School of Science and Engineering

• Electron Microscope magnifying up to a million times used for biological research projects. An ultra-microtone is used to prepare slides by slicing specimens to one micrometer (0.000001) thick.
• State-of-the-art computer labs.
• Fully equipped engineering robotics lab equipped to manufacture and program robots used in competitions throughout Texas.
• Chemistry, Physics, and Biology labs equipped with university level equipment.
• A curriculum that prepares students for college by having them begin taking Advanced Placement courses their freshman year.
• Accelerated tracks in math, science, and English.
• A wide variety of extracurricular activities such as drama, speech, mock trial, chess team, computer science team, math teams, robotics team, UIL teams, European trips, etc. We encourage our students to be well-rounded!

SEM Accomplishments

• Named 2011 National Blue Ribbon School by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (September 2011).
• Ranked #1 Public High School in America-Newsweek Magazine (June 2011).
• Ranked #1 Public High School in America- Washington Post High School Challenge (May 2011). 
• Ranked #1 Public High School in the State of Texas by Children at Risk organization (2009 - 2010). 
• U.S. News & World Report Gold Medal School (2009 - 2010) 
• SEM continues to be rated “Exemplary” by the Texas Education Agency. It has maintained this rating for over eleven consecutive years. 
• Named an EXEMPLARY school by the College Board in the 6th Annual AP® Report to the Nation (2009-2010)
  The School of Science and Engineering had the largest number of Latino students from the class of 2009 who scored a 3 or higher on the AP® Calculus AB Exam.
• Participant in the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) Education for Innovation:  Digital Town Hall Meeting with Secretary of Education Arne Duncam and Secretary General Angel Gurria Organization for Economic Co-operationa dn Development (OECD) sponsored by PBS NewsHour, Intel Corporation, The Aspen Institute and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) (December 2011)
• Recipient of the annual Texas Business and Education Coalition (TBEC) Award 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011.
• Recognized by the National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA) as part of its 2008, 2009, 2010,  and 2011 Just for the Kids Campaign for Higher Performing Schools in Texas
• Siemens award winner in 2007-2008 for advanced placement math, science, and computer science scores.
• Visited by President and Mrs. Bush in 2006.
• Named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2005.
• Featured in a 2006 U.S. Department of Education Math/Science Program.
• The School of Science and Engineering is ranked in the top 1% of the nation in Advanced Placement results.
• Students consistently place first in the Math Olympiad.
• Calculus AB and BC passing rates ranked in the top 1% in the nation.  
• Number 1 school in USA for the overall number of African American and Hispanic Students passing the AP Calculus Exams  
• With only 400 students in the entire school, we are in the top 10 Texas High Schools for passing numbers on the AP Calculus Exam for all schools of ANY size. 
• District champions in UIL in areas including math, science, number sense, calculator, literary criticism, etc.
• Students nationally recognized in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Benefits of a SEM Education

• An outstanding faculty and a world-class facility.
• A college-prep education with a feeling of “family”.
• Sponsors and advisors from local universities and Texas Instruments.
• Concurrent enrollment at several area community colleges and universities with dual credit.
• Universities and colleges which have accepted and/or offered scholarships to our seniors include:
  • Baylor University
    
  • Columbia University
    
  • Cornell College
    
  • M.I.T.
    
  • Notre Dame University
    
  • Prairie View A&M University
    
  • Purdue University
    
  • Rice University
    
  • Southern Methodist University
    
  • Stanford University
    
  • Texas A&M University
    
  • Texas Christian University
    
  • Texas Tech University
    
  • United States Naval Academy
    
  • University of Arkansas
    
  • University of Dallas
    
  • University of Texas at Austin/ at Dallas/ at Galveston
    
  • Yale
    
  • And many others.
• Our students successfully pursue majors in science, medicine, mathematics, computer science, English, engineering, and any field that they choose to study.