients.
A Community Known for Academic Strength
The announcement adds to a growing list of academic achievements for Katy ISD. Just last week, the Texas Education Agency released its 2025 Accountability Ratings, where the district earned a score of 88 and ranked #1 among the state’s 10 largest school districts. On state STAAR exams, Katy ISD students outperformed Texas averages by double-digit margins across all subjects.
While the TEA ratings reflect performance on state standards, the College Board recognition highlights how Katy ISD students compete nationally. Together, the two distinctions paint a picture of a district where academic excellence extends from local classrooms to the broader college pipeline.
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Pride in a Growing District
With enrollment nearing 97,000 students across 80 campuses, Katy ISD is one of the fastest-growing districts in Texas. Yet leaders say the recognitions demonstrate that scale and growth have not slowed the district’s commitment to quality.
For students honored through the College Board program, the recognition serves as both a reward for effort and a springboard for the future. And for Katy ISD as a whole, it’s another reminder of the community’s enduring focus on achievement, opportunity, and preparation for life beyond graduation.
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.
