Introducing the Charity Challenge

Vote for your favorite San Antonio nonprofit in the CultureMap Charity Challenge

CultureMap is committed to shining a light on San Antonio-area nonprofits and all they do to make an impact in our community. So, we're launching the inaugural CultureMap San Antonio Charity Challenge, highlighting six deserving local organizations — one of which will become our charity partner for 2016.

You get to decide which one wins by voting in our poll from now through December 30. Before you cast your vote, meet the finalists, as selected by CultureMap:

CASA
Child Advocates San Antonio (CASA) recruits, trains, and supervises court-appointed volunteer advocates who provide constancy for abused and neglected children and youth while advocating for services and placement in safe and permanent homes.

The Children’s Shelter
The Children’s Shelter offers emergency shelter and residential treatment for children in crisis and helps children find permanent homes through foster care and adoption.

Musical Bridges Around the World
Musical Bridges Around the World (MBAW) unites, educates, and inspires by producing one-of-a-kind multicultural performances by the finest musicians from around the globe.

San Antonio Humane Society
The San Antonio Humane Society aims to protect and improve the lives of dogs and cats by providing shelter, care, adoption, rescue, spay and neuter programs, and community education.

Soldiers’ Angels
Soldiers' Angels provides aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard; their families; and a growing veteran population.

TeletonUSA Foundation
TeletonUSA Foundation raises critical funds and awareness to inspire a more inclusive, accepting world for children with disabilities and their families. TeletonUSA empowers these children to live their lives to the fullest potential.

You can read more about the nonprofits through the duration of the Charity Challenge. But now, it's time to vote. Vote once a day, every day, through December 30. The winning nonprofit, announced January 5, 2016, will receive a CultureMap advertising package worth $10,000.

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TeletonUSA supports children with disabilities and their families.

Photo courtesy of TeletonUSA Foundation

TeletonUSA supports children with disabilities and their families.

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schools with high achievers

These 7 San Antonio K-8 schools rank among Texas' best for 2025

Basis San Antonio - Shavano Campus

Congratulations are in order for the Dragons.

Several San Antonio elementary and middle schools are at the top of the class when it comes to educating and preparing the next generation for a successful life and career, according to U.S. News & World Report's list of 2025 Elementary and Middle Schools Rankings.

One such school – Basis San Antonio - Shavano Campus – is the No. 17 best middle school in Texas for 2025.

This November, U.S. News ranked over 79,000 public schools on the state and district level using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Schools were analyzed based on their students' proficiencies in mathematics and reading/language arts on state assessments, and tie-breakers were decided based on student-teacher ratios.

"The 2025 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings offer parents a way to evaluate how schools are providing a high-quality education and preparing students for future success," said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., the managing editor for Education at U.S. News. "The data empowers families and communities to advocate for their children’s education. Research continues to indicate that how students perform academically at these early grade levels is a big factor in their success in high school and beyond."

Texas' best middle schools for 2025
In all, five San Antonio middle schools achieved spots among the top 100 best Texas middle schools for 2025, according to U.S. News.

The Shavano Campus of the Basis San Antonio charter school has a total enrollment of 1,018 students, with 84 percent of the student population scoring "at or above the proficient level" in mathematics, and 90 percent scoring at that level of proficiency in reading. The school has a student-teacher ratio of 16:1, with 63 full-time teachers.

Students at this charter school performed far better with its test scores than the rest of Texas, U.S. News said.

Four additional San Antonio schools ranked among the top 100 best middle schools in Texas, including:

No. 53 – Eleanor Kolitz Hebrew Language Academy
No. 62 – Lopez Middle School, North East ISD
No. 80 – Idea Carver College Preparatory
No. 97 – Young Women's Leadership Academy, San Antonio ISD

The best elementary schools in Texas
Jesus A. Kawas Elementary school in Laredo was crowned the No. 1 elementary school in Texas for 2025, while two San Antonio schools made it into the top 100.

Basis San Antonio Primary Medical Center is the No. 75 best elementary school statewide, boasting 787 students, 48 full-time teachers, and a 16:1 student-teacher ratio. Students at this school scored 80 percent efficiency in math and 85 percent efficiency in reading.

Landing at No. 90 in Texas is San Antonio's Hardy Oak Elementary in North East ISD. Hardy Oak has a student population of 683 with 37 full-time teachers, and one full-time counselor. The school's student-teacher ratio is 18:1, and 77 percent of students are proficient in math, and 85 percent are proficient in reading.

U.S. News says student success at Hardy Oak is significantly higher than the rest of North East ISD.

"In North East Independent School District, 56 percent of students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 46 percent tested at or above that level for math," U.S. News said in Hardy Oak's profile. "Hardy Oak Elementary [also] did better in math and better in reading in this metric compared with students across the state."

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