Both Midlothian ISD high schools named among “Best”

Heritage High School earns recognition for 4th consecutive year and Midlothian High School recognized for third consecutive year.

Just days after the Texas Education Agency released preliminary 2026 accountability ratings showing that both Midlothian ISD high schools earned an A rating, both have also once again earned national recognition. Midlothian Heritage High School and Midlothian High School have been named among 2026-27 U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools. The schools are ranked among the top 25% of high schools in the nation.

The annual rankings evaluate public high schools across the country using measures that include college readiness, college curriculum breadth, state assessment proficiency and performance, underserved student performance and graduation rates. The rankings evaluate nearly 18,000 high schools at the national, state and local level. The program highlights schools across the country where students consistently demonstrate academic excellence.

For Midlothian Heritage High School, the recognition marks the fourth consecutive year the campus has been included among the Best High Schools rankings. “Being recognized for a fourth time speaks to the consistency and strength of the culture of learning our students and staff have built at Heritage,” said HHS Principal Ketura Madison. “This distinction is about more than just a ranking. It reflects students who challenge themselves, teachers who believe in their potential and our collective commitment to helping every Jaguar grow and succeed. We are incredibly proud of the work happening in our classrooms every day.”

Midlothian High School earned the Best High Schools recognition for the third year in a row, continuing the campus’s record of academic achievement. “To earn this recognition again is something our entire Panther community can celebrate,” said MHS Principal Christopher Cravey. “Our students continue to set high expectations for themselves, and our teachers and staff work every day to provide the instruction, opportunities and support that help them reach those goals. This affirms their hard work and motivates us to continue raising the bar.”

Within Texas, the U.S. News and World Report ranks Heritage High School at No. 402 and Midlothian High School at No. 432 among the nearly 1,600 high schools ranked.  Both campuses are recognized in the top 28% of high schools in Texas and top 25% nationally, according to the report. 

“These national recognitions are another meaningful measure of the learning taking place in classrooms at both of our high schools,” said Midlothian Superintendent Dr. David Belding. ”There is a lot to celebrate, from both high schools earning an A in the state accountability system to this national recognition for U.S News & World Report. When we look at those achievements as well as the district’s seven-point gain in state accountability over the past three years, we see evidence of sustained academic growth. And that’s meaningful for students.” 

U.S. News & World Report methodology for the rankings evaluates schools using data related to student achievement, graduation and preparation for college-level work. View the complete rankings and learn more about Midlothian ISD Best High Schools rankings here.