Receiving recognition from the Texas Education Agency since 2004, 19 out of the 20 Allen ISD schools were given “A” grade ratings by Niche.com, a website that rates schools across the nation based on surveys, reviews, percentile rankings and standardized test scores.

The district as a whole was awarded an “A+” grade due to its 98.0 percent graduation rate, 96.0 percent math proficiency average, and 97.0 percent reading proficiency average. Allen High School itself was rewarded an “A” grade with a 98.0 percent graduation rate, an 89.0 percent math proficiency average and a 97.0 percent reading proficiency average.

“It is really an honor to be in a high school that is unique and has high expectations set,” junior Esther Maeng said. “Not a lot of students have the opportunity to be in a high school [like Allen].”

Along with Allen High School, Olsen, Reed, Boyd, Norton and Chandler Elementary schools were among the campuses that also earned “A” grades. Junior Maia Pham, who attended Chandler Elementary as a child, said she prefers Allen ISD over other districts.

“[I am] really proud to be a part of this school,” Pham said. “I know that I am in good hands and that I’ll be taken care of. I feel like Allen is a great foundation for [college] and I know that I can go to good colleges after graduating.”

Along with the positive academic ratings, Niche.com also rated Allen highly due to the many positive reviews about the district’s teachers, resources, facilities and extracurricular activities.

“If a student wants to pursue a certain career,” Pham said, “Allen provides certain career classes that will help prepare [the student]. I want to pursue a career [involving veterinary studies], and Allen offers certain vet classes that I can take. During college, I will be prepared and I can see if I want to pursue [the career].”

High academic ratings for Allen have existed since 2004, but were left unnoticed due to Allen’s lack of popularity and small population at the time. Allen first started receiving attention after the first football state championship in 2008, and the scrutiny continued to grow after the new stadium opened.

House 200 counselor Donna Brinlee, who has been working in Allen ISD for 13 years, said Allen has many more things that are also appealing, including the diversity.

“I think one of the things that drew me here was that we kind of have the best of everything,” Brinlee said. “It’s not always just about the math and science and high test scores, but about what life skills you’re going to learn. Here, [students] are exposed to different religious beliefs, different ethnicities and different levels of income. You get to see them all and learn them all.”

With an immense amount of attention on Allen, Brinlee said the pressure to do well has definitely increased overtime.

“It is a little nerve-wracking because there is a lot of pressure and it is getting harder and harder to do the job,” Brinlee said. “The whole world is looking at us, mostly because of the stadium, but now…because of test scores. There’s a lot of pressure to succeed.”

The rankings proved that the pressure has not stopped the district from succeeding. The high ratings from Niche.com provide more information for people who are thinking about moving to Allen. With the good ratings, Maeng said she is proud to be a student in this district.

“Allen is one of the most unique [districts] and Allen High School is the best school that I have ever [gone] to,” Maeng said.