Heights Elementary School in Texas City Independent School District has been designated a 2026 Texas Lone Star Ribbon School, one of just 25 public schools in the state to receive the honor this year, according to a Sept. 22 news release from the office of state Rep. Terri Leo Wilson.
The campus was celebrated at a ceremony marking the designation. The Lone Star Ribbon Schools program, established by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2025, recognizes Texas public schools that demonstrate outstanding academic performance and meaningful progress in closing achievement gaps. According to the release, the program carries forward the tradition of the former National Blue Ribbon Schools program, which transitioned to state leadership in 2025.
The recognition caps a strong year for Heights Elementary. The campus earned an A rating from the Texas Education Agency with an overall scaled score of 92, the release said, along with four TEA Distinction Designations: Academic Achievement in Reading/Language Arts, Academic Achievement in Mathematics, Postsecondary Readiness, and Top 25%: Comparative Closing the Gaps.
Heights Elementary was also recently named a National Bright Spot for third-grade literacy, placing it among the top-performing schools in Texas for exceeding expectations in student achievement relative to student poverty levels, according to the release.
The school’s honor is part of a broader run of recognition for Texas City ISD. Eight district campuses earned a combined 19 TEA Distinction Designations in the 2026 accountability ratings, the release noted, and the district was recently named a District of Distinction by the Texas Art Education Association for the eighth consecutive year. Only 16 districts or learning institutions in Texas have earned that award every year since it was established, according to the release.
Wilson, who congratulated the school and district following the ceremony, credited the people behind the results. “This designation is a reflection of the dedication of the teachers, staff, students, and parents who work every day to provide our children with the education and opportunities they deserve,” she said.
She also recognized Texas City ISD Superintendent Dr. Melissa Duarte for her leadership. “These accomplishments do not happen by accident,” Wilson said. “They are the result of strong leadership, dedicated educators, engaged families and students who are rising to the challenge.”
Wilson thanked Abbott for creating what she called “a Texas-based program that celebrates academic excellence across our state” and said she looks forward to the continued success of the district’s students and schools.