Academy for Technology Engineering Math & Science

Tucked into Abilene's west side, this STEM-focused campus draws families who want their kids deeply engaged in hands-on, project-based learning well before high school — and the results speak for themselves, with the school consistently ranking among the top in Texas. The tech-and-engineering bent makes it a natural fit for curious, tinkerer-type students whose parents want more than a traditional classroom experience. Abilene itself has a tight-knit, military-adjacent community feel thanks to nearby Dyess Air Force Base, and families stationed there or rooted in the region tend to find this school a standout option in an otherwise competitive West Texas district.