With a metropolitan area population of more than five million people, there are many factors to consider when determining precisely where in Houston you want to live. One element that often helps to make the decision is the availability and quality of education. Parents want to place their children in the best schools in Houston in order to give them the highest education possible, giving them a solid base that will enable them to support themselves well as adults. Not only within the wealthier neighborhoods, but also throughout the city, there is a great deal of emphasis on finding elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools that will give young people a great start in life.

Determining which are the best schools in Houston can take into consideration several different factors. For example, the number of students per teacher area wide in Houston is 15:1 (15 to one), whereas the overall student/teacher ratio statewide is 14:1 (14 to one). There are more than half a million students in the Houston area spread over nearly 800 schools, both public and private. Private schools, of which there are 349, have a student/teacher ratio of 7:1 (seven to one). These ratios help parents see at a glance how much individual help their child is likely to receive in the classroom. However, this ratio is not the only factor that goes to determining the best schools in Houston for your family.

Due consideration must also be given to the interests of the child and what the emphasis of the curriculum is for any particular school. For example, a child who is interested in sports should probably be enrolled in a school that features a solid physical education curriculum, but that also stresses the academic achievement that will allow him or her to succeed in life skills or prepare to attend institutions of higher learning.

Officially, various ranking lists are prepared each year to assist in choosing the best schools in Houston. The 2007 list prepared by an organization called Children at Risk rates schools in Greater Houston for proficiency in mathematics and in English. The YES College Preparatory School is number two on the list. In order to graduate from this high school, the student must have been accepted at a four-year college or university. This means it's not a question of if the student will attend college, but where.

It is interesting to note that some of the best schools in Houston are not magnet schools and not specialized schools. This means that quality education is available to any Houston-area student attending public or private schools.