Our Latest News, Research, and Analysis
Calculate Your Extracurricular Impact for College Apps
For many high school students, preparing for college means more than earning good grades and performing well on standardized tests. It also means participating in extracurricular activities, whether that's joining clubs, competing in sports, volunteering, or pursuing academic interests [...]
Editors’ Choice
How to Qualify for Houston ISD’s Gifted & Talented Program
What is Houston ISD's Vanguard Gifted & Talented (G/T) Program? Approximately 14% of students enrolled in Houston ISD (HISD) are designated as Gifted and Talented (G/T). These students who demonstrate [...]
How to Apply to Spring Branch ISD Choice Schools
What is an SBISD Choice School? Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD) is a school district serving several portions of western Houston, providing education to approximately 32,500 across 42 [...]
High School Research Internships at the Texas Medical Center, a How-To Guide
Many Houston-area high school students hope to find themselves amongst the ivy and gothic-adjacent architecture of an elite university. However, traditional formulae for college admissions are often no longer enough. [...]
How to Apply to Houston ISD Magnet Schools
What are Magnet Schools in Houston ISD? Houston Independent School District (HISD) is the eighth largest public school district in the U.S., with more than 176,000 students across 274 [...]
Academics and Elementary Learning
How to Qualify for Houston ISD’s Gifted & Talented Program
What is Houston ISD's Vanguard Gifted & Talented (G/T) Program? [...]
How to Apply to Spring Branch ISD Choice Schools
What is an SBISD Choice School? Spring Branch Independent [...]
Spring Branch ISD’s Best Elementary and Middle Schools by STAAR Scores 2026
Many Houstonians have a Houston zip code but aren't part [...]
Announcing our New Student Insight Lesson Analysis Tool
Every parent knows that a homework score rarely tells the [...]
What Executive Function Skills Do Students Struggle With Most?
Over General Academic's 23+ years of supporting Houston students, we [...]
Test Prep
When Should Students Start Preparing for the ACT and SAT?
One of the age-old questions of test prep is [...]
ISEE Course Survey Results: Students Understand the Stakes
For Houston students applying to highly competitive private schools—such as [...]
State of Test-Optional College Admissions in Texas for 2026-2027
For Fall 2027, Rice University is test-optional, but recommends sending [...]
Houston Schools
How to Apply to Spring Branch ISD Choice Schools
What is an SBISD Choice School? Spring Branch Independent [...]
How to Apply to Houston ISD Magnet Schools
What are Magnet Schools in Houston ISD? Houston Independent [...]
Spring Branch ISD’s Best Elementary and Middle Schools by STAAR Scores 2026
Many Houstonians have a Houston zip code but aren't part [...]
College Counseling
Calculate Your Extracurricular Impact for College Apps
For many high school students, preparing for college means [...]
High School Research Internships at the Texas Medical Center, a How-To Guide
Many Houston-area high school students hope to find themselves amongst [...]
Is Automatic Admission Good Enough? A Closer Look at UT Austin and Texas A&M
Applications for Fall 2027 entry open August 1, and UT [...]