
DeSoto Independent School District’s Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet School (KJTMA) has once again been recognized as one of the top schools in the country, according to the U.S. News & World Report 2025 rankings. KJTMA earned a spot in the top 40% of elementary schools in Texas, marking the second consecutive year the school has received this prestigious honor. The U.S. News & World Report designation highlights KJTMA as both a Best Elementary School and a Best Middle School. These rankings reflect the academy's commitment to the Triple-A experience and its focus on providing an excellent education to students.
“It is humbling to be in the top 40% for the second year in a row, but it is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team,” said KJTMA Interim Principal Yolanda Hanspard. “Last year, we faced numerous teacher gaps in several grade levels, and our teachers rallied around our students to keep them on track. This year’s award is even more meaningful to us because we had to band together for the sake of our scholars.”
To help foster the continued growth of students and propel KJTMA into the top rankings, the school employs several key initiatives:
Eagle Academy: A daily time for the campus to come together and prepare for the instructional day, focusing on the district’s mission, vision, and core values.
UBUNTU Spirit: I Am Because We Are! A celebration of community, where the school rallies around its mission daily to ensure every student learns and grows to their highest potential.
Academic and Behavioral Expectations: A commitment to high expectations for student performance.
Parent Engagement: A recognition of parents as each student’s first teacher, with a focus on creating ways to work collaboratively with families.
These initiatives contribute to KJTMA's continued success and its ability to achieve high rankings year after year.
Exemplifying excellence in the Triple-A Experience in DeSoto ISD, KJTMA continues to build upon its successes year after year.
“We will continue to prioritize identifying and meeting the individual scholastic and academic needs of every scholar,” added Hanspard. “Also, we build on everyone’s strength! Once we identify each team member’s strengths, we support them for the betterment of our children!”
A link to the report can be viewed here.