Three San Antonio elementary and middle schools are being hailed as the most brilliant beacons of Texas early education in U.S. News and World Report's new list ranking the best K-8 schools for 2027.

U.S. News' annual Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings analyzed over 70,000 public schools on the state and district level using publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education. Schools were analyzed based on students' proficiency in mathematics and reading while accounting "for student background and absolute performance on state assessments." To break ties in overall scores, schools with a lower student-teacher ratio prevailed.

"By incorporating direct state data across all proficiency levels, the 2027 rankings offer a richer, more complete picture of how elementary and middle schools are driving student growth," said Eric Brooks, U.S. News director of education data analysis. "This refined approach gives families, educators and community leaders an even clearer view of academic achievement, helping them identify standard-setting schools and support continued success for all students."

Comal ISD's Hoffmann Lane Elementary in New Braunfels ranked No. 96 among the 100 best elementary schools in Texas this year, a surprising 25-place drop from its previous rank as No. 71 last year.

According to its U.S. News profile, Hoffmann Lane Elementary has a student population of 705, and it has a 17-to-1 student-teacher ratio.

"At Hoffmann Lane Elementary, 87 percent of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 84 percent scored at or above that level for reading," U.S. News said. "Compared with the district, the school did better in math and better in reading, according to this metric. In Comal ISD, 67 percent of students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 61 percent tested at or above that level for math."

Among the best middle schools, two local schools ranked among the top 100: Basis San Antonio Shavano Campus (No. 17) and San Antonio ISD's Young Women's Leadership Academy (No. 76). The Young Women's Leadership Academy moved up eight spots from its former No. 84 rank last year, and it remains the No. 1 best middle school in the district.

Additionally, Basis San Antonio Shavano Campus is the 10th best charter elementary school in Texas, and Basis San Antonio Primary Medical Center ranks No. 3 among the best charter middle schools statewide.